Best Digital Nomad Jobs in 2025 & Where and How to Get Them – Traveling Lifestyle
5 min read
By Su Guillory
There’s a lot to love about living in an era where you can make money no matter where in the world you live. With 43 million of the global digital nomad population coming from America, now more than ever, the idea of working while living in another country is within reach.
But what kind of work can you do as a digital nomad? If you’re not lucky enough to have a job you can pack up and take on the road, consider one of these many options that you can do as a freelancer or as a side hustle.
The Best Freelance Jobs for Digital Nomads
1. Digital and Creative Gigs
For creative types, there’s always work available that doesn’t require working out of a specific location. Writers, graphic designers, and web developers can work from anywhere and can work with clients near and far.
Here are a few other freelance opportunities in the creative industry.
- Copywriter
- Translator
- Localization services professional
- Video editor
- UX designer
- Social media manager
- Marketer
- Animator
- Virtual assistant
- Online tutor
- Online teacher
- Photographer
- Voiceover actor
2. Location-Specific Work
You may be in hot demand as an expat, depending on how many English speakers there are. You may be able to leverage your English-speaking skills with one of many roles, such as:
- Tour guide
- Vacation rental host
- Import/export entrepreneur
- Cultural experience host
- Vacation property manager
- Relocation consultant
3. Passive Income
Like the idea of making money while you snorkel in the sea or sleep in a hammock? There are many ways you can earn a living with digital products that, while they may require a little work up front, can provide passive income indefinitely.
- Create online courses
- Publish an e-book
- Monetize through affiliate programs
- Host ads on your blog
- Leverage drop shipping
- Offer a paid subscription newsletter
- Monetize a podcast or YouTube channel
4. Coaching Hustles
These days, everyone’s got a coach or two. They’re the modern-day version of a therapist. Whether you specialize in expat coaching, executive, or another niche, there’s sure to be an audience for your work.
- Life coach
- Career coach
- College admissions coach
- Expat/cultural integration coach
- Public speaking coach
- Language coach
- Executive coach
- Health coach
5. Travel and Lifestyle Gigs
As a digital nomad, you likely know a thing or two about travel, and you can leverage that knowledge in your career. Whether you write a travel blog with enough traffic to score free trips or you offer travel concierge services in your adopted country, you will be seen as the local expert.
- Travel planner
- Custom itinerary designer
- Travel agent
- Travel writer
- Travel content creator (video, social media, blog)
- Travel photographer
- Influencer partnerships with local brands
- Destination wedding coordinator
- Travel concierge
6. Crafty Pursuits
If crafts are your hobby, why not turn them into a moneymaker? You can sell your products online on sites like Etsy or at local craft fairs and markets. Here are some other ideas for businesses:
- Furniture restoration/upcycling
- Creating artisan goods
- Tailoring/sewing services
- Interior decorating
- Home organizing
- Cooking/baking
7. Admin and Tech Roles
If you come from a corporate background, you already have the experience to consult or offer professional services like these. If your industry is regulated back home, make sure to check what the requirements are for practicing in another country.
- Bookkeeping/accounting (niche: expats!)
- Legal document translations
- CRM/tech stack setup for small businesses
- Resume writing and optimization
- Tech support
- Customer support
How to Set Up Your Digital Nomad Freelance Business for Success
Depending on where you want to work as a digital nomad, there may be visa requirements about how long you’ve been freelancing. Check those criteria and allow yourself time to build up your experience so that your visa will be approved.
Once you’ve landed, give yourself time to set up your business. You’ll want to balance work with play, so create a schedule that allows you to be available when your clients need you, and take into consideration that time zone difference. You might decide to check email first thing in the morning when your clients in the U.S. are sleeping, then go for a swim or run errands, then commit to several hours of work in the late afternoon or evening.
Invest in the tech tools that will help you be productive. You may want a calendar scheduling tool that will make it easy to book appointments without having to calculate time zone differences. A project management tool can help you stay on top of deadlines. And if you work with people around the globe, an instant messenger can keep you connected.
More from AllBusiness:
- What to Know About AI: A Guide to the Basics
- How to Tap Into Free Resources for Small Business Owners
A Word on Money
If you continue to work with clients from the United States, make sure you’ve got an easy way to exchange dollars for your local currency and transfer funds to your local bank. Tools like Wise and Revolut have low exchange rate fees, and make it simple to get cash or pay for purchases with a debit card.
As a digital nomad, you aren’t exempt from filing or paying taxes in America, even if you don’t live there. Educate yourself on whether you’re required to file and pay taxes in the country where you live, as well as what the requirements are for American citizens living abroad.
The Sky’s the Limit on Freelance Job Ideas
Living abroad as a digital nomad offers the unique opportunity to continue working without constraints on your location. The sky’s the limit in terms of what you can do to earn money. Be open to possibilities that may arise as you build your network locally.
About the Author
Su Guillory is an expat coach and business content creator. She supports women who want to move to Italy. Su has been published on AllBusiness, Forbes, SoFi, Lantern, Nav, and more, and writes about entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and living as an expat in Italy.
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