The 30 Best Jobs For People Who Want To Travel

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Traveling and experiencing new places and new ways of life firsthand is an incredible experience. It’s no surprise that many people not only look for travel opportunities in work, but also for ways that they can integrate travel into their everyday life and profession.

Look below for some tips on how to land a travel-heavy job and for a list of some of the best options for jobs that require travel.

Key Takeaways:

The top three jobs for people who want to travel are flight attendant, tour guide, traveling nurse.
When traveling for work some of the advantages are getting to see some new cities and meeting new people.
Some disadvantages traveling for work are being away from your family for long periods of time and it’s difficult to network with those back home.

The 30 Best Jobs For People Who Want To Travel

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30 Jobs for People Who Want to Travel
Why Do You Want a Job That Requires Traveling?
Where to Look for a Job That Requires Traveling
Pros and Cons of Traveling for Work
References
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30 Jobs for People Who Want to Travel

Bartender

Average Annual Salary: $23,000
Job Outlook: Bartender jobs are projected to grow 18% through 2030, according to the BLS

Bartending is a job that exists (and is in high demand) in nearly every country, city, or area you might want to travel to. Whether at a bar, restaurant, or club, bartending can make you a good living depending on where you choose to serve.

Higher-end bars, busier bars, and bars in touristy areas will have the most potential for earning a high income. However, certain locations, especially more remote or rural ones, may be a bit rougher in terms of the payscale.

Wherever you choose to bartend, just be sure you speak the native language at least at a basic level to best serve patrons (and spare yourself lots of confusion).

Job requirements: To become a bartender, you usually need a bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years of experience. Getting a certification as a Hospitality Skill Certification for Bartender will help you to earn more as a bartender.

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ESL Teacher

Average Annual Salary: $49,000
Job Outlook: ESL teacher jobs are projected to decline 6% through 2030, according to the BLS

ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers are in high demand all over the world. If you consider yourself a mentor or instructor type, taking a job as an English teacher overseas is a great way to travel while building your professional skills.

In some instances, all it takes is a proficiency of the English language, but it is, of course, best if you have a passable knowledge of the native language. You also have the option of teaching virtually.

Job requirements: To become an esl teacher, you usually need a bachelor’s degree and none of experience. Getting a certification as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) will help you to earn more as an esl teacher. Most of the time, a TEFL certification (teaching English as a foreign language) is required for jobs abroad.

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Flight Attendant

Average Annual Salary: $30,000
Job Outlook: Flight attendant jobs are projected to grow 21% through 2030, according to the BLS

Flight attendant is perhaps the first job that comes to mind when people think of travel-heavy professions. A flight attendant helps to keep airplane passengers comfortable and safe throughout a flight.

It’s not always the easiest work, and the hours can be anything but predictable and strain relationships, but the chance to experience cities and sights all across the globe is unbeatable to some. You also get the perk of free or heavily discounted rides for yourself and your family.

Job requirements: To become a flight attendant, you usually need a bachelor’s degree. Getting a certification as a Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP) will help you to earn more as a flight attendant.

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Au Pair

Average Yearly Salary: $24,651
Job Outlook: N/A

An au pair is someone who acts as a live-in nanny in a foreign country for a year or more. As a nanny, you’ll be taking care of a child or a group of children as well as doing household chores for your host family. In exchange, you receive pay as well as a free place to stay.

Families choose au pairs to help their children learn about new cultures and new languages, and they are in demand all across the world.

Job requirements: Usually, au pairs don’t need a college education. The most common degree for au pairs is bachelor’s degree with 72% graduates, with only 10% au pair graduates earning associate degree.

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Freelancer

Average Annual Salary: $55,020
Job Outlook: N/A

Many different varieties of freelance work are available depending on your skill set, including writing, graphic design, programming, and more.

These jobs don’t necessarily require travel (unless your title is something like “freelance travel writer”), but they make it possible for you to work from anywhere with internet access. Because they don’t require the necessary in-person interaction of traditional jobs, these gigs are perfect for travel lovers.

Job requirements: There are several education requirements to become a freelancer. Freelancers usually study graphic design, communication or journalism. Even though most freelancers have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

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Social Media Manager

Average Annual Salary: $59,000
Job Outlook: Social media manager jobs are projected to grow 10% through 2030, according to the BLS

Quickly becoming one of the most sought-after jobs for millennials and Gen Z, social media influencers profit from online popularity. With good marketing, photography, or videography skills, and the right niche, you can earn unlimited amounts.

However, don’t think it’s going to happen straight away, or even any time soon. It takes years to build an online following for the vast majority of people, and even then, it’s no guarantee. But, for those who can crack the secret code, this can become a serious source of income.

Job requirements: To become a social media manager, you usually need a bachelor’s degree. Getting a certification as a Certified Medical Interpreter – Spanish (CMI) will help you to earn more as a social media manager.

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Tour Guide

Average Annual Salary: $33,000
Job Outlook: N/A
Being a tour guide offers you a great opportunity to both travel and see the best of what your locale has to offer. You can work as an independent tour guide, for a local company, or even for an international tour company.

Tour guides help visitors find the best spots around town, whether that’s restaurants, hiking trails, or historically significant places. Working as a tour guide can be one of the best ways to indulge your love of seeing the world.

Job requirements: To become a tour guide, you usually need a bachelor’s degree. Getting a certification as a First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor will help you to earn more as a tour guide.

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Retail Buyer

Average Annual Salary: $53,000
Job Outlook: Retail buyer jobs are projected to decline 6% through 2030, according to the BLS

Retail buyers are responsible for monitoring a store’s inventory, and they’re expected to be knowledgeable about the latest fashion trends.

Retail buyers spend a great deal of time going to vendor meetings, conferences, and trade shows to determine what products a company should sell. Depending on how large your employer is, you may even be traveling across the globe.

Job requirements: It takes an average of 1-2 years of job training to become a retail buyer.

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Musician

Average Annual Salary: $70,000
Job Outlook: Musician jobs are projected to grow 4% through 2030, according to the BLS

Whether you’re busking (performing music on the street) or playing a paid gig at a venue, the musician’s life has been known to go hand in hand with some heavy traveling.

Try booking some shows at local venues, or even just setting up camp in a touristy area. Just keep in mind that some cities require a special permit to perform on the street.

Job Requirements: To become a musician, you usually need a bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of experience. Getting a certification as a Music Therapist – Board Certified (MT-BC) will help you to earn more as a musician.

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Stage hand

Average Annual Salary: $26,576
Job Outlook: N/A

This is the perfect job for those who love music and travel but would rather work behind the scenes. A stagehand for a concert or a theater production has the opportunity to go on the road with different acts or work for a specific venue.

Job requirements: It takes an average of Less than 1 month of job training to become a stage hand. Even though some stage hands have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.

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Truck Driver

Average Annual Salary: $59,000
Job Outlook: Truck driver jobs are projected to grow 4% through 2030, according to the BLS

If you love driving (and you’re a good, safe driver), becoming a truck driver might just be the best travel job for you. With this job, you’d be responsible for driving goods all across the country.

To have this job, you should be good at meeting delivery deadlines promptly and ensuring no damage is done to goods along the way.

Job requirements: To become a truck driver, you usually need a high school diploma and 2-4 years of experience. Getting a certification as a Commercial Driver License (CDL) (CDL) will help you to earn more as a truck driver.

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Chef

Average Annual Salary: $47,000
Job Outlook: Chef jobs are projected to grow 15% through 2030, according to the BLS

Chefs get the opportunity to travel often simply because every culture in the world has its own unique cuisine. Kitchens across the globe are always looking to hire great chefs, and some positions even pay for you to travel and hone your skill.

Job requirements: To become a chef, you usually need a associate degree and 4-6 years of experience. Chefs usually study culinary arts, business or hospitality management. Getting a certification as a ServSafe Alcohol will help you to earn more as a chef.

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Athletic Recruiter

Average Yearly Salary: N/A
Job outlook: Athletic recruiter and scout jobs are projected to grow 20% through 2030, according to the BLS

As an athletic recruiter, you travel around the country searching for the right candidates for your college or professional sports team. Recruiters know every facet of their sport of choice, and they know what makes a great player. This is an excellent choice for sports fans with an analytical eye.

Job requirements: You typically need a bachelor’s degree. However, educational requirements may vary from no formal educational credential to a bachelor’s or higher degree. These workers also need extensive knowledge of the sport.
Virtual Assistant

Average Annual Salary: $38,000
Job Outlook: N/A

Personal assistants help with all sorts of tasks, from customer relations to calendar and social media organization, and more. In this day and age, personal assistants can do all of these tasks online.

Businesses and individuals are increasingly hiring virtual assistants due to the reduced cost of hiring remote employees. With technological advancements increasingly adapting to remote work styles, this is a quickly-growing and in-demand profession.

Job requirements: Virtual assistants usually study business, psychology or communication. The necessary certifications that virtual assistants must have to succeed are Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT).

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Yacht Captain

Average Annual Salary: $58,000
Job outlook: Yacht captain jobs are projected to show little or no change through 2030, according to the BLS

As a ship captain for commercial or private boats, you get paid to sail the open seas in luxury. Well, sort of. While you have several essential responsibilities, and you’re going to have to hold back on most boating festivities (e.g., the drinking), this is a dream job for many.

You get paid to sail to beautiful, exotic locations with free food as well as room and board. Even if you don’t have experience sailing, you can still apply for entry-level positions such as deckhand.

Job requirements: There is no education requirement for this position, even though most yacht captains have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED. Most yacht captains gain their position through years of experience.

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Diving Instructor

Average Annual Salary: $23,600
Job Outlook: N/A

In cold climates, hot climates, and everything in between, exploring the ocean through diving is a sport that’s popular worldwide. As a diving instructor, you help people have a fun and safe diving experience while showing them some of the best sites.

Job requirements: The education needed to be a diving instructor is normally a bachelor’s degree. The necessary certifications that diving instructors must have to succeed are Diver Medic Technician (DMT) and Instructor.

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Translator

Average Annual Salary: $45,000
Job Outlook: Translator jobs are projected to grow 20% through 2030, according to the BLS

If you speak two languages fluently, you may have the opportunity to work as a translator. You’d be responsible for translating various documents or audio files from one language to another in this job.

Translator jobs are available worldwide (though it may depend largely on your spoken languages), but they are also increasingly available online.

Job requirements: To become a translator, you usually need a bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of experience. Getting a certification as a Certified Translator will help you to earn more as a translator.

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Event Coordinator

Average Annual Salary: $42,000
Job Outlook: Event coordinator jobs re projected to grow 18% through 2030, according to the BLS

As an event coordinator, you’ll be traveling between various events to conduct the duties of your jobs. Because of this, being an event coordinator is a great job for lovers of travel (and parties).

Event coordinators help to balance budgets and make arrangements according to their client’s wishes. This is an excellent choice for people who are organized and know how to throw (and plan out) a grand bash.

Job requirements: To become an event coordinator, you usually need a bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of experience. Getting a certification as a Certified Wedding and Event Planner (CWP) will help you to earn more as an event coordinator.

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Consultant

Average Annual Salary: $89,000
Job outlook: Consultant jobs are projected to grow 11% through 2030, according to the BLS

A consultant is a specialized position that helps corporations or individuals with varying issues. Because consultants have such a specialized, specific knowledge base, their work often requires travel to many different locations to meet with clients and maintain client relations.

Job requirements: To become a consultant, you usually need a bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of experience. Getting a certification as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA) will help you to earn more as a consultant.

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Foreign Service Officer

Average Annual Salary: $98,534
Job outlook: N/A

The U.S. government maintains over 250 embassies around the world and is frequently looking for U.S. citizens to staff these positions. As a foreign service worker, you’ll be an agent of the U.S. Department of State, helping to facilitate meetings with foreign governments.

If you’re advanced in your career, you could work as a U.S. diplomat, but there are plenty of positions and career tracks available to aspiring foreign service workers.

Job requirements: Hiring managers expect a foreign service officer to have soft skills such as management skills, problem-solving skills, and time-management skills. Once you have all the required skills and experience, it takes an average of None of job training to become a foreign service officer.

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Peace Corps Volunteer

Average Annual Salary: N/A
Job Outlook: N/A

If you want to travel and contribute positively to the places you end up through humanitarian efforts, consider signing up to be a Peace Corps volunteer. These positions involve healthcare, economics, education, and development, and they generally last for about two years.

The Peace Corps provides housing, healthcare, and even student loan help to its volunteers and is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to travel while making a difference. Just remember that this is a volunteer position, so it won’t be bringing in the big bucks any time soon.

Job requirements: N/A
Traveling Nurse

Average Annual Salary: $82,000
Job outlook: Nurse jobs are projected to grow 6% through 2030, according to the BLS

As a traveling nurse, you’ll be moving between temporary positions at hospitals across the country. Positions like this exist to help bring quality healthcare to places that need it most, like remote areas or areas with a high volume of clients.

Job requirements: To become a traveling nurse, you usually need a bachelor’s degree and 1-2 years of experience. The most common jobs before becoming a traveling nurse are staff nurse, registered nurse, and licensed practical nurse. Getting a certification as a Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS) will help you to earn more as a traveling nurse.

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Traveling Festival Work

Average Yearly Salary: N/A
Job Outlook: N/A
If you’re a festival-lover, you can score free tickets, accommodation, or even pay by working at festivals across the globe. These jobs include serving, vending, installation, stagehand work, and more.

If you’re truly passionate, you can even alternate between countries depending on when their peak festival season (typically summer) occurs.

Job requirements: N/A
Ski Instructor

Average Annual Salary: $36,259
Job outlook: N/A

This is the perfect profession for anyone who loves skiing and other snow sports and is eager to help others learn.

Ski resorts all over the world look for great instructors during peak season and even after that at indoor ski resorts. With great charisma, you may even be able to make some great tips off wealthy ski travelers.

Job requirements: To become a ski instructor, you usually need a bachelor’s degree and 2-4 years of experience. Getting a certification as a First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor will help you to earn more as a ski instructor.

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Travel Agent
Average Annual Salary: $31,000
Job Outlook: Travel agent jobs are projected to grow 20% through 2030, according to the BLS

Okay, so this profession may be on the rocks due to the increasing preference for online services, but if you can find your niche in the market, this is a fantastic choice for travel-lovers. Travel agents plan and sell vacations to people looking to skip the headache of trip-planning.

As travel agents need to be decently familiar with the places they’re trying to market to their clients, this job involves a lot of travel. At many agencies, these trips are paid for as a work expense.

Job requirements: To become a travel agent, you usually need a bachelor’s degree and 3-6 months of experience. Getting a certification as a Travel and Tourism Professional (TTP) will help you to earn more as a travel agent.

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Photographer
Average Annual Salary: $36,000
Job outlook: Photographer jobs are projected to grow 9% through 2030, according to the BLS

If you have creative talent, a serious investment in equipment, and photography know-how, you may be able to make money as a traveling professional photographer.

Whether you’re uploading your photos online for clients or being paid to photograph events in different locations, this is a perfect gig for traveling artists. You may even be able to make money teaching others about photography.

Job requirements: To become a photographer, you usually need a bachelor’s degree. Getting a certification as a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) will help you to earn more as a photographer.

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Construction Manager

Average Annual Salary: $85,000
Job Outlook: Construction manager jobs are projected to grow 8% through 2030, according to the BLS

This can be quite a lucrative career for anyone with great leadership skills and experience with construction projects, with an added bonus of being travel-heavy.

Construction managers are in charge of every aspect of construction projects. They often travel between the various construction sites they manage to oversee the work and perform their job duties.

Job requirements: To become a construction manager, you usually need a bachelor’s degree and 4-6 years of experience. Getting a certification as a OSHA Safety Certificate will help you to earn more as a construction manager.

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Airbnb Host

Average Yearly Salary: N/A
Job Outlook: N/A
This isn’t likely to be a full-time job for you (unless you own and rent out many properties), but becoming an Airbnb host is one of the fastest-growing ways of supplementing your income.

If you rent out your own space, this job will require traveling at pre-arranged times to allow guests to stay in your home. So you’ll be able to make money while going on vacations of your own.

Job requirements: N/A
Seasonal Associate

Average Annual Salary: $30,000
job Outlook: N/A
This is a broad category that includes any type of temporary work that only operates in specific seasons. Seasonal workers either take jobs during peak seasons and travel during off-seasons or continuously travel to new locations to pursue temporary work.

There are an innumerable amount of seasonal jobs out there, all depending on your skill set. Construction workers often work and travel seasonally, depending on the site location.

Job requirements: It takes an average of Less than 1 month of job training to become a seasonal associate.

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Working Holiday Visas

Average Yearly Salary: N/A
Job Outlook: N/A

This one is sort of a bonus entry on this list because it’s not a job title in and of itself, but it is a great way of finding work while traveling.

Working holiday visas allow travelers (typically between the ages of 18-30) to take on small jobs to make an income while traveling. It’s a great way to gain professional experience in your younger years while exploring the world.

Job requirements: N/A

Why Do You Want a Job That Requires Traveling?

Before you try and find your perfect jet-setting job, consider the reasons you might want a job like this.

You may find yourself using all your PTO (and a big chunk of your income) traveling and wondering if there’s a better option. Or, you may simply be wanting a job with more flexibility in scheduling and location. In these cases, you may want to see if working remotely at your current position is possible.

You might also be in the position of being a recently graduated college student, a student on a gap year, or someone who hasn’t established their career yet. These are all great times to travel, and there are tons of entry-level options for supplementing your trips.

Where to Look for a Job That Requires Traveling

To find jobs that require traveling, you’re most likely going to have to use the same methods you’d use to find any other job. Online searching will be your best friend, especially online job boards (such as Zippia).

If you are looking for volunteer or work away positions, there are plenty of sites dedicated to posting them exclusively for travelers. The same thing goes for freelance jobs.

If traveling comes first for you, and the job comes second, you may even consider networking with the people you meet to find temporary positions and work that isn’t listed online.

Pros and Cons of Traveling for Work

Here are some pros and cons of traveling for work that can help with your decision process.

Pros:

You’ll get to see some cool cities. When traveling for work, you will get to see some places you may never have seen otherwise. Also most of the time you are traveling for free because it’s apart of your job.
You get to know your coworkers really well. When you spend all your time with your coworkers, you’re going to get to know them really well. Most of the time when you first get to a new place, they are going to be the only ones you know for a while.
Most of your meals are paid for. When traveling for work a lot of the time a company will pay for your food, or give you a food allowance for a week. They do this because you aren’t always staying in a place that has access to a kitchen.
You get to meet new people: You will get to meet all kinds of new people when you are traveling a lot for work. It can be great if you are single because it could lead to finding a partner. It’s also a great opportunity to find new friends.

Cons:

You may not be able to explore the cities. Getting to go to these cool places is great when you can go exploring. Depending on what your job is you may not get to spend much of your free time exploring the city.
It’s more difficult to network at home. Since you are most likely spending all of your time with the same coworkers, it’s harder to network with those back at the office.
It’s hard to eat healthy. Since your company is paying for your meals, they may not always be the healthiest. If you eat take out most of the week, it’s hard to get the proper nutrition.
You are away from your family for long periods of time Traveling for work is a great experience, but you have to spend time away from your family. If you have young children or you are leaving your spouse for long periods, it can lead to feeling alone.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Outlook Handbook.” Accessed on September 12, 2022.

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Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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