Less time commuting, more flexibility, and better health—there’s a reason working from home is a popular choice for many Americans. And if you’re wondering how to make money from home, you’re not alone. 55% of respondents to a Bankrate survey prioritize remote work more now than before the COVID-19 pandemic.
So whether you want to work remotely at your 9-to-5 or start a side hustle, there are options. Check out these 13 work-from-home ideas.
Key Takeaways
- If you’re organized, creative, business savvy, or have another niche skill, you could make money from home in several ways.
- The average pay for these typical work-from-home jobs ranges from $16 to $47 per hour.
- Aspiring remote workers should be cautious of work-from-home scams that exploit private information like your bank account, credit card, and Social Security numbers.
13 Jobs to Help You Make Money From Home
If you’re looking for a reliable way to earn money at home, you could start by evaluating your skills and the amount of time you can commit. Then you can research jobs that may be a good fit. Keep in mind that the pay rates listed for these roles are estimates from Indeed, and it might take hard work and patience to land one of these opportunities. If you’re starting a side hustle, you could check with your regular employer to ensure no conflict of interest.
Here are a few positions to consider.
1. Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant supports a business’s administrative functions remotely. Tasks may include managing an email inbox, scheduling meetings, and making travel arrangements. Virtual assistants also typically help improve business processes and communication.
Relevant skills: Communication, typing, time management, customer service
Average pay: $21 per hour
2. Freelance Graphic Designer
You could sell your work if you’re skilled in graphic design or digital art. It’s possible to be a freelance artist who makes designs and templates via contract with a business. Or you could sell custom art pieces through an online marketplace. Several websites allow freelancers to find paying gigs and promote their art.
Relevant skills: Design software experience, creativity, marketing
Average pay: $29 per hour
3. Pet Sitter
Pet sitters help care for someone’s pet while away from home. This may include boarding, feeding, training, and dog walking. To pet sit from your home, the pet’s owner can bring the pet to you. Pet sitters often work independently but can also find gigs through a pet-sitting agency.
Relevant skills: Animal care, customer service, communication
Average pay: $16 per hour
4. Virtual Tutor
You could turn your expertise in a particular subject into a tutoring gig. Tutors typically review a student’s coursework, create a study plan and answer any questions the student may have. Finding tutoring gigs through a website or at a local school or university is possible.
Relevant skills: Teaching, communication, subject expertise
Average pay: $24 per hour
5. Business Consultant
A business consultant shares expertise to help businesses identify and meet goals, get funding and find areas for growth. Daily tasks could include reviewing financial statements and meeting with executives. It helps to have prior experience working in a specific business or industry.
Relevant skills: Business analysis, communication, leadership
Average pay: $32 per hour
6. Translator
If you’re fluent in another language, you could get paid to translate documents or audio files. Translators are typically bilingual or multilingual and work on projects with individuals or businesses that need an accurate content translation.
Relevant skills: Bilingual or multilingual, reading, writing, cross-cultural communication
Average pay: $26 per hour
7. Social Media Manager
Social media managers create content and engage with followers on a business’s social media platforms. They might also help analyze data and identify trends. You could work remotely as a freelancer or full-time employee at a company.
Relevant skills: Content creation, digital marketing, communication, customer service
Average pay: $23 per hour
8. Writer
Skilled writers can earn money by writing content for businesses, including ghostwriting, digital copy, and blog content. Freelance writers are usually paid hourly or by the word. There are websites where writers can find gigs and connect with clients. With a big enough following, a personal blog could make money through advertising, sponsorship, and affiliate marketing.
Relevant skills: Writing, editing, communication, content creation, marketing
Average pay: $25 per hour
9. Proofreader
Often in an editorial process, content can’t be published until it goes through a final review by a proofreader. Though similar to an editor, the proofreader typically enters at the final stage to catch any spelling or grammar mistakes.
Relevant skills: Proofreading, editing, grammatical expertise, attention to detail
Average pay: $25 per hour
10. Data Entry Clerk
Data entry clerks compile and enter data into spreadsheets or databases. They’re often responsible for translating paper documents into a digital format. You could work full-time or part-time in several industries.
Relevant skills: Data collection, typing, administration, computer literacy, accounting
Average pay: $18 per hour
11. App or Website Developer
Building websites or apps can be a profitable source of income for anyone with development and design capabilities. Developers might be hired to create an app or website for an existing company or have an idea for their app or website. Running ads on the website or app or charging a fee to download it also generates income.
Relevant skills: Website and app development, design, user experience
Average pay: $47 per hour
12. Brand Influencer
Influencers are typically paid by a business to promote its products and services on the influencer’s social media platform. Influencers might be paid a set rate or make a commission for each sale from a unique link or promotional code. Social media users with a large audience and niche content are usually more likely to succeed as brand influencers.
Relevant skills: Communication, marketing, social media management
Average pay: $17 per hour, but can vary by the size of an influencer’s platform
13. Online Seller
Whether homemade goods, collectibles, furniture, antiques, clothing, or other merchandise, there could be money to be made selling—or reselling—products online. Typically, these products are sold on online marketplaces and social media. The profit from online sales depends on the market and the item’s condition.
Relevant skills: Organization, marketing, bookkeeping
Average pay: Varies by product
Be Cautious of Work-From-Home Scams
When searching for a job, you may come across a work-from-home job posting that sounds too good or asks you to provide personal information to get started. But a legitimate business should never ask you to pay money to earn money. Work-from-home scams are commonly used to exploit private information from individuals like their bank account, credit card, and Social Security numbers.
To vet a prospective employer, search for the company online along with phrases like “scam” or “review” to see if there are any red flags.
How to Make Money From Home in a Nutshell
There are several ways to make money from home based on your skill set and how much time you can dedicate to the job. You can have a flexible work schedule or earn passive income. Just be careful not to fall for any work-from-home scams that ask you to provide personal information.
