3 High-Paying Freelance Jobs For Digital Nomads In 2024

Did you know that there is currently an estimated 40 million digital nomads globally? Of that number, almost 50% (17.3 million) are American workers.

At the same time, freelancing is also increasing in popularity. An estimated 64 million Americans representing 38% of the U.S. workforce performed freelance work in 2023, up from 60 million last year, according to a 2023 report published in December by Upwork.

It’s no surprise that many successful freelancers are turning to digital nomadism as their new office headquarters. Nothing quite beats the thrill of hitting the road, hiking the trail, or flying across the continent to explore somewhere new, while having the freedom to work on your own projects and earn a high income while doing it.

If you are looking for a fresh start to your career, or simply feel that your existing career is in need of a complete overhaul, becoming a freelancer and deciding to become a digital nomad is one of the happiest decisions you’ll ever make. It may not be easy, but it will certainly be worth it.

When evaluating freelance jobs for digital nomads, it’s important to consider the cost of living in the location you will be staying in, as well as the minimum salary requirements for entry that are imposed by the country to which you are traveling.

There are several countries you can travel to which have a relatively low cost of living compared to some cities in the United States. This, combined with a high-paying freelance job, can yield tremendous savings which you can reinvest into your business and ongoing career development, save, or spend as you wish.

Here are some high-paying freelance jobs to consider to support your lifestyle as a digital nomad in 2024:

1. Freelance Software Developer

Software developers use their programming and design expertise to build applications that meet the needs of their end users. Typical projects for a freelance software developer could include developing content management systems (CMS), creating a website from scratch, setting up integrations with third-party APIs and services, or creating highly bespoke solutions for business clients or their customers. You can work from anywhere in the world as a freelance developer, as long as you have your laptop and work-from-home equipment with you.

Average pay: From $79,021 to $110,088 per annum

2. Freelance Project Manager

A freelance project manager is technically no different than a regular, full-time paid employee who works as a project manager. Both jobs require the same skills, although with freelancing, you are an independent contractor so will need to think about managing your business and admin too.

Freelance project managers are typically hired by companies, across several sectors, to work on very short-term projects, ranging from a few weeks to a few months. You will need to work out what your tax obligations are and ensure that you have your back covered as a freelance project management professional.

Average pay: From $77,295 to $95,520

3. Freelance UX/UI Designer

UX (user experience design) and UI (user interface design) are two highly critical components of product development before it is released to its core users. While the two terms may sound similar, they are not the exactly the same.

UX refers to how users engage and interact with tan app (for example), and their journey through the product. On the other hand, UI is more about the aesthetics, looks, and styling of the product. With the app market alone seeing growth projections to as much as 8% by the year 2027, it’s easy to imagine how this is a highly in-demand service.

Average pay: From $68,596 to $82,600

If you have any of the above skills, now is the time to hone them and start putting your services out there so you can start making money online. The more you develop your skills, the more in-demand you will be, and the higher the premium you are able to charge your clients as a freelancer.