157 Ways to Make Money on the Road: Remote Work for RVers (yes, and Van Life too)

Adam here: Celine and I do a combination of things to make money on the road while RVing to support our family of five. Celine works with Instacart and does some secret shopping, and I run our online business (a web design & marketing agency) and write blog posts like this one.

We do some odd jobs for extra money here and there, like product promotions on our social media channels, but those are small percentages of our family budget, and not what we rely on for paying the bills.

If you’re hear, it’s because you’ve probably been searching for remote jobs on the road, and we’re happy to share that there are plenty of opportunities. I also want to clarify that we’re not going to be pitching businesses you can run from an RV – this blog post is entirely about remote jobs for travelers.

HOWEVER, if you’re entrepreneurial and hoping to start your own business with your own website, we’ve written this other blog post about 19 business model ideas that you can start or run from your RV, (like freelance writing, web development, passive income ideas, and social media management, for example).

In this post specifically, we’ll talk about remote jobs that allow you to travel and making money from the road (if you would rather have the stability of a paycheck and a steady job than run your own business and freelance work isn’t on your to-do list).

If you’re curious about our business specifically, here’s a blog post about How we make money while traveling as a family.

 

How to Transition to a Remote Career for Van Life or RV Life

We always recommend making one transition at a time – not changing or transitioning jobs AND getting on the road. You would be trying to balance Van Life with making more money living elsewhere, finding a reliable internet connection while learning to back in your RV, or, in the case of many traveling families, learning to homeschool while also learning how to save money on campgrounds.

If you don’t have a pile of cash saved up (or some equity from a recent home sale or inheritance), then you’re probably in the group of people who would like to learn the ins and outs of how to earn money remotely. Once you’re comfortable working remotely, then take on the challenge of travel life.

You may also think you’ve found the perfect job for making money while traveling, and then after a few months, realize that the job isn’t for you, which now may require you to pause traveling while you replace your income.

You should be confident with your job before tackling the next challenge of van life, RV life, or becoming a digital nomad. You’ll want to work out your budget to be sure your new remote job will pay for your future travel life. Here are some ideas on budgeting for RV life.

Before jumping into the list, you may consider making your current job remote

Since you already know your current job inside and out, speak with your boss about transitioning to being remote. This may start as 1 or 2 days a week with a plan to slowly evolve to full-time remote before you can jump into RV or van life.

There are many options for jobs where you can work remotely:

I’ve grouped them into the most common categories for making money online so you can jump ahead if you already have a direction for making money in mind:

1. Customer service
2. Tech sector
3. Seasonal
4. Digital Marketing
5. Health care
6. Administrative
7. Non-profit
8. Travel and Hospitality
9. Unconventional Remote Jobs

When you’re ready to start your search, check this list of the 12 best job boards to find remote work.

Customer Service Remote Jobs:

1. Instacart or online shopping
2. Uber, Skip The Dishes, Door Dash Delivery services, etc.
3. Workamping at a National Park, State Park, or Private campgrounds: Work the front desk of a campground in exchange for a free RV site or an hourly wage. You’ll be close to home and get to know the area well.
4. Secret shopping: Evaluate the cleanliness of restrooms, the accuracy of your order, and your interactions with employees for chain restaurants, car washes, hotels, and retail locations.
5. Remote Customer Service Representative: You can work from home, providing customer service and support for various industries. This may involve answering inquiries, resolving problems, or providing information about products or services.
6. Virtual Assistant: A virtual assistant performs administrative duties for clients from a remote location. This may include managing emails, scheduling appointments, data entry, and other tasks.
7. Online Tutor/Teacher: If you have expertise in a specific subject, you can teach online or tutor students from around the world online. This may be through a school or tutoring company.
8. Remote Sales Representative: Many companies hire sales representatives to work remotely, selling their products or services via phone, email, or online platforms.
9. Remote Recruiter or HR: Work with companies to find and hire the best talent from all over the globe and manage their HR needs.

Remote Jobs in the tech sector:

1. Web Development (Web Developers) – Work for a marketing agency and build and maintain websites for clients from anywhere in the world, or work in the marketing department at a major corporation. (this is one of the the ways that we make money while traveling)
2. Remote Coding/Programming: In the tech field, many companies offer the flexibility to work remotely. There is no shortage of opportunities from product development to data analysis.
3. Machine Learning Engineer: Companies often hire remote machine learning engineers for AI projects.
4. Cloud Architect: Large tech companies often hire remote cloud architects to design cloud computing systems.
5. Ethical Hacker or Cybersecurity Consultant: These professionals test company systems for vulnerabilities.
6. Software Developer: Create applications or systems for computers and mobile devices.
7. UX/UI Designer: Design the user interface and user experience for digital products like websites, apps, and software.
8. System Administrator: Maintain, upgrade, and manage a company’s software, hardware, and networks.
9. Data Scientist: Analyze and interpret complex digital data to help companies make decisions.
10. Cybersecurity Analyst: Protect an organization’s online systems and data from cyber threats.
11. IT Project Manager: Coordinate all aspects of a tech project, from initial conception through implementation and maintenance.
12. Full-Stack Developer: Work on both the front-end and back-end of websites or applications.
13. QA Analyst: Test software or websites for bugs and improve functionality.
14. Technical Support Specialist: Assist customers by diagnosing and solving technical issues from equipment to email.
15. DevOps Engineer: Handle code releases and automate updates across networks on multiple platforms.
16. Mobile App Developer: Design and build applications for mobile platforms like iOS and Android.
17. Game Designer: Develop video games for computers, consoles, or mobile platforms.
18. Artificial Intelligence Engineer: Build and test AI models.
19. VR/AR Developer: Develop virtual reality or augmented reality experiences.
20. Data Engineer: Develop, test, and maintain databases and data processing systems.
21. CRM Developer: Customize CRM systems to fit a company’s customer relationship needs.All these jobs require tech skills and knowledge, but thanks to the cloud and communication technologies, they can be done from just about anywhere.

Seasonal Jobs:

Live in your RV (or enjoy van life) while you’re completing your seasonal work, then spend the off-season enjoying the savings from your hard work. Seasonal work can be long hours, and you can often make enough money as a seasonal worker to make a full-time income for the year in just a few weeks or months.

Seasonal employees often get the opportunity to return to a job the next season, so you can start to line up work a few years in advance, or you can switch if the job you tried wasn’t for you.

1. Fruit Picking or vegetable harvesting (and meet other RVers during the legendary beet harvest)
2. Seasonal Retail work (especially around Christmas, but also peak tourism seasonal jobs, which can vary by region)
3. Construction
4. Insurance claims: When disaster strikes, move to the affected area and review and quote for insurance claims for a few months.
5. Tax Preparer: During tax season (Jan-Apr), demand for tax preparation services increases.
6. Ski Instructor: In winter months, ski instructors are in high demand at ski resorts.
7. Lifeguard: In the summer, beaches and pools often hire extra lifeguards.
8. Resort or Hotel Staff: Many resorts and hotels need extra staff in various roles during tourist seasons but don’t need to have a full staff year-round.
9. Tour Guide: In cities with high tourist seasons, tour guides can make a good income, and as you move around, you could continue to be a tour guide in high tourist season around the country.
10. Camp Counselor: Camp counselors are needed for kids’ summer camps from training in late spring to wrapping up final weeks of camp in the late summer.
11. Tax Auditor: Tax auditors find the heaviest workload in the first quarter of every year, like tax preparers.
12. Event Staff: Festivals, concerts, and special events often hire extra help during busy seasons.
13. Gardening/Landscaping: In spring, many businesses seek help cleaning their gardens or redesigning landscapes.
14. Fishing Industry Jobs: In areas where fishing is a large industry, seasons dictate the arrival of different fish and increase in jobs.
15. Mover: During the summer months, many leases end and begin, causing a boom in the moving industry and great exercise for a seasonal job.
16. Wildlife Jobs: Jobs that involve working with wildlife often fluctuate with migration and mating seasons.

Digital Marketing Jobs:

1. E-commerce Specialist: Handle online sales, customer service queries, website updates, and digital marketing campaigns for a company’s online store.
2. Social Media Manager: Businesses often hire remote workers to manage their social media accounts.
3. Graphic Designer: If you’re creatively inclined and have design skills, you can create logos, business collateral, and digital ads for businesses around the globe from your own RV as an employee of a marketing agency.
4. Writer: Writing blog posts, an online course, ghost-writing a book for a CEO, or creating scripts for clients to use in their advertising.
5. Search Engine optimization: There are plenty of ways to learn SEO (or how well a website shows up in Google Searches) and taking some online courses can help prepare you to find the job you’re looking for, although agencies hiring an SEO specialist will often provide some training, they are also likely to prefer someone with certification or training already.
6. Content Marketer: Create and manage a content strategy that attracts and retains audiences.
7. Email Marketing Specialist: Create and run email campaigns to promote products/services, increase engagement, or make sales.
8. Digital Ads Manager: Oversee the strategy, creation, and performance of digital advertising campaigns on platforms such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads.
9. Video Marketer: Benefit from the popularity of video content by creating engaging short films for brands.
10. Web Analyst: Use Google Analytics or similar tools to analyze website performance and user behavior, making suggestions for improvement.
11. Marketing Automation Specialist: Design and implement automated marketing processes using software like HubSpot or Marketo.
12. Blogger Outreach Specialist: Reach out to bloggers and persuade them to mention a brand or product in their articles.
13. Conversion Rate Optimization Specialist: Use data to understand website users and improve the rate at which they complete the desired actions.
14. Brand Strategist: Work on positioning a brand effectively in the market and maintaining its image across all digital platforms.
15. CRM Manager: Handle the customer relationship management system of a business, leveraging it for sales and marketing.
16. Community Manager: Maintain, grow, and engage online communities.
17. Audio/Visual Editor: Edit video and audio content for marketing strategies.
18. Chatbot Marketer: Leverage AI-powered chatbots to engage customers – a fast-growing trend in digital marketing.These jobs encompass a wide range of tasks and skills, but they all can be done remotely with a computer and a strong internet connection and without requiring a degree, you can make decent money.

 

Healthcare-related remote jobs:

1. Nursing: Take a short-term position at a hospital and get to know a new area of the country in between shifts. After your term, move to another area with your RV to continue to experience new adventures.
2. Telehealth Nurse or Therapist: If you’re in the healthcare field, you can provide health advice and counseling to patients remotely.
3. Medical Coder: Review patients’ records and assign appropriate medical codes.
4. Patient Advocate: Help patients navigate the healthcare system and understand their rights and responsibilities.
5. Medical Transcriptionist: Transcribe recorded medical dictation.
6. Health Coach: Offer guidance and counseling to help clients with health issues improve their lifestyles from physical fitness to diet and nutrition.
7. Medical Writer: Write content for the medical, scientific, and pharmaceutical fields.
8. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative: Represent pharmaceutical companies, providing product information and samples to physicians.
9. Nurse Case Manager: Coordinate long-term care for patients as an intermediary between the patient, doctor, and insurer.
10. Healthcare Data Analyst: Analyze healthcare data to improve patient care, lower costs, increase efficiency, etc.
11. Medical Illustrator: Produce illustrations of medical or biological subjects for use in textbooks, pamphlets, exhibits and more.
12. Clinical Research Associate: Monitor and assist with clinical trials remotely.
13. Therapy and Counseling: Mental health professionals can provide therapy sessions remotely through various platforms.
14. Nutritionist: Conduct nutritional consultations and plans for clients over teleconference.
15. Health Informatics Specialist: Combine healthcare and IT skills to manage patient records and billing information.
16. Medical Biller: Process patient data such as treatment records and related insurance information.
17. Health Education Specialist: Promote wellbeing and healthy life choices through remote classes or webinars.
18. TeleRadiologist: Analyze radiology images from a remote location.
19. Patient Service Representative: Work remotely handling patient inquiries and managing patient-related administration.
20. Biostatistician: Apply statistics to biological fields – often dealing with medical data.
21. Licensed Clinical Social Worker: Use teletherapy to provide social work services to those in need.All these jobs are crucial in contributing to health and wellness, doing so from the comfort of your own RV or while living the van life.

Administrative Remote Jobs:

1. Legal or Medical Transcriptionist: Transcriptionists listen to audio and convert it into written form. A specialized medical or legal transcriptionist will transcribe medical records or legal proceedings.
2. Virtual Assistant: Assist with a variety of business tasks remotely, from answering emails to handling social media or booking appointments.
3. Data Entry Clerk: Input data into a database or documentation platform. Tasks may include transcribing, digitizing physical data, or managing data cleanup.
4. Executive Assistant: Offering support to executives, managing schedules, booking travel, setting appointments, preparing reports, etc.
5. Remote Office Manager: Handle day-to-day operations of a remote team, including scheduling, procurement, and interfacing with other departments.
6. Online Researcher: Perform detailed research for a company or individual according to their needs.
7. Transcriptionist: Listen to recorded audio files and type them out.
8. Project Coordinator: Helps manage projects by communicating with team members, organizing resources, maintaining project documentation, etc.
9. Billing or Accounts Receivable Specialist: Process invoices, track payments, and manage accounts.
10. Payroll Administrator: Oversee an organization’s payroll operations remotely.
11. HR Assistant: Help with the administrative tasks of a company’s human resources department, such as recruiting and hiring new staff, managing benefits, or conducting onboarding training.
12. Pension Administrator: Manage and review pension plans for clients or employees.
13. Survey Administrator: Design, implement, and manage surveys for market research or customer feedback.
14. Contract Administrator: Manage company contracts, ensuring compliance and overseeing terms, conditions, and deadlines.
15. Travel Coordinator: Handle all business travel arrangements for a company’s staff, from traveling to meetings, conferences, and conventions to organizing staff retreats and in-person training.

Non-Profit Sector Remote Work:

Non-profit organizations can benefit significantly from these roles, which help them remain efficient, effective, and impactful – all from a remote setting!

1. Grant Writer: Write proposals to secure funding from government agencies, foundations and other grant-makers.
2. Non-Profit Consultant: Guide organizations on how to improve their efficiency, reach, and impact.
3. Fundraising Coordinator: Plan and manage activities to raise money for the organization.
4. Community Outreach Manager: Build relationships with community members to market the organization’s program and raise awareness.
5. Social Media Coordinator: Manage online platforms to engage supporters, share news and events, and advocate for the mission.
6. Donor Relations Manager: Maintain relationships with existing donors, stewarding their contributions and keeping them engaged.
7. Volunteer Coordinator: Recruit and manage volunteers, meaningfully engaging them in the work of the non-profit.
8. Research Analyst: Research and analyze data related to the mission of the organization, to inform strategic decisions.
9. Program Manager: Oversee specific programs, ensuring they are delivered successfully and meet their goals.
10. Advocacy Coordinator: Mobilize support for the cause, possibly including organizing campaigns, liaising with government entities, and public speaking.
11. Non-Profit Lawyer: Provide legal advice on matters related to the organization, such as compliance with laws and regulations.
12. Financial Analyst: Ensure the non-profit allocates its resources efficiently, monitors its budget, and correctly reports its finances.
13. Campaign Manager: Organize, manage, and execute campaign strategies to mobilize support or funding for the non-profit’s mission.
14. Crisis Response Coordinator: For those non-profits dealing with crisis situations, this role would manage responses to these crises.
15. Partnership Coordinator: Identify and establish beneficial partnerships with individuals, businesses, or other non-profits.
16. Content Creator: Create engaging content, including blog posts, newsletters, and marketing materials, that tell the story of the nonprofit’s efforts and success.
17. Impact Measurement Specialist: Track, measure, and report on the impact that the non-profit is having on its key demographic, utilizing data to improve effectiveness.

Travel and Hospitality Remote Work:

1. Travel Consultant/Advisor: Help people plan their trips, including accommodations, activities, and transportation. Since you’re traveling already (or planning to travel in your RV), you may have some helpful insight into the areas people want to visit, making you a reliable resource for travel ideas.
2. Virtual Tour Guide: Create and lead virtual tours for travelers, providing them with online experiences of different destinations.
3. Travel Blogger/Vlogger: Share valuable travel advice, tips, and experiences with an audience through blog posts or videos on behalf of a travel agency or an online travel brand.
4. Online Customer Service Representative: Provide support to customers who are booking or have already booked trips or accommodations.
5. Social Media Manager: Craft and execute a social media strategy for a travel agency, hotel, or other businesses in the industry.
6. Travel PR Specialist: Promote a destination, hotel, or tour service to the right audience.
7. Remote Reservation Agent: Book and confirm reservations for transportation, accommodations, or tour services.
8. Event Coordinator: Plan and organize events remotely, coordinating all aspects including location, guests, catering, and agenda.
9. Online Concierge: Provide services virtually, such as making reservations and offering advice on local dining and attractions.
10. E-commerce Travel Merchandising: Sell travel merchandise such as luggage, travel guides, or specialty travel gear online.
11. Online Language Instructor: Teach languages online to people preparing to travel.
12. Cruise Line Representative: Assist with booking and customer service for cruise line companies by email, online chat, and by phone.
13. Vacation Rental Management: Help homeowners list and manage their vacation rental properties on websites like Airbnb.
14. Tour Operator: Create and organize tour itineraries, coordinate tour guides, and handle bookings – all remotely.
15. Trip Planner: Design personalized itineraries for clients based on their interests, budgets, and travel goals.
16. Remote Hotel Sales Manager: Attract and handle bookings for groups like meetings, conventions, or weddings.
17. Sustainability Advisor for Hotels and Resorts: Work for a hotel chain, providing ideas to make operations more environmentally friendly.
18. Virtual Airline Ticket Agent: Book flights for customers, including handling changes and cancellations.
19. Remote Travel Software Developer: Build or develop software for travel companies like booking platforms or mobile apps.
20. Remote Regional Sales Manager: Oversee sales strategies and performance for a specific region for a hotel or travel company.
21. Travel Market Research Analyst: Conduct market research to reveal travel trends and insights to guide a company’s strategies.
22. Virtual Campsite Booker: Help outdoor enthusiasts find and book perfect campsites.
23. Online Cultural Advisor: Guide travelers on different destinations’ cultural norms, traditions, and etiquette.
24. Remote Revenue Manager: Develop pricing strategies and forecast hotel or travel company revenue.

 

Unconventional Remote positions:

1. Space Scientist: Organizations like NASA and SpaceX offer remote work for a variety of roles, including research, data analysis, and operations. (this might seem like a stretch, but we actually parked next to someone who worked on mathematics equations relating to space and exploration of the universe!)
2. Flight Attendant: As long as you’re near an airport, you can get on a flight to and from your shift.
3. Virtual Reality Quality Tester: Companies developing VR products need testers to help debug and improve their creations before they hit the market.
4. Museum Digitization Specialist: Museums worldwide are digitizing their collections for online viewers and they need help with people who understand the online world.
5. Remote Sensing Technician: These specialists use remote sensing techniques to collect data, often for environmental and geological studies.
6. Voiceover Artist: Voiceover work for commercials, animations, video games, and audiobooks for a publisher or marketing firm.
7. Virtual Interior Designer: Assist clients in creating the perfect space, using technology to provide remote consultations and designs.
8. Artificial Intelligence Specialist: Some tech companies hire remote workers to develop and refine their artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.
9. Neurodiversity Consultant: Large organizations hire experts to help them adapt their practices to accommodate employees with neurodiversities like ADHD or autism.
10. Renewable Energy Manager: Remote work is feasible in managing certain aspects of renewable energy projects, like budgeting, scheduling, and coordination.
11. Wildlife Scientist: Some wildlife positions may allow remote data analysis, although fieldwork might still be a component of the job.
12. Accessibility Consultant: Help businesses ensure their websites and digital content are accessible for all people, including those with disabilities.
13. Remote Broadcast Writer: Television shows, radio shows, and commercial producers can hire remote writers to help draft scripts.
14. Cryptocurrency Analyst: Analyze cryptocurrency trends and data for financial firms or tech companies.
15. Sensory Scientist: Some organizations hire remote sensory scientists to analyze how users interact with their products.
16. Data Storyteller: These professionals don’t just analyze data; they translate it into compelling narratives for coworkers, clients, or the public.

 

How to Find Remote Job Opportunities: Best Remote Job Boards

1. FlexJobs: Known for its extensive database of flexible and remote jobs.
2. Remote.co: A service from the same company as FlexJobs, focusing solely on remote and work-from-home jobs.
3. WeWorkRemotely: Features jobs in various roles, including design, development, marketing, customer service, and more.
4. Working Nomads: A job board highlighting the best digital nomad jobs. You can subscribe to get job listings in your inbox daily or weekly.
5. Wellfound: (previously Angellist) Specifically for remote jobs in the tech sector.
6. Jobspresso: Jobspresso features various curated jobs in tech, marketing, customer support, and more.
7. LinkedIn: Besides its traditional job board, LinkedIn has increasingly become a hub for remote jobs and networking with people in your industry who could help you find a position to make extra money on the road.
8. Remote OK: This site pulls in remote job listings from other websites, serving as a significant aggregator of remote jobs.
9. JustRemote: A platform specifically focusing on providing remote job opportunities in tech, marketing, design, business, and more.
10. SkipTheDrive: SkipTheDrive simplifies finding a remote job by offering job postings categorized by industry.
11. Indeed:Often overlooked, Indeed allows you to filter by job type including “remote” opportunities.
12. Glassdoor: Besides the Company Reviews, they also list jobs, a number of which are remote.
13. Workamping Jobs: Trade a few hours per day or week in exchange for camping accommodation in national parks, state parks, and private RV parks. This is the leading site to find workamping jobs, but you also might check facebook groups dedicated to workamping.
14. WWOOF: Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms: Work part-time on an organic farm in exchange for a place to park your RV and meals. Enjoy plenty of time off to explore the local area.

Keep in mind that due to the global nature of remote work, competition can be significant. Tailoring your application to each specific job will greatly improve your chances of landing an interview. Make sure your skills and experience match the job description.

Common Questions About Remote Jobs:

What jobs can I do remotely?

Jobs that can be done remotely include roles in writing, design, marketing, IT, customer service, education, administrative tasks, and consulting work.

How to find remote jobs online?

You can find remote jobs online using remote job listing websites, traditional job boards with remote filters, and by following remote-work focused companies on social media.

Do legitimate companies or corporations hire for remote jobs?

Companies like Amazon, Dell, Salesforce, and American Express offer remote positions. Startups and tech companies such as Zapier, Buffer, and InVision are also fully remote, along with countless businesses you haven’t yet heard of.

How to apply for remote jobs?

The application process for remote jobs often involves submitting a tailored resume and cover letter and undergoing interviews via phone or video.

What skills are needed for remote jobs?

Remote work typically requires strong communication skills, self-motivation, proficiency in technology, and the ability to work independently.

How do you prepare for a remote job interview?

Preparation for a remote job interview involves understanding how to use video conferencing tools, ensuring a professional interview setting, and emphasizing your skills and experiences relevant to remote work.

Should I include remote work experience on my resume?

Including remote work experience on your resume is important as it shows your capacity to work independently, manage time effectively, and utilize remote work tools.

What are the highest-paying remote jobs?

High-paying remote roles often exist in fields like IT (software engineer, data scientist), consulting, sales, finance, and the medical profession.

How do I negotiate a remote work arrangement for my current job?

Negotiation for a remote work arrangement involves demonstrating your ability to work independently, proposing a trial period, and highlighting the potential benefits for the company.

How do you stay productive in remote jobs?

Maintaining productivity in remote jobs requires having a designated workspace, scheduling regular breaks, setting daily goals, and using productivity tools to stay organized.

We’ve been working remotely in our RV since 2018. Here are some tips for staying productive while we work in our RV with our three boys.

Can I get a remote job without experience?

Yes, certain entry-level remote jobs like customer service, data entry, or virtual assisting can be perfect for those without much experience.

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You might recognize that an important aspect of finding the right job might be compensation, and how that affects your family budget. Here are some ways that we budget for RV family travel (and a few tips for saving money along the way)