6 Legitimate Types of Work-From-Home Jobs

More and more companies are open to the idea of remote work these days. What kind of jobs are these? They vary widely, from professional to trade positions.

What they have in common is that they can be done from home — anywhere, really. And you can generally signal your availability to do them online, without ever having to meet in person.

What can you do from the relative safety of your own home? Naturally, the answer depends on your skills.

The opportunities are decidedly better in fields that require intellect and creativity, rather than physical strength. Still, there are options for nearly everyone.

Here are a few online platforms that offer remote jobs that work for today’s protocols.

1. Teach English

If you are an English speaker, you can teach English to kids around the world through one of several online platforms. VIPKIDs, QKids, and Magic Ears all hire English speakers to teach online classes.

Pay and requirements for teaching vary by platform, though having your own reliable technology is a must.

VIPKID, which requires a bachelor’s degree in any subject and recommends at least two years of teaching experience, pays $7-$9 per class or between $14 and $18 per hour.

Magic Ears requires a bachelor’s degree or active study toward a bachelor’s degree and an ESL certificate, which can be earned through Magic Ears for $20. Magic Ears pays up to $26 per hour.

QKids teachers must be eligible to legally work in the U.S. or Canada, have a bachelor’s degree and a teaching license or English teaching certificate (TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, ESL). Compensation is $6-8 base pay per lesson.

2. Tutor

If you have mad skills in almost anything — English, science, math, music — you can make good money tutoring online.

Wyzant, care.com and Varsity Tutors offer to connect tutors with students needing academic help.

If you teach art, dance, drama or music, you can tutor online through LessonFace and TakeLessons.

3. Write

No job is quite as amenable to working remotely as writing. And literally dozens of online platforms will pay you to do it.

The one caveat: A number of these companies are so-called “content mills” that will try to convince you to write for pennies a word. Even if you’re prolific, that’s no way to make a living.

Platforms where you can find better-paid writing jobs include Contently, Skyword, Cracked, and the Washington Post Talent Network.

You can find information about each platform’s specialty and rates in their reviews on sidehusl.com.

4. Edit

If you have experience editing books or manuscripts for content or errors, you may be able to make decent money editing for Reedsy.

This platform primarily works with self-published authors, who need advice and copy editing.

5. Work as a virtual assistant

If you’ve got a penchant for organization, look into becoming a virtual assistant. Virtual assistants can do everything remotely that executive assistants do in an office, short of fetching coffee.

Some schedule meetings, travel and conferences. Others handle social media updates and strategy or update company websites.

Because duties and experience vary widely, so does the pay. Virtual assistants can earn anywhere between $15 and $75 per hour.

However, the higher pay tends to go to assistants with exceptional social media or technical skills. You can find virtual assistant work through Boldly or Belay.

6. Professional services

If your skills fall on the professional side — business development, marketing, web development, design, etc. — a variety of platforms can connect you with well-paid work.

SkiptheDrive is a free, curated job board for telecommuters.

FlexJobs charges for access to its curated telecommuting jobs. But some users maintain the fees are well worth the price because the site does an exceptional job of making sure the job listings are current and legitimate.

WorkingNotWorking finds positions for digital workers in advertising, film, web and game design.

WAHVE, or Work at Home Vintage Experts, connects seasoned executives in insurance, human resources and accounting with small businesses that need regular help.