TRAVEL JOBS

Travel jobs are a great way to earn money while you explore the world. Here are some real-life stories of people who have achieved their dream and made money while traveling abroad. Find out how you can land one of these amazing careers!

COVID UPDATES: While the worldwide pandemic is devastating for many, remote work has grown faster than ever. This list includes many jobs that are suitable for remote work!

Would you like to travel more often? You’re in luck if you like to travel as much as me, but you can’t afford a complete career change.

Traveling the world and earning money is possible in many ways.

You have many options, whether it is to find a job where you can travel, work as a Digital Nomad or pursue other long-term travelling careers.

Travel jobs are available for those without a degree.

My travel blog has slowly evolved into a successful business, which earns six figures a year.

But that is not the only way to travel and enjoy freedom.

Table of Contents

How to Work & Travel the World

First a little disclaimer. Everyone would have a travel-friendly job if they were all easy to obtain. These professions often require passion, special training, commitment and talent. Pay is not always high for those who don’t have the passion, training and time commitment.

Traveling is not a quick way to earn a lot of money.

It takes years to become a nomad who is location independent. This is something that many people ignore.

It’s also possible to travel and work. These people, who I interviewed for the article below, have spent time learning how to make their jobs work. You can do this too if it’s a priority.

How will you spend your 24 hours? What kind of traveler are you?

Expat, Digital Nomad or Backpacker: Which is it?

Not all “travel jobs” are the same. These wanderlust jobs fall into one of four categories: digital nomad jobs (expat jobs), travel industry careers (travel industry careers), or backpacking jobs. What is the difference, you may ask?

Expat Traveling Jobs

Expat is “expatriate”. While you may be a citizen in one country, it is possible to choose to work or live abroad. The only way that expat jobs are related to travel is because you don’t live in your home country. You can live in one country for months, or even years (possibly with a Remote Work Visa) and still not be fully nomadic.

Examples: English teachers, nannies, foreign service, and so on.

Digital Nomads

A Digital Nomad is a person who works on their computer. They are therefore independent of their location. They can make a living as long as they are connected to the Internet. This also describes my life. Digital nomads can travel as they please, working in coffee shops, hotels or co-working spaces. They can also work from home.

Examples: Online business, freelance writing, social media, etc.

Backpacker Jobs

Vagabonds and Backpackers do travel work I will call “alternative”. This is the type of job that doesn’t require a college diploma or computer, but requires a hands-on approach. Think of musicians, artists or manual labor. You could be paid under the table.

Examples Street vendors, musicians, farm work, and so on

Travel Industry Careers

Lastly, I will also include some popular career options in the travel industry. There are also “traditional” jobs in the tourism and hospitality industry. These positions include travel agents, tourism boards and travel marketing.

1. Travel Blogging

Making money while blogging is a dream for people who travel. It’s not easy, but it isn’t impossible. It can take years to earn a living from a travel blog.

A travel blog is not the only way to make money. Food bloggers, mommy blogs, fashion bloggers and lifestyle bloggers are also examples. The main sources of income come from advertising, affiliate programs, product sales and influencer projects. You need to first build an audience.

Working EXAMPLE

Me! Visit my guide for free on to learn how to be a travel blog.

JOB INCOME RANG

$500 – $20,000+ per month

RESOURCES USEFUL

• How to Start a Travel Blog
• Making Money with Your Travel Blog

2. Teach English Abroad

You can speak English. Perfect! English teachers are in high demand around the globe, and can earn decent money. You can find jobs overseas or teach classes from your computer.

A college degree (basically, teaching via Skype) is required for online jobs. For foreign-based positions, a certification is required (Teaching English As a Foreign Language).

Working EXAMPLE

My friend Drew Binsky made his first money by traveling and teaching English to Koreans.

JOB INCOME RANG

$2000 – $3000 per month

USEFUL RESOURCES

• Professional TEFL language course

3. Teach English Online

There’s a growing demand for English tutors to work with children via Skype or video chat. In the past few years, there have been a number of English online teaching services that are mainly based out of China.

You will need to have a college diploma, be a US or Canadian citizen, and speak English fluently in order to apply for a job. TEFL Certification is also helpful. The classes last about 30 minutes.

JOB INCOME RANG

$1000 – $3000 per month

USEFUL RESOURCES

• VIP Child Online English Classes

4. Yacht Sailing Jobs

Imagine working on a private yacht owned by a rich man and sailing the world. It’s a great job, but it requires travel. This is a great way to visit exotic places. You can save money by having your food and accommodation covered.

Deckhands and stewardesses are both entry-level jobs that pay well. You can find work by taking a course and spending time in a yachting destination.

EXAMPLE

Katie, a friend of mine, made money working on private yachts & traveling for nearly ten years.

JOB INCOME RANG

$2000 – $3000 per month

RESOURCES USEFUL

• The Yacht Guru’s Bible

5. Freelance Travel Photographer

It’s a dream to become a travel or adventure photography and sell your images around the globe, but it takes work. You can upload images in bulk on microstock sites, or directly sell them to clients for use in books, magazines, campaigns or websites.

Traveling photographers can also make money by running guided photography tours, or by selling online photography tutorials. You can also get paid for “influencer” work if you grow your social media following over time.

Working EXAMPLE

Brendan , my friend, makes money by selling images of his travels.

JOB INCOME RANG

$1000 – $10,000 per month

Travel Photography Resources

• 10 Best Online Photography Courses
• How to Become a professional photographer

6. Bartending Jobs Abroad

The job description for bars, restaurants and nightclubs is the same all over the world. You may want to take a few language classes to learn the language.

There is no time limit or minimum requirement for this job. The more experience that you have as a bartender the more opportunities for work will arise, and the potential income is higher.

Working EXAMPLE

My friend Jeremy travelled and worked as a Bartender in Australia.

JOB INCOME RANG

$1000 – $3000 per month

USEFUL RESOURCES

• Bartending For Dummies
• How to Get a Bartending Job Overseas

7. Remote Work & Telecommuting

Many businesses now hire remote workers, allowing them to work anywhere they have a WiFi connection or at home. Professionals in many industries are increasingly choosing to work online or via telecommuting.

You may not need to learn any new skills if you are already in a profession that requires them. How do you locate companies who pay you to travel, or hire remote workers? These positions are posted on some of the best remote work job boards. There are many jobs available, including data collection, sales, research and administrative assistants.

JOB INCOME RANG

The Variations are Great

Usable Resources

• FlexJobs Remote Job Board