This article was updated on June 19, 2026, to reflect the latest information.
TL;DR: Remote work is a permanent feature of the job market. This list covers 10 full-time remote roles sorted by average salary, with current pay data from ZipRecruiter and growth projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Whether you're job searching now or planning your next move, these roles offer real flexibility, solid pay, and long-term staying power.
Remote jobs sometimes get a bad reputation: low pay, repetitive work, micromanagement. But remote work has evolved well beyond its pandemic origins, and it's now standard in many industries. According to the Pew Research Center, around 22 million employed adults in the U.S. work from home all the time, and the number of quality full-time remote roles has grown alongside that shift.
There are more full-time remote opportunities than ever before: roles that offer you the freedom to manage your own time, consistent income, team support, and real paths to growth.
So if you're looking for a remote opportunity that will push you to develop professionally, here are 10 of the best. By best, we mean fun, challenging roles that help you grow while earning a respectable income.
All 10 roles listed have average salaries between $50,000 and $147,000, with average or higher-than-average growth potential based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2024–2034 projections. Salary data comes from ZipRecruiter unless otherwise noted.
Jobs are sorted from highest to lowest average salary.
1. Software Developer/Engineer
Who it's good for: Self-directed coding enthusiasts who love problem-solving and having the freedom to work whenever they feel most focused.
Sound like you? Check out: Remote Software Developer/Engineer jobs on PowerToFly
Why you can do it remotely: Writing code requires long, uninterrupted blocks of time that are hard to come by in a traditional office. As computer scientist and entrepreneur Paul Graham observed in his essay on makers' vs. managers' schedules: "Most powerful people are on the manager's schedule... But there's another way of using time that's common among people who make things, like programmers and writers. They generally prefer to use time in units of half a day at least. You can't write or program well in units of an hour. That's barely enough time to get started." Remote work is built for the maker's schedule.
BLS growth 2024–2034: 15%, much faster than average, driven by demand for AI, cybersecurity, and automation development.
Average annual salary: $147,524 (ZipRecruiter, June 2026)
2. Data Scientist
Who it's good for: Detail-oriented analysts skilled at identifying and understanding trends, comfortable working with large datasets.
Sound like you? Check out: Remote Data Science roles
Why you can do it remotely: Companies need data scientists more than ever, and strong domain expertise consistently outweighs location requirements. As AI adoption accelerates across industries, demand for professionals who can make sense of large datasets is only growing.
BLS growth 2024–2034: 34%, making data scientist the fourth fastest-growing occupation in the U.S. economy. Growth is driven by AI model development, data analysis, and business intelligence needs.
Average annual salary: $122,738 (ZipRecruiter, June 2026)
BLS median annual wage: $112,590 (2024)
3. Designer (Web, UI/UX, or Graphic)
Who it's good for: Designers who do their best work independently or from the comfort of their own home.
Sound like you? Check out: Remote Design roles
Why you can do it remotely: There's real value in brainstorming with your team, but once you understand a project's needs, most design work can be done independently and then shared for feedback. Tools like Figma, Zoom, and Slack make collaboration across time zones easy. Designers, like developers, tend to work best in long, uninterrupted blocks. Remote work supports that.
BLS growth 2024–2034: 7% for web and digital designers; 2% for graphic designers. Growth is strongest on the digital and UX side.
Average annual salary for UI/UX design: $112,198 (ZipRecruiter, June 2026)
Average annual salary for graphic design: $60,409 (ZipRecruiter)
4. Project Manager
Who it's good for: People who thrive on the nitty-gritty of task oversight: managing teams, budgets, and timelines from kickoff to delivery.
(If you enjoy big-picture strategy and building products that users will love, consider product management instead. Both roles can be done remotely. You can learn more about the differences here.)
Sound like you? Check out: Remote Project Manager jobs
Why you can do it remotely: Most project management tasks can be accomplished from anywhere with an internet connection. If you're comfortable using tools like Zoom, Jira, Slack, and Asana to keep teams aligned and projects on track, you're set.
BLS growth 2024–2034: 6%, faster than average, with about 78,200 openings projected each year.
Average annual salary: $102,604 (ZipRecruiter, 2026)
BLS median annual salary: $98,580 (2024)
5. Marketing Manager
Who it's good for: People who are equal parts creative and analytical, comfortable working across functions and adapting to a fast-moving industry.
Sound like you? Check out: Remote Marketing Manager jobs on PowerToFly
Why you can do it remotely: Analyzing industry trends, managing campaigns, and coordinating with sales, product, and design teams can all be done from anywhere. With distributed teams becoming the norm, the tools to do this job well remotely are better than ever.
BLS growth 2024–2034: 6.7% for marketing managers and specialists, faster than the national average.
Average annual salary: $83,488 (ZipRecruiter, May 2026)
6. Technical Writer
Who it's good for: Strong communicators who can explain complex topics clearly and concisely, ideally with expertise in at least one technical subject.
Sound like you? Check out: Remote Technical Writer jobs
Why it can be done remotely: Like developers, technical writers need long, uninterrupted blocks of time to produce quality work. Remote work supports this naturally. Technology also makes it easy for writers to collaborate with subject matter experts, give and receive feedback, and hit deadlines without being in the same room.
BLS growth 2024–2034: 7%, faster than average.
Average annual salary: $81,001 (ZipRecruiter, April 2026)
BLS median annual salary: $80,050 (2024)
7. Recruiter
Who it's good for: People-persons skilled in market research, communication, and negotiation, especially those who specialize in high-demand areas like tech, healthcare, or legal.
Sound like you? Check out: Remote Recruiting roles
Why you can do it remotely: Recruiters source, evaluate, and help hire candidates for open roles. As remote teams have become the norm, it makes sense that the recruiters building those teams also work remotely. Demand remains particularly strong for recruiters specializing in AI, sales, legal, and healthcare, according to LinkedIn data.
BLS growth 2024–2034: 6% for HR specialists, faster than average.
Average annual salary: $68,510 (ZipRecruiter, 2026)
BLS median annual salary: $67,650 (2024)
8. Training and Development Specialist
Who it's good for: People with a background in education or learning and development who know their way around e-learning tools and platforms.
Training and development specialists plan and run programs that improve employee skills and knowledge. As companies reskill workforces to keep pace with AI, this role is becoming a priority across industries. Related titles include Instructional Designer, Curriculum Manager, and Instructional Systems Specialist.
Sound like you? Check out: Remote Training and Development roles
Why you can do it remotely: Most training today happens digitally. Platforms like Zoom, Slack, and LMS tools have made it entirely possible to design and deliver engaging learning experiences without being in the same room as your audience.
BLS growth 2024–2034: 11%, much faster than average, reflecting growing employer investment in upskilling and reskilling.
Average annual salary: $64,340 (BLS median, 2024)
Average annual salary for Instructional Designers: $71,316 (ZipRecruiter)
9. Sales Development Representative
Who it's good for: Self-starters with an interest in sales who are eager to prove themselves, whether they're just starting out or looking to level up.
Sound like you? Check out: Remote SDR roles
Why you can do it remotely: You don't need to be in a particular location to make sales calls, run pitches, send follow-up emails, or manage your pipeline. And if client travel is involved, you can fly from your hometown just as easily as from an office.
BLS growth 2024–2034: 4%, in line with the national average.
Average annual salary: $55,018 (ZipRecruiter, May 2026)
10. Virtual Assistant
Who it's good for: Organized, detail-oriented people with strong communication skills and comfort with tools like Gmail, Outlook, Asana, Trello, Slack, or Zoom.
Sound like you? Check out: Virtual Assistant roles
Why you can do it remotely: Virtual assistants provide administrative support from anywhere. It's built into the job title. As businesses of all sizes rely more on distributed teams, demand for skilled VAs has grown alongside that shift. The role rewards people who are proactive, reliable, and comfortable managing tasks across multiple tools and time zones.
Average annual salary: $50,749 (ZipRecruiter, June 2026)
Frequently asked questions about remote jobs
What are the highest-paying remote jobs?
Based on current ZipRecruiter data, the highest-paying remote roles are Software Engineer ($147,524/year), Data Scientist ($122,738/year), and UI/UX Designer ($112,198/year).
Are remote jobs still growing?
Yes. According to the BLS 2024–2034 projections, most of the roles on this list are growing faster than the national average of 3.1%. Data Scientists (34%), Training and Development Specialists (11%), and Software Engineers (15%) show the strongest projected growth.
Do remote jobs pay less than in-office roles?
Not necessarily. Many of the highest-paying roles in tech, data, and product are fully remote. Pay varies more by role and experience level than by location.
What skills do you need for a remote job?
Self-direction and time management are essential. Beyond that, it depends on the role. Most remote workers also need to be comfortable with async communication tools (Slack, email, project management software) and video conferencing.
Where can I find remote jobs?
PowerToFly's job board has thousands of open remote roles across tech, marketing, data, design, HR, and more. You can filter by role, industry, and location to find the right fit.
8 jobs that will disappear by 2030
10 Great Non Customer Service Jobs
- 1. Software Developer/Engineer
- 2. Data Scientist
- 3. Designer (Web, UI/UX, or Graphic)
- 4. Project Manager
- 5. Marketing Manager
- 6. Technical Writer
- 7. Recruiter
- 8. Training and Development Specialist
- 9. Sales Development Representative
- 10. Virtual Assistant
- Frequently asked questions about remote jobs
