The way that people earn a living is rapidly changing. We’re seeing more and more individuals embrace online jobs in some capacity every year. Heck, a staggering 57 million Americans freelanced last year and generated nearly $1 trillion in total income. If you’re looking to escape the 9-5 grind and consider yourself a go-getter – or if you’ve been caught up in the economic calamity following the COVID-19 pandemic – pursuing online jobs from home may be a great option for you.
But searching for online work typically means sifting through site after site. As job opportunities get more competitive and new websites claiming to offer the best listings pop up, it’s becoming harder to identify legit online jobs. That’s why we took it upon ourselves to thoroughly research each opportunity and bring you the best internet jobs that can earn you a good income.
In this post, we’re sharing a list of top online jobs that you can start in 2021. For every job we mention, we’re going to provide you with a rough estimate of hourly earnings and some websites where you can apply for the jobs.
Best Online Jobs For 2021
1. Social Media Manager
If you have some experience in running campaigns on social media platforms, you could sign up to help businesses promote their products through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Companies may also need help with managing comments, growing their community, and improving their social-selling efforts. As long as you’re able to add your voice and creativity to posts by creating shareable videos or including hilarious GIFs, you can start taking on clients today.
Hourly earnings: $16-$50
Find jobs on: Indeed, Upwork, PeoplePerHour
2. Online Tutor
Are you an expert in math, physics, or a foreign language? If so, then you can apply for online teaching jobs that require you to tutor students from all over the world. Most employers and job portals require tutors to have a bachelor’s degree, so make sure to have this area covered before you apply. Teaching qualification in ESL or any subject would further improve your chances of becoming an online tutor.
Hourly earnings: $10-25
Find jobs on: Tutor.com, VIPkid, Chegg Tutors
3. Personal Trainer
If you’re a fitness enthusiast and have good knowledge of proper exercise techniques, then consider applying for online personal-training gigs. With online coaching you can train anyone, anytime, anywhere, which gives you the opportunity to take on more clients. You can choose to train people via Zoom/Skype in both group or one-on-one settings.
Hourly earnings: $20-$70
Find jobs on: Fiverr, Glassdoor
4. Virtual Assistant
If you’ve ever wondered if there are online jobs for someone with basic skills, then becoming a virtual assistant (VA) might be a good option for you. You can make some great money by managing simple office tasks, like taking calls and answering emails. The best thing about VA jobs is that you can work as little or as much as you want, which makes them ideal for busy people who may have limited availability because of other commitments.
Hourly earnings: $14-$30
Find jobs on: Virtual Assistant Jobs, FreeUp, Onlinejobs.ph
5. Online Recruiter
Recruiters used to only work in an office setting, but things have changed, and you can now work as an online recruiter from home. Your main duties will include posting vacancies and looking for potential employees for your company. Some companies may also require you to conduct the initial phone interview so you can screen applicants in advance and pass only the best ones to the relevant manager at the firm.
Hourly earnings: $20-40
Find jobs on: CareerBuilder, Remote.co, Jooble
6. Email Marketer
Do you have a specific ability that no one else has? Can you craft email subject lines that people can’t help but click? If so, you can contact businesses and make money online by managing their email campaigns. Once you demonstrate that skill of enticing recipients, employers will rush to secure your service and give you a long-term contract. Major brownie points if you can help businesses grow their email list.
Hourly earnings: $30-$45
Find jobs on: Upwork, PeoplePerHour, LinkedIn
7. Freelance Writer
If you’re a good writer, you can apply to write for blogs, magazines, journals, and even newspapers that publish their content online. Freelance writing is one of those online jobs that pays well because there’s a big need for writers, as more and more companies aim to provide quality content to their audiences. Besides excellent writing skills, you’ll need a passion for the particular niche you’ll be working in, like tech or fashion, for instance.
Hourly earnings: $15-$100
Find jobs on: Problogger Jobs, FlexJobs, BloggingPro
8. Proofreader
Do you have a knack for grammar, can spot errors, and can fix disjointed sentences on the fly? The role of a proofreader may be right up your alley. As a proofreader, you’ll be expected to proof all types of content, including email copy, blog posts, business documents, and more. Basically, you’ll act as a second set of eyes for publishers and help them create content that looks more elegant and professional.
Hourly earnings: $12-$50
Find jobs on: Upwork, Monster, Freelancer
9. Music Reviewer
One of the most fun online jobs is getting paid to listen to your favorite music. There are companies that hire people to review tracks, test out short music samples, or rate new albums. Your feedback helps artists, record labels, and brands fine-tune their music before it’s released to the masses.
Hourly earnings: $5-$15
Find jobs on: SliceThePie, Research.fm
10. Website Designer
If you are skilled at designing websites, you can work for NGOs, tech companies ,and more. Companies that hire you will test your proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, UX, and CSS, so make sure you’re well-prepared in these areas. With just a few skills and the ability to create eye-catching webpages, you could easily earn a good income.
Hourly earnings: $30-$50
Find jobs on: 99designer, Upwork, Indeed
11. Customer Service Rep
Nowadays, many companies are hiring customer service representatives to handle customer queries while working remotely. Training is provided, and you will get to pick a set schedule from a variety of shifts in a 24-hour period. If you have great interpersonal skills and enjoy helping others, consider applying for an online customer service job. Just remember that you’ll need a quiet space to work.
Hourly earnings: $8-$20
Find jobs on: VIPDesk Connect, Glassdoor, We Work Remotely
12. Instagram Influencer
If you are aged 13 to 17 and want to earn your own money (or extra cash), then consider becoming an Instagram influencer. This is one of the best online jobs for teens because you can do it part-time from the comfort of your home. These days, nearly every business is striving to partner with influencers who can expand and sustain their Instagram reach. If you have the ability to create cool Instagram Stories, know what hashtags to use, and can create amazing captions, you will do well as an influencer.
Hourly earnings: $7-$40
Find jobs on: SimplyHired, LinkedIn
13. Transcriptionist
One of the easiest online jobs is transcription. Transcriptionists have to listen to audio recordings and reproduce them in the form of text. This job also requires you to have great attention to detail and be incredibly fast at typing. While not the most popular job type, transcription can be a reliable income stream for someone with lightning-fast fingers.
Hourly earnings: $15-$30
Find jobs on: Transcribe Me, rev.com, Scribie
14. SEO Expert
A lot of companies out there are looking for individuals who can help improve their search engine ranking. To work as an SEO specialist, you must be good at building backlinks and optimizing the existing content of a website. Sometimes, direct experience in the field is preferred or required, but a relevant degree is not mandatory.
Hourly earnings: $15-$50
Find jobs on: Job In SEO, PeoplePerHour, Fiverr
15. Facebook Ads Specialist
Running Facebook ads is an effective way to increase sales, but most businesses simply don’t have the expertise or time to launch campaigns. That’s why Facebook ads specialists are high in demand. As long as you know how to set up enticing ad creatives and tailor campaigns towards specific audience segments, you’d be able to secure various online jobs and decide what firm you wish to work for.
Hourly earnings: $30-$100
Find jobs on: Indeed, SimplyHired, Hubstaff Talent
16. Chat Agent
If you’re willing to help people with their problems but don’t feel comfortable talking on the phone, you can work online as a chat agent. Chat agents offer customer support via text-based chat and are expected to take multiple queries at once. This could be an ideal job for you if you don’t have a private workspace or the majority of your day is spent in front of a PC.
Hourly earnings: $13-$20
Find jobs on: Jooble, Indeed, CrowdChat
17. Graphic Designer
You could also specialize in graphic design. Having well-designed graphics is essential for most businesses, but inexperience in Adobe Photoshop can put off most job seekers almost instantly. What you need to know is that not all companies require fancy designs – some require graphics created through basic tools like PicMonkey and Canva. If you have basic computer skills, you could easily learn how to use these apps and then apply for relevant gigs.
Hourly earnings: $25-$50
Find jobs on: Dribbble, Upwork
18. Voiceover Artist
If you have a naturally smooth accent along with an attractive voice, you may be able to work as a voiceover artist. Online jobs for voiceover artists relate to films, cartoons, podcasts, apps, audio recordings on public transport, dubbing on foreign-language films, and more. Make sure you have a decent computer with a fast internet connection, audio software like Audacity, and studio-quality headphones before you send any applications to potential employers.
Hourly earnings: $20-$60
Find jobs on: PeoplePerHour, Voices.com, Upwork
19. Website Tester
Many brands want to know how easy their websites are to use and hire testing companies to get opinions from real people. As a website tester, you’ll need to answer a set of questions as you navigate through a site. Also, you’ll convey what you think about the user experience through video recording. Videos need to be 20-25 minutes in length. And if you have a good knowledge of how websites work, you could be especially helpful.
Hourly earnings: $15-$25
Find jobs on: UserTesting, Ferpection, TryMyUI
20. Online Moderator
This job requires you to moderate online interactions in online forums, social media groups, and more. Day-to-day duties will involve answering negative comments, categorizing queries, and settling disputes. With the rise in digital communities and chat rooms, the demand for online moderators is expected to remain high in the foreseeable future.
Hourly earnings: $15-$40
Find jobs on: Glassdoor, Cloudworkers, Upwork
Conclusion
The demand for online jobs isn’t going to fade away anytime soon. And in an era where income is on the decline and traditional work policies change day-to-day, the opportunity to earn from the internet could be exactly what you need to stay sane. Whether your goal is to work part-time to build your savings or generate a full-time income while working from home, online jobs can provide serious flexibility that most traditional workers will never experience.