The old 9-to-5 has never been everyone’s cup of tea. Some people thrive within that type of structure, while others flourish when given freedom. These days, many are ditching the corporate grind in favor of working for themselves. In fact, according to Freelancers Union, nearly one in three Americans are self-employed.
Interested in joining the legions of those who work at home? Certain career paths offer more real work from home jobs than others, giving you the freedom skip the commute so you can (sometimes) work in your pajamas.
10 career paths that offer real work at home job opportunities:
1. Financial Adviser
Average Salary: $50 000 – $70 000 per year
Average Schooling: To become a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), you need a course of training, followed by a 2-day exam, plus 3 years working experience.
Involves: Helping individuals invest and manage their money, including saving for life events such as retirement. Earnings can be based on a percentage of investment returns, or a flat fee for services rendered.
2. Tutor
Average Salary: $30 – $50 per hour
Average Schooling: Tutoring requires expertise in a subject, either from a college or university education or long-term experience in a related field.
Involves: Providing supplementary or complementary instruction in subjects such as mathematics, science, humanities or music. This may include assistance with coursework, exam preparation, or extracurricular instruction.
3. Market and Survey Researcher
Average Salary: $40 000 – $60 000 per year
Average Schooling: Requires a bachelor’s degree in market research or a related field, such as statistics, math, computer science, business administration, social science, or communications.
Involves: Gathering and analyzing data regarding market trends, buying habits and competing products or services. Also advises clients regarding marketing campaigns and strategies, as well as devising and evaluating methods for acquiring data.
4. PR Specialist
Average Salary: $30,000 – $65,000 per year
Average Schooling: Requires a bachelor’s degree in public relations or a related field, such as journalism, or communications. Development of a portfolio of work is also recommended.
Involves: Maintaining a positive public image for an organization or individual through the creation and distribution of press releases, management of public statements, and arrangement of photo opportunities. This position also acts as a point of contact for members of the media, and of the public, wishing to communicate with the client.
5. Social Media Manager
Average Salary: $30,000 – $70,000 per year
Average Schooling: Bachelor’s degree programs for this field are becoming more widely offered, but traditionally, degrees in marketing or communications are the norm. Self-education and practical experience are sometimes considered.
Involves: Engaging a demographic or fan-base, using social media platforms, on behalf of a corporation or individual. This position can also involve the establishment or development of a brand, collection and analysis of statistical data, and creation of written or audio-visual content.
6. Freelance Writer
Average Salary: $50 – $70 per hour
Average Schooling: Proficiency with written language, as well as research and citation standards, and common style guidelines. Many freelance writers have degrees in journalism or communications.
Involves: Writing content to client specifications, which may be broad or quite particular. This field includes bloggers, journalists, or anyone who writes for pay, but works as an independent contractor on a project-to-project basis.
7. Tax Preparer / Accountant
Average Salary: $30 – $50 per hour
Average Schooling: College diploma or certificate in bookkeeping, accountancy or tax preparation.
Involves: Producing, maintaining and analyzing financial records for an organization or individual, as well as the preparation and remittance of income tax returns. May also involve providing advice regarding expenses and investments.
8. Graphic Designer
Average Salary: $30,000 – $58,000 per year
Average Schooling: Bachelor’s degrees in this field are widely available, but practitioners may also be self-taught.
Involves: Creating the design and layout for advertisements, as well as books, magazines and websites. This can also include the design of corporate logos, typefaces, or product packaging.
9. Software Engineer
Average Salary: $51,000 – $109,000 per year
Average Schooling: Requires a bachelor’s degree in software engineering or computer science.
Involves: Designing software applications to meet client needs. While this position does not typically involve actual program writing, self-employed practitioners may program their own designs. In a corporate setting, this position often involves managing and instructing a team of programmers who write the software code.
10. Voice-Over Artist
Average Salary: $12 – $275 per hour
Average Schooling: Schooling is not required for this position, though practitioners may have acting or broadcast training. Learning a range of voices or regional accents can be highly beneficial, and may command a higher rate of pay.
Involves: Reading scripts or other texts for radio broadcast, audio books, commercials, films, video games, or movie trailers. Practitioners in this field must take special care of their health, particularly their vocal cords, to continue working.
Is there room for your career on the telecommuting superhighway? Ever thought about sticking it to the man and going your own way? Give us the full scoop down in the comments.
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