50 Travel jobs and ways to make money while traveling

If you’re reading this article, you probably want to become a digital nomad and change your life around. I know this sounds difficult but it’s not impossible and even more importantly, it’s never too late! I’ve seen people in their 50s turning their life around to chase their dreams of traveling the world. If this is something you want to do, keep reading. Try to imagine your dream life and try imagining how it would feel like if you gave one of the travel jobs on this list a shot. If any of these excites you, give it a shot (if no experience is needed) or set a goal and start working on it. It’s that simple!

Although there are numerous ways to save money while traveling, you can never completely eliminate travel costs. Needless to say, this can make a hole in your pocket when traveling long-term, whether you’re a seasoned traveler or a beginner. Even if you save up before going away, there is only so much a person can put aside. And after that money is gone, you’ll need to find some other ways to make money while traveling. Fortunately, there are a lot of options to do this. Here are the 50 best travel jobs divided into four categories:

• Backpacker jobs– travel jobs that anyone can do and that don’t require any special qualifications;
• Jobs that require traveling- jobs that can be done by most people but require some kind of qualifications;
• Expat jobs- jobs that require you to travel and move to another country for work. Most of these travel jobs require special qualifications;
• Digital Nomad Jobs- jobs that allow one to earn while traveling. Most of them don’t require some particular qualifications but they do require a specific sklillset.

Let’s start from the beginning!

Backpacker travel jobs

I’ll call this category “backpacker jobs” because they can be done by anyone without any qualifications or expertise and you can do them part-time while you travel without any stress or pressure. Most of these are odd-end jobs that you can do in order to have enough money while you’re traveling abroad or perhaps to save enough to book a ticket back home. These travel jobs have one thing in common; they are short-term solutions (at least for most people) and if you’re a youngster that wants to extend his/her trip and keep the adventure going, it’s a perfect fit!

However, before you get into one of these jobs, keep in mind that these aren’t 100% legal and most of them are in some kind of grey area because you’ll be working without receiving any extra benefits, or “under the table” for lack of a better term. Not all jobs are under the table, but a significant majority are. For the jobs that are 100% legitimate and on file, there is a wealth of online tax tools available that can help you determine the best course of action for filing taxes, even with short-term employment stints. With that being said, let’s see which are some of the most popular backpacker travel jobs out there!

Bartender

Resorts, hostels, hotels, and even some bars are always looking for bartenders. If you have some experience or at least willingness to learn, you can easily land one of these travel jobs just by having a short conversation with the manager. Bartending anywhere pays quite decent compared to the average backpacker standard. You can be getting between $5 and $50 per hour depending on the country, which is a great side income. Alternatively, some hostels or bars might offer you some other benefits like free accommodation or free drinks (plus you get to keep the tips) which is also a great option for a budget traveler.

Typical Pay: $5-$50 per hour

Waiter

Even if you have no previous experience, you can still get a job at some bar or restaurant. Obviously, you’d need experience to work in a fancy restaurant but some other not-so-known restaurants might be looking for a part-time helper.

Earnings: $5-20 per hour + tips (depending on the country)

Party promoter

Party-focused tour companies in different parts of the world are always searching for charismatic individuals that can help promote their parties, events, and festivals. This is not only a great way to earn some money and get some free drinks but also to meet some new cool people from different parts of the world. All you have to do is make sure to get more people to come to the party and afterward, make sure everyone is having a great time.

The typical earnings from this job are between $500 and $1,000 per month.

Festival worker

There are hundreds of festivals around the world that take place every day and they need volunteers in order to keep the show going. These events need side performers, food stall attendants, maintenance people, etc. This is a great short-term job that one can do while traveling. You might have to work hard for a few days but you’ll earn some extra bucks (and get some free food). Additionally, the difference between summers in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere is on your side; oftentimes, you can move from country to country and work on different festivals for almost an entire year. You can find some great opportunities on Hot Box Events.

Earnings: $7-$20 per hour

Hostel worker

Hostels around the world generally have a high turnover rate and are always looking for fresh blood. If you’re backpacking, you’ll probably stay in a lot of hostels. If you offer your services to some of them, they might just hire you. It’s a great way to score free accommodation, free meals, or even some pocket money. Your job as a hostel worker would typically consist of prepping food, cleaning services, and housekeeping.

Working on the farm

Working on the farm certainly won’t make you richer financially, but you’ll get to experience authentic life at the farm, help Australia boost its food tourism, get a roof over your head and fresh, organically-produced food every day. If you’re looking to get a farm job, you can search for opportunities on websites like WWOOF.

An Australian holiday visa worker

Australia and New Zealand have this thing called “Holiday Work Visa” that allows travelers to get short-term travel jobs. You can work for a few months and travel for a few more but the work/travel ratio depends mostly on your preference. And a lot of these jobs pay relatively well, even for Australian standards. Needless to say, the earning potential depends on how much you’ll travel, how long you’ll work, how much you spend, how much you explore (and there’s a lot to explore in Australia), etc. but I’ve seen people saving up to $15,000 per year.

Seasonal travel jobs

A lot of travelers spend time abroad doing seasonal travel jobs for a few months and traveling for the rest of the year. And the number of seasonal travel jobs you can get is countless; you can work in construction, fishing, picking fruits and vegetables, help with wine-making, olive plantations, work on oil fields, ski resorts, etc.

Tree planting

Even though some might consider this to be a seasonal job, there are parts of the world where this can be done throughout the year. As more cities and municipalities try to go green, there’s always work for tree planters. The job isn’t difficult and neither is the lifestyle. All you need to do is plant, travel, and repeat. The earning potential is different in different countries but I’ve seen people getting paid up to $250 per day in developed countries!

App downloading

Whether we’d like to admit it or not, we all spend a lot of time on our smartphones nowadays. But, did you know you can actually make some money just by downloading apps? There are numerous market research apps online that will pay people to download apps, play games, share content, test apps, participate in free trials, etc. and share their opinions.

Even though this job obviously can’t be your primary source of income, you can make some good side money. The earnings from this are around $5 per hour.

Watching online ads

Another thing you can do with your laptop/smartphone is watching online ads in exchange for small payments. This won’t be as profitable as some of the other travel jobs on this list but it’s a good thing to do when you have some extra time on your hands. By doing this, you can get between $100 and $300 per month, depending on how much time you’re willing to spend.

Survey taking

There are a lot of companies online that offer money for taking surveys. This is also not a good choice if you’re looking for a full-time job but if you combine it with watching online ads and downloading apps (you can multi-task these three if you have a phone and a good travel laptop), you can make some nice money that will help you extend your trip. Again, how much you earn depends on how much time you spend, but most companies pay a couple of cents per question answered.

Street performer

If you know how to play a musical instrument or have some other talents, you should definitely give street performing a chance. Obviously, this can’t be a permanent income but it can get you a few bus/train tickets here and there while you’re traveling around. Just go on the most famous tourist sights or other places where you know there will be an audience and give it a shot! If you’re really gifted, I’ve seen people doing $50-$60 per day doing this.

Street vendor

This is probably the most difficult backpacker travel job on this list because it requires some kind of supplies and investment and no one can guarantee it will work. You can sell anything you might think of; jewelry, pottery, bracelets, clothes, etc. If you have a good idea for a product that you think a lot of people would buy, go for it. Just make sure you don’t need to get some kind of permit before you start.

Earning potential: $0-$150 per day (revenue, not profit).

HelpX and Workaway

HelpX and Workaway are two websites that list numerous opportunities around the world. Most of the opportunities are volunteering jobs that provide housing and accommodation but you can also find a few part-time jobs here and there. Some of the most popular travel jobs you can come across on these websites are teaching English, translating, working in a hostel, babysitting, farming, etc.

Yoga Teacher

Even though some might consider this to be an expat job, I’ve seen a lot of travelers who give yoga classes while traveling as a way to boost their income. A lot of travelers want to remain fit while on vacation and yoga is a great way to do that. The best part about it is you can do it anywhere as yoga retreats are becoming more popular even in countries in which yoga was never a thing. You can have a talk with the people in the hostel you’re staying in, on the cruise you’re about to take, etc. Just pick a location where you think a lot of people would be interested in taking yoga classes, pick a few places that could benefit from having a yoga instructor, and reach out to them. It’s that simple.

Earning potential: Free food or accommodation-$100 per hour if you’re really good and manage to find a luxurious property.

Travel-Required Jobs

Travel-required jobs are just that- jobs that require you to travel. The jobs on this list are great for people that love to travel. Some of them require certain qualifications but with some preparations, there aren’t any obstacles why you couldn’t do these jobs. However, they do have their cones. The biggest one, in my opinion, is the fact that you would have very limited time and flexibility to go out and explore on your own.

Cruise/Yacht Worker

If you like sailing and can manage to stay in the high seas for months, this job is perfect for you. Most cruise workers sign contracts of 6-9 months, the jobs are generally entry-level, and you need to take a short course prior to your departure. A lot of people do this only for a few months or perhaps, a few years, hence, it’s a high turnover field and cruisers around the world are in need of new workers all the time.

That being said, these jobs require to work up to 12 hours per day and you have very limited free time. Even when you’re off the clock, you’re still on the ship but the good thing is all of your meals are sorted and you have no place to spend the money you’re earning. And considering you’ll be getting between $2,000 and $4,000 per month, you can save a lot of money in one season.

Flight Attendant

Being a flight attendant sure isn’t easy and most airlines have a very strict hiring process but if you like traveling, this can be a rewarding job. You might have to work long hours and you might not get a lot of free time but you’ll stay in the world’s best hotels for free and have exclusive employee discounts that you can use to fly anywhere for a fraction of the price.

Earning potential: $2,000-$4,000 per month, depending on the airline

Wilderness guide

If you love hiking and know how to get around and survive in the wild, you have to consider this. Companies in all national parks across the world are always looking for new guides to lead groups that booked a day-trip or multi-day trips, especially during the peak season. The most important thing you need for this job is Wilderness First Responder Certificate and some experience. However, keep in mind that in the peak season, you’ll oftentimes have to take back-to-back trips and this is something you have to be willing to do.

Earning potential: $70-$250 per tour

Tour guide

If you have in-depth knowledge about a certain area, why not use it? Hundreds of tour companies need more tour guides when peak season comes. Needless to say, peak seasons are different in different countries and if you invest some time in learning as much as you can about 10-15 different destinations, you can really make a sustainable income out of this.

Typical Pay: $10-$20 per hour

Travel Nurse

If you are a registered nurse, the entire world is yours for the taking. Hundreds of HR agencies around the world are always looking for adventurous nurses who are willing to travel abroad on short-term assignments. You can work anywhere, from developing countries in Africa to luxurious cruise ships and most of the time, housing is included as a part of the deal.

Earning potential: $30-$45 per hour

Travel Writer

For many people, including myself, this is a dream job. As a travel writer, you have the freedom to work on as many different projects as you can handle. The best option is to write for magazines who pay you to travel somewhere and write about that destination but you can also proofread other people’s content, write a book, or even proofread travel websites. If your writing is good, this might be your chance to get a job that will allow you to travel all the time. As for the earnings, depending on what you’re doing and who you’re working for, you could be earning between $30 and $500 per article.

Travel Consultant

Travel consultants are people who put together itineraries for different cities or countries. The main task of a travel consultant is to make travelers experience the best of the local flavor of the place that they chose to spend their vacation in. Travel consultants should be able to plan trips for all kinds of trips, whether it’s a group trip, family trip or solo trip, a skiing trip or a safari, etc.

Expat travel jobs

An expat is a person who leaves home and travels to a new country and settles there with a new job. The list of expat travel jobs is clearly infinite as whatever you do in your home country, you can do abroad but in this section, we’ll list some of the most popular choices.

Diving instructor

Scuba diving today is more popular than ever and more and more tourists decide to go scuba diving during their holiday. It’s natural to expect that this number will only keep increasing, and hence, a lot more companies will need to hire diving instructors, even if they are foreigners. If this is something you want to do, head to the nearest diving center and work your way up to the Divemaster Certificate. This might be costly but if you’re passionate about it after you get that certificate, you can work anywhere on the planet.

How much can you earn? Between $1,000 and $4,000 per month

Work at ski resorts

When winter comes and everyone heads to the mountains, you can bet there’s no ski center that couldn’t use an extra hand. You can do anything that suits you and that you’re qualified to do. You can work as a housekeeper, in the kitchen, in hospitality, as a ski or snowboard instructor, etc. And let’s not forget that winter sports (and vacations) are costly, so you’ll be making some decent money, considering this will be a part-time job.

How much can you make? Between $10 and $30 per hour

Masseuse

I know a lot of travelers around the world that can’t imagine ending a long day of exploring a new environment without a massage. And if you have a massage therapist certificate, you should definitely use it. I met masseuses in different corners of the world that move from one place to another while earning some nice money along the way. It depends on how good you are and how much competition you have but you should easily be making between $10 and $60 per hour.

Surfing instructor

If you like traveling to places that have beaches and waves and like surfing, you might consider turning this into a lifestyle. As long as you know your surfing and know how to deal with emergencies, you can join a surfing school, open your own, or just approach people on the beach that might be interested in surfing lessons. If you’re good at it, you should be getting at least $10-$15 per lesson.

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Kitesurfing instructor

All skills that are hard to master can get you a very nice job and kitesurfing is no exception. Having in mind the danger associated with it, this is a job with a high entry barrier and as a result, quality kitesurfing instructors are welcome in numerous destinations around the world. If you’re a certified instructor, there’s no reason why you couldn’t be able to get a job anywhere in the world and make at least $20 per hour.

Construction Worker

The number of young people interested in pursuing construction work decreases every year while more experienced workers retire every year. However, the number of construction projects is not decreasing but on the contrary, is increasing. That’s why a lot of countries literally have to import construction workers to work on some of their projects. If you’re a qualified construction worker with some experience, a lot of people around the world are in need of your services. Use that. You can find some of these opportunities on the above-mentioned HelpX and Workaway.

Peace Corps Volunteer

If you’re an empathic person that likes to help others, this job is perfect for you. You can gain some valuable experience and make the world a better place by helping people that need your help. However, you can’t always choose where will you be stationed and unlike other jobs in this list, this job is very demanding and if you choose it, you need to be ready for a two-year commitment. The earnings vary from getting nothing but free food and accommodation up to getting $500 per month.

Housesitting

Housesitting is one job that not a lot of people know is a job but when talking about travel jobs, this is as good as it gets. The job consists of taking care of a property while the owner is away. This can last as long as the owner is away and is a great opportunity to visit and live in a new city. It’s a bit tricky to get your first gig when you don’t have any references but after you get your first deal, everything will be a lot easier.

Au Pair

If you love kids and like to travel abroad, there are a lot of opportunities on websites like Aupair. This job consists of staying with a family and taking care of their children while you get free housing and meals. Additionally, you will also be getting a salary which can range starting from pocket money all the way up to $1,000 per month.

English teacher

This is probably the most popular choice for young people that are looking for jobs that will allow them to earn some money while living in a foreign country. English is already established as the world’s most widely spoken language and English teachers are always in high demand. All you need in order to start is a TOEFL/ IELTS certificate. If this sounds interesting, you can check out sites like VIPKID, Teachaway, and GoOverSeas. The earning potential varies from country to country, but you can expect to make somewhere between $500 and $2,000 per month.

Digital Nomad Jobs

In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, digital nomads are people that have jobs that can be done despite of their location. Most of your favorite bloggers and YouTubers are digital nomads but this term isn’t exclusive only to this group of people. As you will see below, there are a lot of jobs that can be done remotely. Let’s start with the basics:

Blogging

Starting a successful blog and making the blog profitable can take years but it’s one of the most rewarding jobs one can have. Yes, you read that right- I said jobs. When taken seriously, blogging can be a full-time job and most professional bloggers work more than 40 hours per week. The benefits of this are evident- you can work from anywhere, preferably countries where your dollars can go further. Depending on how much time you invest in it and how many partnerships you can make, you can be earning anywhere from $100 to $20,000+ per month. However, if this is something you want to do, you need to acknowledge that there are thousands of blogs on the internet and come up with a way that will make you better than them in your own unique way.

Traveling photographer

Traveling photographers visit places that most humans can only dream of. And if you’re very good with your camera, you can show these people those destinations through your images and even sell them on sites like Shutterstock. Additionally, you can create a website where you’ll share your pictures and monetize it. In addition to buying a high-quality camera, you’ll probably need to learn a few things if you want to do this, such as how to edit photos in Photoshop to make them more appealing. A lot of publishers and even magazines buy pictures for their publications because they want to avoid the headaches of causing copyright infringement by using photos that they don’t have permission to use.

Earning potential: $500+ per month

If you’re looking to buy your first professional camera, check out this great offer by Olympus.

Videographer

With some practice, almost anyone can be a decent photographer but videography is something else. It will take a lot more time to become very good at this. You will need to take several different courses and learn how to work with a range of tools but if you become very good, you’ll be leaving the dream. The world is turning towards videos more and more and soon, essentially every company that wants to do marketing will need a videographer to help them with their videos. Moreover, if you make neat videos, you can also make your YouTube channel and monetize it as an additional source of income.

Website/graphic designer

According to Netcraft, there are more than 1,805,260,000 websites in the world in 2019. And to be quite honest, most of them look horrible. That’s why right now, it’s the best time to be a web designer. The number of clients you can land is almost unlimited as you can see from the number above even though the competition is fearsome. If you want to be a successful designer, you’ll probably need to take a few courses and practice a lot but once you get there, it’ll be worth it. You can easily earn $1,000 per month by doing this.

Programmer

Similarly like websites, thousands of new apps and software are being created every day. And if you’re good at coding, a lot of companies on the market could use your services. This is great because you don’t need to go to the office from Monday to Friday and you can work on multiple different projects at the same time. And since excellent programmers on the market are a scarcity, you can easily be making at least $3,000 per month.

Stock trader

If you like finance and you are up to date with all the latest news from the stock market, why don’t you give it a shot? But don’t get me wrong; when I say giving a shot, I don’t mean leaving everything you have and investing in order to travel the world. It’s probably a good idea to work and save money at the same time while you’re developing your portfolio. And once you consider your portfolio to be safe enough, you can start your next great adventure. You’d be surprised to see how many people manage to travel the world while doing this.

Online translator

If you’re fluent in two or more languages, you have an easy path to some extra income for your travel adventures. You can find a lot of potential clients on websites like Upwork and Fiverr that will need your help translating business brochures, websites, manuals, etc.

Earning potential: $20-$50 per hour

Online English teacher/tutor

Traveling to another country to teach English isn’t the only option you have if you want to earn while traveling the world. You can also land a job teaching English online, mostly through some kind of web—conference tool. You might have one-on-one lessons or you might work with an entire class but if you can commit enough time, you can earn a sustainable income. If this sounds interesting, check out websites like GoGoKid and English First. Additionally, you can tutor kids (or even adults) on anything you’re good at. You can find a lot of opportunities on websites like Tutor me.

Dropshipping

In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, drop-shipping is a supply chain method in which the retailer transfers the orders to the manufacturer/vendor. Essentially, if you want to do this, you need to find a product in a foreign country that you can sell as a third-party. You can do this through social media advertising or Amazon. It’s a great job because you never need to have a product inventory nor handle the products physically but finding clients isn’t easy.

Virtual assistant

A lot of successful entrepreneurs and even companies require virtual assistants to take some of the load off them so that they can focus on more important things. Virtual assistants can work from anywhere and this makes this one of the most interesting travel jobs out there. The job consists of completing tasks like scheduling meetings, making calls, managing social media, custom coursework writing service, etc. You don’t need to have an extraordinary resume but previous experience is recommendable. In fact, the concept of a virtual assistant is so popular that there are websites like Time Etc, VANetworking, Task Rabbit, etc. that help companies find their ideal virtual assistant.

Earning potential: $500-$2,000 per month

Social media manager

If you have some experience with social media marketing, there are thousands of companies looking for your help on sites like Upwork and Fiverr. However, you need to be really good at this for a company to choose to outsource the entire process to you rather than hiring new team members that will work in their actual office. If you’re a beginner, you might not be getting more than $500 per month, but as time passes by and you get better and get more references, you can be making more than $5,000 per month.

Ads manager

More and more companies choose to outsource this task to someone that has a lot of experience in digital marketing and can help them increase their revenues quickly. If you’re good with Google Ads, SEO, and paid advertising, start working on your portfolio. If you’re a beginner, consider doing some pro bono work in an exchange for a good reference. You’d be surprised to see how easily you can land more clients with a couple of good recommendations on your resume.

Earning potential: $500- $10,000 per month

Airbnb host

If you decided to travel full time and there’s no one staying in your place, it’s probably a good idea to rent it. A lot of travelers might be struggling to find good Airbnb options in your area and even though you might not be staying there at the moment, you still have bills to pay and renting your property on sites like Airbnb can generate a nice side income for you, especially if your home is in a city a lot of tourists visit. Additionally, if you have enough money, you can buy a property in a more touristy place and rent it. You can earn between $400 and $10,000 per month per property, depending on your property, location, and customer flow.

Customer service representative

Who says that a customer service representative can only thrive in a call center? Nowadays, this is becoming one of the hottest digital nomad jobs. You see, a lot of companies from developing countries want to leave a better impression on their potential clients and that’s why they hire people whose native language is English. All you need to have except for being fluent in English is a stable internet connection and availability when you’re needed. With this job, you can earn between $10 and $20 per hour.

Online course creator/E-book writer

Even though these are two different jobs, the skillset you’d need is similar. You need to know your market and you need to identify crucial information that people would pay to learn. Once you do that, the rest of the job is much easier. You can make your own course and sell it on your website or on sites like Udemy and Teachable or once you gain enough experience, you can create courses and e-books for other people that have an idea but are less experienced in the field. Courses can stick around forever and people can buy them years after you published them. It’s a great passive income with unlimited earning potential.

Blog manager/assistant

You might think that bloggers have it easy but as mentioned above, managing a blog oftentimes requires more than 40 hours per week. That’s why most successful bloggers hire people to take some of the load off them while they focus on more important things. If you want to do this, you need to have a lot of knowledge about WordPress, blogging, marketing, and social media.

The Earning potential varies depending on your workload and tasks you’ll be managing but you can easily make up to $3,000 per month.

Website and application tester

If you have some basic technical knowledge, a lot of websites like UserTesting and Userbrain are willing to pay you to give feedback about their clients’ websites and apps. A lot of companies that develop a new website or a new smartphone app go to these websites and pay them to get feedback for them. Subsequently, these websites hire testers to visit a website or use an app and give a written or verbal report.

Earning potential: Up to $60 per test

Search engine evaluator

If you know a few things about SEO and Google algorithms, you can make some money by analyzing search results and making sure that the most relevant content appears on the top. Sure, Google’s and Bing’s search algorithms are advanced but even they can make mistakes. That’s where human evaluators come in. If you want to start, take a look at websites like Soft Stone, Workforce LogIq, Rater Labs, etc. The job requirements depend on the country you’re applying in but generally, you need to:

• Be familiar with SEO and social media;
• Know the local culture, events, and mindset of the people (to better understand how they search and what do they expect to find when searching);
• Speak the local language;
• Know a few things about how search engine algorithms work.

Go Fund Me

Finally, if nothing else works but you have an interesting and inspiring story, you can head to Go Fund Me and try your luck. You’d be surprised how many people donate to help people with inspiring travel stories chase their dreams. Even though not really a job, you still need to devote enough time to create an impressive Go Fund Me profile and write a pitch that will make people want to give you their money. If your travels have a purpose, like helping people or contributing to making the world a better place, it will be a lot easier to get funding from strangers.

Did you like this list of travel jobs? Does any of the jobs on this list excite you? Would you give it a try? Let us know in the comments!

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