The COVID-19 pandemic dismantled the US job market last year. In the months since the pandemic was declared a national emergency, more than 30 million people applied for unemployment benefits for the first time and the unemployment rate reached double digits.
But hope is returning, in part because telecommuting opportunities have been increasing. Furthermore, with so many jobs moving home, the stigmas are disappearing against the use of remote workers . “Overall, companies seem to be pleasantly surprised at how well telecommuting works,” says Brie Reynolds, manager of career training at FlexJobs , an online job market that specializes in flexible and telecommuting. “So it’s fantastic. At this moment, effective solutions are being provided ”.
Working from home has long been a very attractive option for older adults. The good news is that you can find a variety of jobs that can be done from home in all industries and with different levels of experience.
1. Teachers
Who is hiring: K12, Prof360
Average hourly wage: $9 to $23
Despite the fact that more and more schools are returning to face-to-face classes, there is still a demand for teachers who can work remotely. Whether you want to teach full or part time, in kindergarten or graduate studies, computer science or how to tie your shoes , you can share your knowledge and talents through teaching online.
Salary can vary greatly depending on what you teach. For example, the median salary is about $15 per hour for an elementary school teacher and $ 33 per hour for a tertiary education teacher, according to PayScale. Outschool, an online classroom marketplace, says its teachers earn an average of $30 to $40 an hour.
2. Telehealth nurses
Who is hiring: Forward
Average hourly wage: $19 to $42
Telehealth had already been gaining popularity before the coronavirus hit the country, and its demand has received further boost as the health care system has been inundated with patients who have been reluctant to visit clinics in person during the pandemic. . Some employers are looking to hire full-time telehealth nurses to answer questions specifically about COVID-19, but there are also other opportunities available to those who work part-time. You just need to make sure you check the licensing requirements to make sure you are approved to work in the state where you see patients. This means that applicants who are licensed to practice in more than one state could be particularly attractive to recruiters.
3. Transcriptionists
Who is hiring: multiple companies
Average hourly wage: $10 to $27
If you can listen and type, you can be a transcriber. For some positions, such as in the medical field, candidates who have technical knowledge of the subject matter may be preferred. However, there are many opportunities, such as Literably (a reading assessment service for students in kindergarten through eighth grade), that do not require prior experience and offer on-the-job training. And it can be interesting work. In Literably, for example, you could transcribe audio files of children reading, including their mistakes.
4. Consultants
Who is hiring: multiple companies
Average salary: based on experience
Get away from the routine of full-time work and try offering your knowledge and skills as an independent consultant. This can be a particularly attractive option for those who are about to retire in various industries and want to do it gradually, since it allows to reduce working hours according to the preferences of each one and to maintain the high level of remuneration if they remain in their area of work. specialization. You could even talk to your current employer about the transition from a full-time position to a contractual position. Otherwise, there are various job portals on the internet that can help you connect with clients, such as Upwork and FlexJobs , and staffing agencies such as Wahve (who specializes in working with those who are about to retire) and Robert Half .
Pay can vary widely based on experience level and area of expertise. For example, management consultants, who help organizations define strategies to improve efficiency, can earn an average of $17 to $170 per hour, according to PayScale.
5. Bookkeepers
Who is hiring: AccountingDepartment.com , Beech Valley Solutions , various companies
Average hourly wage: $12 to $25
Keep your accounting experience at home and provide your services virtually. AccountingDepartment.com is hiring accounting professionals for a variety of full-time and fully remote positions who also offer health insurance, a 401 (k) plan, and paid vacations.Beech Valley Solutions is looking for accounting professionals who work hourly on a contract and on a continuous basis. Another bonus: The bookkeeper job tops our list of the 25 best part-time jobs for retirees.
6. Virtual assistants
Who is hiring: Boldly
Average hourly wage: $10 to $28
Provide administrative support from the comfort of your own home and on your schedule. Virtual assistants can perform a variety of services, from email scheduling and management to social media strategy development and event planning. In addition, you can try to do it full time through an agency or independently, on temporary assignments. Boldly is a staffing agency that hires full-time work-from-home assistants in 23 states. You can also post your services on freelance job portals, such as FreeUp and Upwork , to connect directly with future clients.
7. Discussion group participants
Who is hiring: Consumer Opinion Services , Find Focus Groups , Focus Pointe Global
Average hourly pay: $1 to $75
Earn money for sharing your opinions. While it’s not exactly a job, participating in polls and focus groups can be an easy way to earn a little extra money; in some cases, very little. Pay for some surveys can be as low as $ 1 per hour, according to SideHusl , a website that reviews opportunities to earn extra money. However, there are other opportunities that may be more lucrative.
8. Translators
Who is hiring: CyraCom , Translate.com
Average hourly wage: $10 to $39
These workers translate the written word or the spoken word, depending on the position. At CyraCom, you would have to answer the phones and help people communicate with doctors, insurance agents, and even 9-1-1 operators.. Translate.com offers work on temporary assignments, which can give you more flexibility. Just keep in mind that all assignments are offered on a first come, first serve basis and may pay less than a penny per word.
9. Members of mock juries
Who is hiring: Online Verdict , eJury.com , Jury Test
Average salary: $5 to $60 per trial
You can finally get paid for your fascination with real life crime stories. Mock jurors assist attorneys (and their clients) through examining court cases and presenting their opinion on how they would fail. As with participation in focus groups, this job is not something you can really make a career out of.Some members of these juries say they participated in only one case every six months, if that long, according to SideHusl . Even so, it is an interesting opportunity to earn extra money from home without having any experience. Plus, pay more money than you would make watching another Law and Order marathon.
10. Writers
Who is hiring: Contently , NerdWallet , various companies
Average hourly wage: $10 to $50.
Do you like word games? The ability to put together a sentence can land you a job to do from home in a wide variety of industries, whether you’re a beginning writer or a seasoned professional. Of course, the more experience you have, the more you can earn. Specializing in a certain field – whether it’s sports, parenting, personal finance, technology, or science – can also help you increase your chances and simplify your job search.
In addition to the full-time job opportunities available on Contently and NerdWallet, you can search many job sites that hire freelance writers, including ProBlogger.com, nDash, and Scripted. You can also try submitting ideas directly to newspapers, magazines, and other publications.
11. Customer Service Representatives
Who is hiring: InfoCision , liveops , Prudential , Small Business Administration (SBA) , Teladoc Health , Williams Sonoma , various companies
Average hourly wage $10 to $19
Turn your home into a one-person call center. You can serve customers over the phone for a variety of businesses in a wide variety of industries, including retail, healthcare, technology, and many others. Maybe you can also rest your voice and provide your services on the internet by helping clients by email or in internet conversations.
Although these jobs are to be done from home, you may have to live in a certain state to be able to do them. And while certain jobs are now being done remotely due to the pandemic, they may require employees to return to the office eventually. Be sure to read the conditions before applying for the job.
12. SEO specialists
Who is hiring: Coalition Technologies , Main Street ROI , Sure Oak , various companies
Average hourly wage: $12 to $28
Help businesses rise in internet search results with your search engine optimization (SEO) skills. SEO experts examine and analyze websites, identify content and design issues that could be leaving them behind, and offer solutions for improvement . For this type of position, many companies want to hire full-time, part-time, and contract workers.
13. Claims Investigators
Who is hiring: multiple companies
Average hourly wage: $14 to $28
Put your investigative skills to work. Claims investigators conduct extensive research online and in databases to assess the legitimacy of unemployment or insurance claims that individuals file. The level of education and experience required varies by position, and higher positions may require a specialized degree.For example, applicants to the position of investigator of fraudulent unemployment claims, a business with great growth due to the increase in benefits during the pandemic, must have two years of experience along with college-level courses in criminal justice or accounting.
14. Speech and language pathologists
Who is hiring: Soliant , VocoVision and various companies
Average hourly wage: $30 to $54
Teachers aren’t the only ones who moved their work from closed schools to their home. Speech-language pathologists work with students in kindergarten through 12th grade to identify communication disorders and develop individualized plans that respond to their needs. In addition, as schools are now teaching remotely, school districts are looking for people to work from home and deliver this important specialized service virtually. There are some immediately available opportunities to work for the remainder of this school year, and others may start before fall. You must have the appropriate license from the state in which you are going to work.
15. Fundraising Coordinators
Who is hiring: InfoCision , TrueSense Marketing
Average hourly wage: $10 to $24
Help raise money for causes you believe in. You can take a full-time entry-level job that requires you to communicate directly with existing or future taxpayers.Otherwise, if you have the necessary experience, you can obtain a higher-level position, which requires proven grant application preparation skills and fundraising strategy skills.
16. School psychologists
Who is hiring: ProCare Therapy , Soliant , VocoVision
Average hourly wage: $25 to $70
Schools are not just for learning from books, they also provide a haven for students where professionals can help assess and promote their well-being. School psychologists work with students in kindergarten through 12th grade to identify and resolve academic difficulties, learning disabilities, and behavioral and emotional problems. Now that many schools offer their classes remotely, school districts need people to work from home and deliver this important specialized service virtually.There are some immediately available opportunities to work for the remainder of this school year, and others may be available before fall. You must have the appropriate license from the state in which you are going to work.
17. Sales agents
Who is hiring: Humana , multiple companies
Average hourly wage: $10 to $20 (insurance sales agent) , $25 (senior vice president of sales)
The seller did not disappear, he is working from home. Businesses in various industries, such as finance, technology, and healthcare, are looking for vendors with varying levels of experience (and vendor license, if required) to promote their products and services remotely.Some high-level positions may include overseeing a sales team. Travel may be required for many of the opportunities once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.
18. Software engineers
Who is hiring: Amazon , LocusLabs , various companies
Average hourly wage: $19 to $62
Tech workers should be able to find a host of opportunities to work from home. In addition to the full-time job postings at the companies listed above, you can find temporary freelance work assignments for software engineers and programmers on online marketplaces such as FreeUp , Remote, and Upwork .
