Legitimate Work From Home Jobs – How to Find Them

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Working from home has become a popular option for many reasons, especially in recent years. When I first started looking for remote jobs in 2018, there weren’t nearly as many options as there are now. Fortunately, the number of remote job opportunities is growing in several fields.

Additionally, there are more websites and resources available now than ever before to help you find a remote job. Over the past few years, I’ve used job posting sites like Indeed and FlexJobs to land part-time and contract work-from-home jobs. I’ve also found companies that hire remote workers directly through their websites as well as opportunities to start your online brand or business completely from home.

More recently, I’ve looked into a variety of career choices and job opportunities that let you earn an income completely remotely in 2024. In this article, I’ll take a look at 10 of the most promising legitimate work-from-home jobs and career fields for this year. I’ll also have some advice on how to find remote work and tips on getting hired for a work-from-home job.

This article was updated in January 2024 and I review it every six months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

Legitimate Work-From-Home Opportunities

Over the last few years, working from home has been growing as an alternative to traditional office jobs. Once the COVID-19 pandemic began, remote work skyrocketed. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), research indicates that telework accounted for about 50% of paid work hours between April and December 2020 compared with 5% before the pandemic.

Fortunately, the trend seems to be here to stay. In fact, based on statistics gathered by the remote job search site FlexJobs, remote workers could make up the majority of the workforce in the future. Several companies have switched to long-term fully remote or hybrid work.

Whether you’re looking to offer your services, expertise or products by starting your own business, hoping to earn supplemental income as a freelancer or wanting to work remotely full-time, there are more ways than ever to join the work-from-home community. 

Table of Contents:

Below, I’ll take a close look at 10 kinds of jobs that typically let you work from home. Additionally, you’ll find links to several resources you can use to apply for legitimate work-from-home jobs including job posting sites, remote staffing agencies and companies that frequently offer remote positions.

And I’ve also included a few tips to keep in mind while applying for remote jobs including how to update your resume and how to stand out in an online video interview.

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The Best Work-From-Home Jobs in 2024

Working from home has a variety of benefits. Generally speaking, people who work remotely have more flexibility. They also have the potential to be more productive without commuting or in-office distractions to worry about. It’s a win for companies too. Businesses that hire remote workers can save money on overhead costs and have a larger pool of applicants to hire from. 

If you already have experience or expertise in a specific field, there’s a strong possibility you’ll be able to find or create a remote job in some capacity. If you’re looking for something completely new, there are a variety of entry-level work-from-home opportunities available as well.

Instead of part-time or full-time opportunities with one company, you may choose to work as a freelancer. This is a great way to earn money on a flexible schedule, and you basically get to pick and choose what you work on. Depending on how much work you’re willing to do, there’s no limit to how much you can earn as a remote freelancer. 

If you do decide to look into a freelancing job, be sure to check out these four things to know about freelancing.

I recently researched a variety of common remote work-from-home jobs to see which offer the best wages, the most employment opportunities and the highest potential for success in 2024. I looked at recommendations on remote jobs from Indeed as well as data from FlexJobs on the top work-from-home companies. Also, I considered recently posted remote positions on FlexJobs and Indeed, job salaries posted on Indeed and Glassdoor and typical experience/education requirements outlined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here, you’ll find 10 of our top picks:

Job TitleAverage Hourly Base Pay
Digital Designer or Graphic Designer$21-$33
Marketing Manager$31-$41
Nurse$30-$40
Product Designer or Manager$36-$51
Project Manager$41-$62
Social Media Manager$21-$25
Software Developer or Engineer$46-$52
Translator$21-$22
Web Developer$33-$39
Writer / Copywriter$25-$26

Below, I’ve detailed information on job responsibilities and requirements from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, tips on how to get started and where to look for current job postings. 


Digital Designer or Graphic Designer

Average Base Pay: $21-$33 hourly according to Indeed (graphic designer; digital designer) and Glassdoor (graphic designer; digital designer)

If you can create digital art, graphic design or digital design could be an excellent field for remote work. 

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Graphic designers may create things like logos, magazine layouts and more. According to the BLS, there’s a +3% projected job outlook between 2021-2023. Flexjobs lists graphic design as #6 on its list of the top 10 industries that posted the most work-from-anywhere jobs in the first quarter of 2023.

Digital designers need many of the same skills as graphic designers, but they typically focus on moving and interactive elements such as website interfaces, animations and more. According to the BLS, there’s a projected job outlook of +23% between 2021-2023, which makes digital design a great field to get into! Also, Indeed lists “Digital Designer” as #22 on its latest list of the best remote jobs to pursue.

To get a better idea of what skills are required and how much you can earn, check out the latest job postings here: 


Marketing Manager

Average Base Pay: $31-$41 hourly according to Indeed and Glassdoor

Between January and April 2023, marketing was the #1 industry to post the most work-from-anywhere jobs on FlexJobs. Online marketing earned the #8 spot on the same list. Indeed also lists “Marketing Manager” as #26 on its list of the 35 current best work-from-anywhere jobs.

According to the BLS, advertising, promotions and marketing managers earned a 2021 median pay of $64.12 per hour ($133,380 per year), which means there’s tons of room for advancement in this field. Additionally, the projected job growth from 2021-2031 is 10%, which is higher than average. 

I did a quick search for remote marketing manager jobs online in June 2023 and found thousands of job postings on Indeed and FlexJobs. Many of these jobs require a bachelor’s degree and some relevant experience. However, if this is your field, you’ll likely be able to find a remote position that pays well!

To learn more about becoming a marketing manager, check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics. I also recommend this great article on Coursera that outlines what a marketing manager does and how to get started including links to free courses you can take!


Nurse

Average Base Salary: $30-$40 hourly according to Indeed and Glassdoor

While you may think of nursing as an in-person job, the Covid-19 pandemic proved that there’s a definite demand for remote healthcare. Fortunately, this opens up the option of remote work for thousands of nurses.

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“Nurse practitioner” recently earned the #2 position on Indeed’s list of the best remote jobs to pursue. I did a quick job search in June 2023 and found nearly 2,000 remote nurse positions on Indeed as well as 450+ positions for nurses that are 100% remote on FlexJobs

I saw remote positions for nurses that ranged from nursing education to remote care, documentation specialists, consultants, case managers, call centers, supervisors and more. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2021 median pay for registered nurses was $37.31 per hour or $77,600 per year. Plus, there’s a 6% projected job growth over the next years, which is as fast as average. 

To become a nurse, you will have to have some formal education including a bachelor’s degree at least. You can learn more about becoming a nurse on the BLS website


Product Designer or Manager

Average Base Pay: $36-$51 hourly according to Indeed (product designer; product manager) and Glassdoor (product designer; product manager)

Product designers and managers work together to develop concepts and improve the user experience for manufactured products. 

FlexJobs lists both Product Designer (#5) and Product Manager (#6) on its top 10 list of the most popular remote job titles at the beginning of this year. The study specifically mentioned a “rise and higher-than-usual demand for work-from-anywhere product managers and product designers.” Indeed also lists “Product Manager” as #6 on its list of the best remote jobs

In June 2023, I found thousands of remote product designer jobs on Indeed and FlexJobs. I also found thousands of job postings for product managers on both sites (Indeed; FlexJobs). 


Project Manager

Average Base Pay: $41-$62 hourly according to Indeed and Glassdoor

Another great remote job to consider is as a project manager. Project management specialists are in charge of the budget, schedules and other details of projects. They may be required to communicate with clients, determine a project’s requirements and objectives, develop project plans, select vendors or consultants, assign responsibilities, monitor costs and milestones, and more. 

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While this sounds like a lot to take care of remotely, it’s actually becoming quite common. Indeed recently named “Project Manager” one of the top remote jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, project management specialists earned a median pay of $45.43 per hour or $94,500 per year in 2021. Plus, there’s a projected job growth outlook of 7% over the next 10 years. 

I did a quick job search in June 2023 for remote project manager positions and found nearly 5,000 job postings on Indeed as well as over 6,000 job postings on FlexJobs

While many of these jobs require a bachelor’s degree and/or relevant experience, pursuing this field could pay off in the long run. During my research, I found this remote job offered the highest average hourly base pay according to Indeed and Glassdoor!

To learn how to get started as s project manager, check out the BLS’ website. You can also check out this article from Coursera which includes an excellent step-by-step guide on how to pursue a career in project management.


Social Media Manager

Average Base Pay: $21-$25 according to Indeed and Glassdoor

A social media manager helps to establish and maintain a company’s presence online. In this role, a person may be in charge of writing and/or scheduling social media content across a variety of platforms, responding to comments and messages, launching promotional campaigns and analyzing growth. 

If you have experience in social media marketing, you can find remote work available on job posting websites, company websites or by reaching out directly to businesses that you’d like to work for

According to FlexJobs, “Social Media Manager” was one of the most popular remote job titles posted between January and April 2023. I did a quick job search on Indeed in June 2023, and I found nearly 3,000 results for remote social media management jobs. On FlexJobs, I found just over 1,100.

Of course, previous experience is generally required for a management position. Before you begin applying for remote jobs, be sure to have a portfolio of your best recent work or links to social media accounts that you maintain. Including these in your job application can help you stand out. 

For more tips on how to become a social media manager, check out this comprehensive article from Indeed.

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Software Developer or Engineer

Average Base Pay: $46-$52 hourly according to Indeed and Glassdoor (software developer; software engineer)

Software developers and engineers work to design computer applications and programs. You’ll find that many of the jobs require the same skills, though experience requirements will vary based on the position you’re applying for. 

FlexJobs lists “Software Engineer” as one of the top 10 industries that posted the most work-from-anywhere jobs between January and April 2023. Indeed lists “Software Developer” as one of the top 10 best remote jobs to pursue.

In June 2023, I found over 18,500 remote job postings for both software developers and software engineers on Indeed. On FlexJobs, I found nearly 1,500 job postings for remote software developers and over 3,600 job postings for remote software engineers

According to the BLS, there’s a +25% projected job outlook for software developers between 2021-2031, which makes this a great field to go into. You can learn more about how to become a software developer/engineer here, and check out this article from Coursera on the difference between the two roles to determine which jobs you should apply for.


Translator

Average Base Pay: $21-$22 hourly according to Indeed and Glassdoor

If you can speak another language, you can likely use that skill to land a great work-from-home job. I did a quick search for remote translator work in June 2023 and found over 500 jobs posted on Indeed as well as nearly 200 jobs on FlexJobs.

Of course, you’ll need to find a company looking for a translator specifically in the language(s) you speak. Between January and April 2023, FlexJobs noted a “rise and higher-than-usual demand” for Chinese translators. In fact, it landed the #1 spot for the most popular remote job titles so far this year.

According to the BLS, interpreters and translators earned a median pay of $23.61 per hour in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, there’s a predicted job outlook of +20% from 2021-2031, which makes this a great field to get into if you know a second language (especially Chinese!)


Web Developer

Average Base Pay: $33-$39 hourly according to Indeed and Glassdoor

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Web developers are in high demand right now with thousands of positions open for remote work. In fact, Indeed lists “Web Developer” as one of the top job titles for remote work to look out for this year.

Web developers are responsible for creating and maintaining websites. They may have to meet with clients to discuss the needs of a website, create and test designs, write code for the website, work with graphics and other designers, monitor website traffic and more. 

According to the BLS, the 2021 median pay for web developers and digital designers was $37.65 per hour or $78,300 per year. Plus, there’s a predicted 23% job growth outlook from 2021-2031, which is much faster than average.

I did a quick job search for remote web developer positions in June 2023. I found nearly 5,500 job postings on Indeed and another 850+ job postings on FlexJobs.

Many positions require a bachelor’s degree and/or some relevant experience. However, there are entry-level positions available. To learn more about how to become a web developer, check out this page on the BLS website. Additionally, be sure to check out this article from Coursera which includes links to free courses you can take to get started. 


Writer / Copywriter

Average Base Pay: $25-$26 hourly according to Indeed and Glassdoor

If you’re a skilled writer or editor, remote jobs are available everywhere. Many companies and individuals outsource their content development, which means there’s a huge job market for freelance writers.

FlexJobs included “Copywriter” as #2 of the top 10 most popular remote job titles so far this year. I did a quick job search in June 2023 and found more than 1,700 remote writing positions posted on Indeed as well as over 5,300 job search results for a remote writer on FlexJobs.

According to the BLS, writers and authors as well as editors earned a similar median pay in 2021 of around $65,000 annually or $31 hourly. That means there’s a great opportunity to earn a sustainable full-time income, plus these jobs can be done entirely remotely. 


How To Find Legitimate Work-From-Home Jobs

Whether you’re looking for full-time work or a part-time position, there are several ways to start making money. 

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If you’re going to start your own business online, you may have to find some specific ways to monetize your website such as advertisements and affiliate links. If instead, you’re looking to work for a wage, whether as a freelancer or a full-time employee, there are a few ways to find legitimate job postings.

There are a lot of listings online that are not legitimate, so take care to protect your personal information and be wary of anything that doesn’t sound quite right.

Here are three good ways to look for remote job opportunities: 

1. Job Posting Websites

These websites let companies post job opportunities and allow applicants to upload resumes, attach related documents, write cover letters and apply for jobs. You’ll find opportunities to freelance, work part-time or work full-time from home on these websites. Below are three popular job posting sites that offer legitimate work-from-home opportunities: 

  • Indeed (Review): You can create a free account on Indeed to begin applying for jobs. It’s easy to filter your search to include only remote positions, and you’ll find postings in hundreds of fields. 
  • FlexJobs (Review): This option isn’t free, but it’s still worth checking out. FlexJobs filters out spam job postings and focuses on flexible, remote opportunities. You can pay $6.95 for a week or $14.95 for a month to try it yourself. 
  • Upwork (Review): Focusing on work-from-home freelance jobs, Upwork is a great place to look for remote work. You’ll find hundreds of categories, skills and deliverables on Upwork.

Before you visit a job posting website, be sure that your resume is up-to-date. If you’re applying to a competitive position that requires relevant experience, you should also gather some of your previous work into a portfolio that you can submit online. Finally, it never hurts to have a general cover letter drafted before applying for jobs in similar industries. 

2. Online Staffing Agencies

This is just like going through a traditional staffing agency, only you’ll be able to focus on work-from-home job opportunities. You’ll most likely find part-time and full-time remote jobs here, so this is a great option to consider if you’re looking to make a big shift away from the traditional setting. Here are a few online staffing agencies that may be worth exploring: 

  • Aerotek: Established over 35 years ago, this staffing agency offers roles and positions in virtually every major industry including industrial and skilled trades, office/corporate positions, engineering and accounting. 
  • FlexProfessionals: This company focuses on finding part-time, flexible and remote opportunities for job seekers in Washington, D.C., Montgomery County, Maryland, northern Virginia and Boston. You can read more about the company on FlexJobs.
  • Kelly Services: Established in 1968, Kelly Services has grown into a successful outsourcing, consulting and staffing solutions agency. In 2021, Kelly Services provided employment to more than 350,000 workers.

If you’re thinking about making a career change to online remote work, going through a staffing agency may be the right choice for you. 

3. Company Websites

Applying directly to company websites is another great way to find work. With many companies shifting toward outsourcing and work-from-home models, you’ll find plenty of credible companies looking to hire remote workers directly through their websites. I found a few well-known companies that appear to post new remote positions regularly:

  • Amazon: Amazon is always posting virtual work-from-home positions. In addition to part-time and full-time careers, you can also claim freelance projects with Amazon Mechanical Turk.
  • Concentrix: Concentrix specializes in the work-from-home model and offers a variety of remote career opportunities. In the past, I’ve seen job postings for team leaders, customer service representatives, sales advisors, recruiters, technical support advisors and more. 
  • GitHub: A subsidiary of Microsoft, GitHub offers remote positions in a variety of fields including business development, communications, design, engineering, finance, legal, sales and security.
  • Dell: Dell was names one of the top 100 remote work companies to watch in 2022 by FlexJobs, and you can still find full-time remote jobs as well as hybrid office/remote positions available now online.
  • Thomson Reuters: This company specializes in providing information for businesses and professionals around the world. At the time of writing, there were over 70 remote positions open including customer success executive, sales executive, product manager and more.
  • Teemwork: Working for Teemwork is a great way to earn money online by completing projects for a variety of cutting-edge IT companies. Focusing on skills in languages and technology, Teemwork provides jobs in areas that include hardware testing, data entry, localization and translation.

The companies I’ve listed here are just a few examples of what I found while searching for work-from-home jobs. For more ideas on where to apply, check out this list of 30 companies that hire for work-from-anywhere jobs from FlexJobs. 

4. Social Media and Networking Events

Many startup businesses are interested in hiring, and the only way to get some of these job opportunities is by making connections.

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Working for a tech company or startup business can be a great way to find steady remote work. And that applies to nearly any job title you’d find in a traditional office.

With so many companies moving toward work-from-home models, you’ll be able to find remote listings for several traditional positions on job sites, at staffing agencies, directly on company career pages and especially by connecting with small business owners on social media and at professional networking events.

With remote work increasing so rapidly, some positions are more competitive, which means some experience is generally required and higher education or certifications may also be expected.


Tips for Applying for Work-From-Home Jobs

Once you’ve decided what type of work you’re looking for, it’s important to make sure you have everything you’ll need to fill out that online job application. 

To save time during the application process and to make yourself stand out as a qualified applicant, follow these five tips before applying to work-from-home jobs: 

1. Update Your Resume

You want your resume to stand out and showcase your best work in an easy-to-read way. Spend some time updating your resume with these nine tips. Note that many job applications will ask for the same information that you include on your resume such as the years of your most recent job experience and previous employers’ contact information, so having that information all in one place works as a quick reference for you! 

2. Create a Portfolio

Take the time to combine your most recent and best work into a digital portfolio. In the past, I’ve made a shareable Google Drive folder to use as my digital portfolio, but yours may be much simpler or much more creative. Including a portfolio of relevant work will help you give potential employers a better idea of what you can bring to the table.

3. Write a Cover Letter

A cover letter is another great way to stand out whether it’s required in the application or not. Since you may not meet your potential employer face-to-face and since remote positions are often highly competitive, doing anything you can to separate yourself from your competition is important. You’ll most likely be applying to jobs that are in the same field, so you may be able to write a generic cover letter and change only select words and phrases before submitting it along with each job application.

4. Update Your LinkedIn Profile

LinkedIn can be a great place to showcase your skills and experience (it can even double as your online portfolio!). It can also help as you connect with other professionals who have or know of job opportunities. If you’re hoping to establish an online presence or looking for people who may be interested in your remote services, LinkedIn can be a great resource. Check out these 25 best LinkedIn profile tips and tricks to update your professional networking profile. 

5. Prepare for an Interview

Just like a regular job, your potential employer will most likely want to talk to you before offering you a job, whether it’s part-time, full-time or even a contract position. Now, in the age of Zoom, online video interviews are common. I spoke to Brie Reynolds, Career Development Manager at FlexJobs, to get some tips on how to ace your online video interview. You can check out the top seven tips here.

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Ultimately, applying for a work-from-home job isn’t much different from applying for a regular job. Take the time to make your application stand out and try to build an online presence to increase your chances of success in finding remote work. 


Final Thoughts

Finding work-from-home jobs is easier now than it’s ever been with so many companies shifting toward outsourcing and remote models. Right now, there are tons of legitimate job opportunities out there for remote work; you just have to know where to look. Job posting websites, staffing agencies and the websites of legitimate companies are great places to start looking for remote jobs.

Of course, there are several work-from-home scams that have surfaced throughout the years online. Check out the video below for tips on spotting a work-from-home scam.

While scams are always going to be a threat in the online world, there are plenty of legitimate work-from-home opportunities. Between freelancing, part-time and full-time remote work, I’ve personally been working from home for several years now.

The first step to finding a remote job is deciding what type of work you’d like to do. Whether you decide to build your own online business, become a freelancer or work for a company as a remote employee, you’ll find no shortage of options when it comes to work-from-home job opportunities. And there are hundreds of free online resources for learning new skills.

Have you tried any of these work-from-home jobs? Let us know in the Clark.com Community!

Article Updates
  • June 19, 2023: Removed “Accountant,” “Recruiter,” “Customer Service Representative,” and “Executive Assistant;” added “Product Designer/Manager,” “Software Developer/Engineer,” and “Digital Designer/Graphic Designer” based on the latest industry data
  • June 19, 2023: Updated each career’s salary and current job postings
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