When Scott and I started our blog, our hope was to inspire others to travel, even with a full-time job. Our travel goals don’t include becoming permanent nomads, so we try to find the balance between work and a whole lot of travel.
I was a bookkeeper for years (before I began making a living traveling the world) and Scott is a software/techie expert — both of which provide flexible schedules for traveling. The truth is, there are plenty of ways you can make money while traveling the world. For those of you who are curious about which careers won’t limit your insatiable travel bug, here are ten of the best jobs for people who love to travel the world.
Ten Best Jobs for People Who Love to Travel
Independent Contractor
Independent contractors like writers, editors, personal trainers, life coaches, and other self-employed positions that work on commission can be a great career for those looking to control their own schedules. For those self-motivated enough to work at it, being your own boss gives you the freedom to prioritize your own work schedule.
Before we started our travel blog, we took a couple of invaluable courses which helped us launch our business. I would recommend these courses to anybody who is considering starting their own business or blog.
Learn more:
Build your own empire in one year
Become a freelance writer, get published and get paid
How to start a travel blog in 8 easy steps
Learn how to get paid to travel the world
Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers and auditors can now easily work from home thanks to technology, and is a great career for those looking to telecommute. Even in a more traditional office setting, business tends to come in heavily during certain times of the year when taxes are due, so taking a light hour workload during the “off-season” is customary.
Web Designer
Since it’s become so easy to access the internet no matter where you travel now, a web designer is an ideal job for the technomad who wants to bring his or her work with them. Maintain a creative day-job with an office in a new place every day.
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Domestic Service Provider
Nannies, dog walkers, housekeepers, and au pairs can give you plenty of opportunities to work and travel at the same time. Besides having part-time or flexible hours, nanny and au pair work is also a great way to become employed abroad, especially in countries in Western Europe.
Restaurant Industry Employee
Working as a bartender or server is a perfect way to finance travel. The flexible hours can give you the freedom to explore, while an ability to speak English can be a hiring point if you’re applying to server jobs in restaurants looking to attract more English speaking tourists.
Public Service
Working three twelve-hour days might seem stressful to some, but for those interested in working as a policeman, fireman, doctor, or registered nurse, there are benefits to the schedule. Many of these kinds of jobs offer four days of free time after the condensed, extended on-call shift, perfect for short excursions.
Seasonal Employee
As Rolf Potts pointed out in his traveler’s guide “Vagabonding,” you don’t need to be rich to travel full-time. Working seasonally for two or three months as a field worker, retail assistant, or hotel host can help you save up enough money to finance months of travel in advance.
Flight Attendant or Pilot
A natural choice for those who like to travel is to take a job that inherently involves visiting place to place. Flight attendants, pilots, and other transportation experts are required to fly to new cities every day — which makes it much easier to visit an exotic destination between shifts.
Travel Expert
If you’re especially passionate about a certain city or attraction, why not look for employment there as a tour guide, using your knowledge to help other travelers learn about the area? If you have a special skill set such as travel photography or rock climbing, becoming certified and offering lessons can be a great way to visit places like Yellowstone National Park, the Great Barrier Reef, or Havasu Falls where those skill sets are in demand.
TEFL Teacher
Companies like Bridge TEFL and i-to-i offer certifications in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, a working position in high demand, especially in Asia. You can be hired full-time as an English teacher with a regular salary, and can even negotiate for your ticket and living situation to be financed by your institution — essentially getting paid to live in a foreign country.
These are just a few ways to travel and still make money. For more ideas on how others have realized their dreams of traveling the world while making a living, check out a couple of guides from our friend, Wandering Earl. —->> How to Live a Life of Travel.
Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. The price stays the same for you, but if purchased through this link, the company would pay us a small percentage of the sale.
