How to make money from home: 13 job ideas

Less time commuting, more flexibility and better health—there’s a reason working from home is a popular choice for many Americans. And if you’re wondering how to make money from home, you’re not alone. 55% of respondents to a Bankrate survey prioritize remote work more now than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

So whether you want to work remotely at your 9-to-5 or start a side hustle, there are options for you. Check out these 13 work-from-home ideas.

Key takeaways

• If you’re organized, creative or business savvy or have another niche skill, you could make money from home in a number of different ways.
• The average pay for these common work-from-home jobs ranges from $16 to $47 per hour.
• Aspiring remote workers should be cautious of work-from-home scams that exploit private information like your bank account, credit card and Social Security numbers.

If you’re looking for a reliable way to earn money at home, you could start by evaluating your skills and the amount of time you can commit. Then you can research jobs that may be a good fit. Keep in mind that the pay rates listed for these roles are estimates from Indeed—and that it might take hard work and patience to land one of these opportunities. If you’re starting a side hustle, you could also check with your regular employer to make sure there’s no conflict of interest.

Here are a few positions to consider.

1. Virtual assistant

A virtual assistant supports a business’s administrative functions remotely. Tasks may include managing an email inbox, scheduling meetings and making travel arrangements. Virtual assistants also typically help improve business processes and communication.

Relevant skills: Communication, typing, time management, customer service

Average pay: $21 per hour

2. Freelance graphic designer

If you’re skilled in graphic design or another type of digital art, you could sell your work. It’s possible to be a freelance artist who makes designs and templates via contract with a business. Or you could sell custom art pieces through an online marketplace. There are several websites where freelancers can find paying gigs and promote their art.

Relevant skills: Design software experience, creativity, marketing

Average pay: $29 per hour

3. Pet sitter

Pet sitters help care for someone’s pet while they’re away from home. This may include boarding, feeding, training and dog walking. To pet sit from your own home, the pet’s owner can bring the pet to you. Pet sitters often work independently, but they can also find gigs through a pet-sitting agency.

Relevant skills: Animal care, customer service, communication

Average pay: $16 per hour

4. Virtual tutor

You could turn your expertise in a certain subject into a tutoring gig. Tutors typically review a student’s coursework, create a study plan and answer any questions that the student may have. It’s possible to find tutoring gigs through a website or at a local school or university.

Relevant skills: Teaching, communication, subject expertise

Average pay: $24 per hour

5. Business consultant

A business consultant shares expertise to help businesses identify and meet goals, get funding and find areas for growth. Daily tasks could include reviewing financial statements and meeting with executives. It helps to have prior experience working in a certain business or industry.

Relevant skills: Business analysis, communication, leadership

Average pay: $32 per hour

6. Translator

If you’re fluent in another language, you could get paid to translate documents or audio files. Translators are typically bilingual or multilingual and work on projects with individuals or businesses that need an accurate translation of content.

Relevant skills: Bilingual or multilingual, reading, writing, cross-cultural communication

Average pay: $26 per hour

7. Social media manager

Social media managers create content and engage with followers on a business’s social media platforms. They might also help analyze data and identify trends. You could work remotely as a freelancer or full-time employee at a company.

Relevant skills: Content creation, digital marketing, communication, customer service

Average pay: $23 per hour

8. Writer

Skilled writers can earn money by writing content for businesses including ghostwriting, digital copy and blog content. Freelance writers are usually paid hourly or by the word. There are websites where writers can find gigs and connect with clients. With a big enough following, a personal blog could also make money through advertising, sponsorship and affiliate marketing.

Relevant skills: Writing, editing, communication, content creation, marketing

Average pay: $25 per hour

9. Proofreader

Often in an editorial process, content can’t be published until it goes through a final review by a proofreader. Though similar to an editor, the proofreader typically enters at the final stage to catch any spelling or grammar mistakes.

Relevant skills: Proofreading, editing, grammatical expertise, attention to detail

Average pay: $25 per hour

10. Data entry clerk

Data entry clerks compile and enter data into spreadsheets or databases. They’re often responsible for translating paper documents into a digital format. You could work full time or part time in a number of industries.

Relevant skills: Data collection, typing, administration, computer literacy, accounting

Average pay: $18 per hour

11. App or website developer

For anyone with development and design capabilities, building websites or apps can be a profitable source of income. Developers might be hired to create an app or website for an existing company, or they may have an idea for their own app or website. Running ads on the website or app or charging a fee to download it also generates income.

Relevant skills: Website and app development, design, user experience

Average pay: $47 per hour

12. Brand influencer

Influencers are typically paid by a business to promote its products and services on the influencer’s social media platform. Influencers might be paid a set rate or make a commission for each sale from a unique link or promotional code. Social media users with a large audience and niche content are usually more likely to succeed as brand influencers.

Relevant skills: Communication, marketing, social media management

Average pay: $17 per hour, but can vary by the size of an influencer’s platform

13. Online seller

Whether it’s homemade goods, collectibles, furniture, antiques, clothing or other merchandise, there could be money to be made selling—or reselling—products online. Typically, these products are sold on online marketplaces and social media. The profit from online sales depends on the market and the condition of the item.

Relevant skills: Organization, marketing, bookkeeping

Average pay: Varies by product

When searching for a job, you may come across a work-from-home job posting that sounds too good to be true or asks you to provide personal information to get started. But a legitimate business should never ask you to pay money in order to earn money. Work-from-home scams are commonly used to exploit private information from individuals like their bank account, credit card and Social Security numbers.

To vet a prospective employer, search for the company online along with phrases like “scam” or “review” to see if there are any red flags.

There are several ways to make money from home based on your skill set and how much time you can dedicate to the job. You might be able to have a flexible work schedule or make passive income. Just be careful not to fall for any work-from-home scams that ask you to provide personal information.

Still considering whether working from home is right for you? Learn more about how to make extra money and three ways a remote lifestyle can help you cut spending.