- Jobs With Perks
- Jobs That Help People
- Part Time Jobs With Health Insurance
- Part-Time Evening Jobs
- Work-From-Home Computer Jobs
- Jobs With Tuition Reimbursement
- Most Satisfying Jobs
- Weekend Jobs
- Jobs Where You Make Your Own Hours
- Jobs Working With Children
- Jobs With Best Job Security
- Jobs That Are Easy To Get
- Best Jobs For Remote Work
- Should You Work Pro Bono?
- What Is Work Study
- Jobs That Make You A Millionaire
- Jobs That Require Travel And Pay Well
- Side Gigs
- High Paying Jobs With Time Off
Find a Job You Really Want In
Having the flexibility to make your own hours and schedule is a perk that many job seekers are looking for. Over the last few years, it has become more common for jobs to allow you this flexibility.
In this article, we’ll outline everything you’ll need to know to start seeking out and applying for these job opportunities where you make your own hours.
Key Takeaways:
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Jobs where you make your own hours include ride-share driving, video editing, graphic design, hair styling, and consulting.
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The benefits of making your own schedule means it is easier to communicate with your coworkers, you have more flexibility, and you have a better work-life balance.
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Determining if a job with a flexible schedule is right for you depends on your budget, skill set, and personality.
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Working a job with flexible hours can help you improve and gain new skills to add to your resume for any future positions you might be interested in.
30 Jobs that will allow you to set your own work schedule
To bring more control and flexibility to your work life, here are 30 examples of modern jobs that will enable you to pick and choose your own working hours:
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Freelance writer
Average Annual Salary: $52,025Freelance writing is a career to consider pursuing if you have a talent for wordplay and a passion for language. Freelancers often work around a deadline and now around regular work hours. This gives you the freedom to work when you want and you are often able to work where you are most comfortable and productive.
Copywriting and content writing are essential components to any successful employer branding strategy, which means that freelance writers tend to remain in fairly high demand across industries.
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Freelance Editor
Average Annual Salary: $54,502Freelance editors also tend to be highly valued for their ability to condense, simplify, and improve a business’s content messaging strategy. Similar to freelance writers, freelance editors have the freedom to work when and where they want to as long as they meet their deadline.
If you love to read, write, and correct your friends when they type “your” instead of “you’re” in a text message conversation, then a job as a freelance editor could be a good fit for you.
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Graphic designer
Average Annual Salary: $45,000Graphic designers often create how many hours they work depending on how many clients and projects you have. It can also determine on the complexity of the project. Freelance graphic designers will have the most flexibility when it comes to their work schedules and hours worked.
If you’re someone who’s passionate about creative designs and who is familiar with prominent digital design platforms (such as Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop), then we encourage you to check out some job opportunities as a freelance graphic designer.
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Hair Stylist
Average Annual Salary: $36,000Working as a hair stylists, you have the ability to schedule when you take clients, epically if you have your own salon or workspace. You can also create time in your day to practice your craft in a fun and social environment.
This is a great flexible job opportunity for anyone who loves spending time with people and who has a knack for hair care.
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House sitter
Average Annual Salary: $56,000As a house sitter, you’ll typically have the flexibility to decide when you’re going to complete your work-related duties, such as watering the plants, bringing in the mail, and cleaning up around the kitchen.
House sitting can also provide you with a private and quiet working environment, from which you can submit further job applications or complete additional freelance work.
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Dog walker/Pet sitter
Average Annual Salary: $20,000Working as a dog walker or pet sitter is a great job opportunity to make your own hours if you love being around and taking care of animals. Both of these gigs very often come with flexible hours, and they’re also a great chance to engage in some light exercise and spend some quality time with your furry friends.
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Massage therapist
Average Annual Salary: $45,000Massage therapy is a wonderful occupation if you are passionate about the promotion of wellbeing and ease – both in themself and in others. You’ll have lots of freedom and flexibility to choose your own work hours because it’s also a line of work that very often takes place on a by-appointment-only basis.
Just bear in mind that you’ll need to receive your certification before you’re able to start working as a massage therapist.
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Personal fitness trainer
Average Annual Salary: $38,894A personal fitness trainer job may be perfect for you if you are the type of person who considers fitness to be less of a hobby and more of a lifestyle. It’s also a great opportunity to meet new people and share your passion for physical health with others.
Being a personal fitness trainer allows you to create your own hours because you will work with your client to arrange sessions to fit both of your schedules. You may be working odd hours which means you will be able to accomplish other things during regular working hours.
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Rideshare driver
Average Annual Salary: N/AAs a rideshare driver you’ll be able to choose your own hourly and daily work schedule. Even if you’re already working a full-time job, you can still drive in the evenings to earn a little extra cash.
Using companies such as Uber or Lyft to be a rideshare driver in populated areas is a great way to earn extra money. The weekends are a great time to be a rideshare driver because that is a common time people need rideshare drivers.
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Social media specialist
Average Annual Salary: $47,000As a social media specialists you have the option to choose when you work and you can often work from home. Your main responsibility is create and manage content on social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
With each passing year, it’s becoming increasingly important for companies to build and maintain a sophisticated social media presence and marketing strategy. That’s why social media specialists are high in demand.
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Tour guide
Average Annual Salary: $29,000Being a tour guide is a great career option if you are passionate about your town’s history and culture. It’s also a fun, engaging, and lucrative way to share that passion with tourists and sightseers.
A job as a local tour guide could be an excellent option for you. And here’s the best part: more often than not, these jobs come with flexible scheduling options. Depending on the tour, you may be working odd or short hours. Weekends are also a great time to work as a tour guide.
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Tutor
Average Annual Salary: $33,000Tutoring is a rewarding, simple, and flexible way to earn a little extra cash. Working as a tutor, you can schedule your tutoring session when it works best for you and your client.
If you have expertise in a specific field (such as mathematics, foreign languages, writing, or science) and you enjoy helping others to develop their skills and confidence in the classroom, then a job as a tutor might very well be worth pursuing.
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Substitute teacher
Average Annual Salary: $33,000Substitute teachers are almost always in high demand across the country for their flexibility and ability to connect with diverse groups of students. Substitutes can often pick the days that you want to be available making this a job great opportunity if you want to make your own hours.
If you’re someone who loves to learn and who feels comfortable and confident addressing a room full of people, we encourage you to look into substitute teaching job opportunities in your area.
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Data Entry Clerk
Average Annual Salary: $28,000Data entry clerk is a great job opportunity for you if you can analyze and organize large amounts of data. Very often, these sorts of jobs will allow you to choose your own hours each week – they frequently come with a time-sensitive daily or weekly quota as opposed to a rigid daily or weekly schedule.
All you need to get started as a data entry worker is a personal computer with reliable internet access, time management skills, an affinity for numbers, and keen attention to detail.
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Language translator
Average Annual Salary: $45,000Language translator sites are actively seeking bilingual and multilingual individuals who are willing to work from home according to their own flexible schedule.
If you speak more than one language, you can start capitalizing on that skill by working as a language translator.
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Search engine evaluator
Average Annual Salary: $115,000Working as a search engine evaluator is an undemanding and flexible way to earn a little extra money on the side. You can choose which hours work best for you as long as you work the number of hours set by your employer.
As a search engine evaluator, you’ll essentially oversee online searches to ensure that a search engine generates accurate, quick, and legitimate results.
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Blogger
Average Annual Salary: $41,048Blogging has become an increasingly common practice for brands and individuals who are seeking to promote themselves and share their thoughts on a wide variety of topics to a public audience.
The trouble is that many of these brands and individuals do not have the writing skills to produce high-quality blog content. Those who do – freelance bloggers, for example – have become an extremely valuable asset for many employers.
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Nanny (or baby sitter)
Average Annual Salary: $25,000Working as a nanny or babysitter will very likely be a great fit for you f you’re willing to become a certified caregiver and you enjoy spending time with children. This job also offers flexibility because you will only be working when parents need you.
Working as a nanny or a babysitter is a big responsibility, but it can also pay off in a major way. Just bear in mind that many parents and nanny agencies will require that you receive a first-aid or CPR certification before you begin working.
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Delivery driver
Average Annual Salary: $37,000Delivery drivers tend to earn comfortable wages (sometimes including tips) and enjoy flexible work hours. There are many option to work as a delivery driver including things like Instacart or Doordash. These allow you to work when it suits you.
This is a great option if you don’t mind spending long stretches of time behind the wheel and have a strong sense of direction.
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Interior designer
Average Annual Salary: $54,000Working as an interior designer is a great option if you are someone who’s always dreaming up new and innovative ways to make the inside of a room or a house feel more comfortable.
This job opportunity can be flexible and allow you to work on the designs when it works for you. This role will also provide you with tons of opportunities to engage with people and put your creative energies to constructive use.
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Test proctor
Average Annual Salary: $33,000A test proctor is an educational professional that oversees the process of students taking exams. Working as a school test proctor is a fast, easy, and flexible way to generate a little extra income.
Universities and public schools are always in need of individuals who can attend and monitor academic testing events.
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Video editor
Average Annual Salary: $46,000Video editors typically don’t have much trouble finding clients because there are always brands out there seeking to improve their employer branding and outreach strategies through the medium of film.
If you have a penchant for film and own your own recording and editing software, you may already have everything you need to begin working as a video editor.
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Actuary
Average Annual Salary: $84,000An actuary is someone who calculates and analyzes degrees of risk for insurance-related purposes. To be hired as an actuary, you’ll need to be able to demonstrate a strong background in mathematics – and more specifically, you’ll need to be able to prove that you’re a skilled statistician and data analyst.
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Virtual assistant
Average Annual Salary: $24,000As a virtual assistant, you’ll have lots of flexibility to choose your own working hours, as well as the freedom to determine the types of clients that you assist. In the drawing era of remote work, virtual assistants are becoming an increasingly common and important asset for a huge variety of entrepreneurs and businesses.
In this role, you would coordinate with customers that require assistance and perform managerial or clerical operations such as making appointments and handling calendars.
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Research associate
Average Annual Salary: $53,000Working as a research associate is a great position if you love research and creating your work hours. Remote positions allow you to work when it works best for you, as long as you can get the required hours completed.
Research associates need to be able to demonstrate strong concentration skills and acute attention to detail. If you’re a self-starter who’s eager to learn and advance the frontiers of knowledge, then a job as a research associate may be a perfect fit for you.
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Dietitian
Average Annual Salary: $51,000Working as a dietitian is a great position if you are passionate about physical health, nutrition, and food. As a dietician, you’ll be able to work closely with individuals to help them achieve their health and nutritional goals.
This position can be flexible because you work with clients and schedule your meetings with them when it works best for you both.
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Salesperson
Average Annual Salary: $26,000A salesperson job is great if you can relationships with people quickly. In this position, you have to be persuasive to get customers to purchase your product or services.
Many sales jobs are full-time, but several sales positions will provide you with flexible work options. The average salesperson works between 30 and 40 hours per week.
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Web developer
Average Annual Salary: $72,000Many web developers enjoy the freedom and flexibility to determine their work hours. Before you’ll be able to land a job as a web developer, however, you’ll first need to demonstrate a strong background in the field, as well as an ability to deliver projects on time.
In this position, you would create websites, do coding, and take care of the design and layout of the webpage. This is a great position if you are creative and have great attention to detail skills.
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Consultant
Average Annual Salary: $74,000A consultant, simply put, is an individual who possesses a high degree of expert knowledge about a particular subject. In turn, these individuals are hired by others who are seeking to put that knowledge to good use.
For example, if you’re particularly well-versed in the finer points of the finance industry, you may be sought out by a professional or a brand who is seeking some sort of specific financial advice. So if you’re an expert in a particular field, you may want to look into consulting.
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Recruiter
Average Annual Salary: $44,000Recruiters serve as the intermediary between employers and job candidates, helping to find and facilitate the perfect matches between the two parties. To begin working as a recruiter, you’ll need to have strong communication and organization skills. An affinity for sales doesn’t hurt your chances, either.
Benefits of a job where you make your own hours
One of the significant benefits of working remotely – as anyone who has ever worked from home for an extended period of time will be able to attest – is that it frequently gives you the freedom to establish your own work schedule. Here are some additional benefits to jobs where you make your own hours:
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Better communication. Modern telecommunication platforms such as Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Microsoft Teams have made it easier than ever for employees to work from home and collaborate across great distances.
Years prior, without the tools that make it possible for people to communicate across great distances, employers typically needed all employees working under a single roof. This, in turn, made it necessary for every team member to arrive at (and leave) the office at the same time each day, which required them to stick to a regular working schedule.
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Improved work-life balance. Working from home makes it easier to be with your family or spend time with friends. When work doesn’t consume most of your life, your stress levels decrease and you are less likely to experience work burnout.
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More flexibility to your schedule. Making your own schedule is important if the typical 9-to-5 doesn’t work for you. If you have children or are a caretaker of someone, working at night or at different times during the day might be a better option for you.
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Improved productivity. Making your own schedule is great because you can choose when you will be most productive. If you are feeling under the weather one day, you can choose to rest and relax instead of trying to work and not get much done. One persons most productive hours of the day might not work for another person.
Deciding If a Job With a Flexible Schedule Is Right for You
Determining whether or not a job with a flexible schedule will be right for you will depend on a variety of factors. These include, most notably, your budget, your skill set, and your personality.
With those ideas in mind, here are three essential questions that you should always ask yourself before you accept an offer for a job with a flexible schedule:
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“Will I be financially secure?” Many remote and freelance jobs – though not all of them – will not be able to pay as much as a full-time job with regular hours. This is mainly because flexible jobs frequently do not demand the same sort of long-term commitment typically required by a full-time position. And while money isn’t everything, it should certainly be carefully factored into your decision.
To that end, you should always be sure that a job with a flexible schedule will provide you with enough income to cover your monthly expenses. And keep in mind that if one flexible job isn’t enough, you can always consider adding another to your schedule.
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“Do I have the skills that will enable me to be competent in this role?” Flexible jobs can open the door to a lot of freedom, but only for those who can bring certain prerequisite skills to the table.
Before you submit a job application for a job that will allow you to set your own schedule, make sure that you carefully read and understand the job requirements – and that those requirements closely align with your background, skills, and experience.
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“Am I the type of person who will enjoy a job with a flexible work schedule?” Most importantly, you should take some time to reflect upon your personal work style and preferences.
Are you someone who enjoys having the autonomy to create your own schedule? Do you find it easy to stay on task and focused for long periods without a manager looking over your shoulder? Are you a self-motivated individual who can avoid procrastination and deliver high-quality results on time?
If you answered “yes” to each of those questions, then a job with a flexible work schedule is very likely for you.
Flexible Schedule Jobs FAQs
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What jobs can I make my own hours?
There are many jobs where you can make your own hours, including:
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Graphic design
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Ride-share driving
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Hair styling
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Freelance writing
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Massage therapy
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Personal training
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Consulting
As you can see, many of these jobs are flexible but require you to be self-sufficient. You must be able to gather clients and build a professional network so that you can have more control over your schedule.
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What is the least stressful career?
Some of the least stressful careers are in massage therapy, dog walking, and data entry. Theses are jobs that provide a relaxing environment. Additionally, the responsibilities of the professions are straight-forward. They give you the opportunity to focus on your tasks.
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How can I make side income?
You can make side income by picking up part-time jobs. You can either try to be hired by a company or go it on your own as a freelancer. The important thing to consider is fitting your side income jobs into your schedule effectively.
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What jobs give you a lot of free time?
Jobs that give a lot of free time include teaching, firefighting, and maritime work. However, there is a catch. These jobs provide blocks of free time because they alternate with blocks of time devoted to your job. For example, teachers work long days, sometimes through the weekends, but in return they have summers off.
References
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Jobs With Perks
- Jobs That Help People
- Part Time Jobs With Health Insurance
- Part-Time Evening Jobs
- Work-From-Home Computer Jobs
- Jobs With Tuition Reimbursement
- Most Satisfying Jobs
- Weekend Jobs
- Jobs Where You Make Your Own Hours
- Jobs Working With Children
- Jobs With Best Job Security
- Jobs That Are Easy To Get
- Best Jobs For Remote Work
- Should You Work Pro Bono?
- What Is Work Study
- Jobs That Make You A Millionaire
- Jobs That Require Travel And Pay Well
- Side Gigs
- High Paying Jobs With Time Off
Author
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.
