If you’re looking for a career that offers the freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere, then you may want to consider a job in the tech field.
While there are many tech jobs that require specific skills, there are also many high-paying remote careers that don’t require any specific tech skill.
However, having certain tech skills can unlock a world of opportunities for you in the remote workforce.
So, if you’re looking to make the jump into a career that offers the freedom and flexibility to work from anywhere, then make sure you have one of these five tech skills mastered.
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1. Data analytics
Data analytics is a super valuable skill to gain right now because the technological advances of the past decade have created an unprecedented volume of data. And we need a way to learn from that data to avoid making costly mistakes.
The sheer size and complexity of this data means that human beings alone cannot possibly analyze it all in a timely manner. This is where data analysts come in.
What do data analysts do?
Data analysts use spreadsheets and databases to store and organize data, then interpret it and create visualizations like this incredible one about Earth Overshoot Day so that we can all see what the heck is actually going on in the world.
Data analysts play an important role in our society by extracting valuable insights from data. They help businesses make data-driven decisions, and they help researchers understand patterns and trends in data. As a result, data analytics has become one of the most important and fulfilling fields in our society.
Data analysts are in high demand right now because almost every industry realizes the value of data-driven decision-making.
Data analytics can help companies improve their products, target their advertising more effectively, and make better business decisions. It’s a skill that’s applicable in many industries, including healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and sustainability.
The average salary for a data analyst is $72,000, and the field is projected to grow by 27% through 2026. So if you have an interest in computers and solving problems, data analytics is a great career choice.
Getting started with data analytics
A great place to start learning about data analytics is to check out the tools they use. Get familiar with spreadsheets. Check out Tableau – they offer some training for free.
And to make sure you’re filling in the gaps in your knowledge, take a look at a program like Google’s Data Analytics Career Certificate through Coursera, which is only $39/month and should take you about 6 months to complete, 4 if you have more time to spend per week.
2. UX and graphic design
UX (user experience) designers and graphic designers are in high demand right now because the world is becoming increasingly digital. And as our lives move online, the importance of having a good user experience increases.
A UX designer’s job is to understand the needs of users and create products that meet those needs. They use various methods, including research, interviews, and surveys, to understand user behavior. They then use that information to design products that are easy to use and meet the needs of users.
Graphic designers create visual content, like logos, illustrations, and web designs. They use their creativity and technical skills to communicate ideas visually. UX design is just a more specific term for a graphic designer. As a graphic designer, you can choose to niche down to any specific kind of graphic design to increase rates for your work and become more specialized.
The average salary for a UX designer is $75,000, and the average salary for a graphic designer is $50,000. The field of UX design is projected to grow by 22% through 2026, and the field of graphic design is expected to grow by 4% during that same time period.
Getting started with UX design
If you’re interested in becoming a UX or graphic designer, the best place to start is by familiarizing yourself with the tools they use.
If you want to become a UX designer, check out UserZoom and InVision. They offer free trials of their software so that you can get started without spending any money. Take a look at Adobe XD, as well.
For more formal training without spending the buck buckaroonies on a degree, check out Coursera’s UX design certificate program, it’s a great middle-ground and will fill in your knowledge gaps.
Getting started with graphic design
If you’re interested in graphic design, Canva is a great place to start. They have a free version that you can use to create simple designs. The pro version is under $15/month and well worth it to start flexing those design muscles and bringing in a paycheck.
Adobe Creative Suite also has a free trial to get started with. I recommend trialing out Illustrator, Photoshop, XD, and InDesign if you plan to launch a graphic design career, remote or freelance.
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3. Programming + web/software development
If you want to get into programming or software development, there are a few different directions you can go. You can become a web developer, mobile app developer, game developer, and a lot more.
Software developers and programmers work in almost any field you can imagine, so this is such a great career choice for people who have many interests and lots of curiosity. Industry mobility is pretty important to me and software development skills will allow you to be picky about your career choices and really find something that can be fulfilling to you.
The average salary for a web developer is $67,990, and the field is projected to grow by 13% through 2026. The average salary for a mobile app developer is $107,000, and the field is expected to grow by 31% during that same time period. And the average salary for a game developer is $74,000, with the field projected to grow by 22% through 2026.
Getting started with programming
If you’re interested in becoming a programmer or software developer, the best place to start is to take a step-by-step course that will almost actually hold your hand through things so that you won’t get lost. Especially if you’re new to programming.
- The Odin Project is a fantastic, free resource that will guide you through everything you need to know about web development. Do their foundations course and then move on to the Javascript course and you’ll be well on your way.
- For iOs app development, check out Codecademy’s course – it’s beginner-friendly and will guide you on the path to developing your own apps and snagging a job or launching a freelance career as a mobile app developer.
- Codecademy’s front-end engineer course is the one you want to go for if you’re having trouble following along with free courses and you’re not exactly sure what kind of developer you want to become yet. This will load you up with all of the skills you’ll need to break into a junior developer role or start freelancing as a web developer yourself. Codecademy’s platform is truly incredible for learning programming skills for the first time and I can’t say
4. Project management
If you’re interested in becoming a project manager, there are a few different routes you can take. You can become a certified project manager through PMI (Project Management Institute), or you can get started with an online course.
Project managers are the backbone of any organization. They keep things running smoothly and on track while ensuring that everyone is working towards the same goal. In other words, they make sure that projects are completed on time and within budget.
But what does that actually entail? Well, project managers have a lot of responsibility. They have to develop project plans, track progress, and Identify risks. They also need to be good at communicating and coordinating with different teams.
All of this can be pretty stressful, but it’s also very rewarding. Seeing a project through from start to finish is a great feeling, and knowing that you played a part in making it happen is even better. The average salary for a project manager is $93,370, and the field is projected to grow by 33% through 2026.
So, if you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding career, project management might be the right field for you. There are plenty of industries that need good project managers, so you’re sure to find a sector that aligns with your interests and skills.
How to get started with project management
Well, you’ve got options.
Udemy and Skillshare offer a great selection of project management courses for relatively little money, and I would recommend taking a few to get your feet wet before jumping into something with a bigger commitment.
Once you have a good understanding of the intricacies of project management and you’ve built up some well-rounded experience with the tools of the trade, you can start applying for jobs.
5. Search engine optimization
If you’re good at SEO, you can make a lot of money working from anywhere in the world. And the industry mobility is here, too.
The average salary for an SEO specialist is $51,000, but the top 10% of earners make over $100,000 per year. And the demand for SEO specialists is only going to grow; by 2020, it’s estimated that there will be 1.8 billion internet users worldwide, and businesses will need to find ways to stand out from the crowd and get noticed.
That’s where SEO comes in. Search engine optimization is all about helping businesses improve their ranking on search engines like Google and Bing.
And it’s not easy. It takes a lot of time, effort, and knowledge to do it right. But it’s worth it because businesses that rank higher on search engine results pages get more traffic, and more traffic means more customers and more sales.
If you’re interested in a career in SEO, the first step is to educate yourself. You don’t need a degree for SEO, but there are plenty of free resources out there, like Moz’s Beginner’s Guide to SEO and Search Engine Land’s SEO Guide. (Get ready to read a LOT.)
Once you have a good understanding of the basics, you can start looking for entry-level job openings or clients to work with as a freelance SEO consultant. some marketing agencies or SEO agencies will hire you without any formal experience as long as you’re willing to put in the time and effort to learn as you go along.
Putting it all together
If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding career, project management might be the right field for you. There are plenty of industries that need skilled workers with all of these skills, so you’re sure to find a sector that aligns with your interests and skills.
And if you’re getting burnt out and want to change industries after landing a new job, guess what? You can!
If you’re already familiar with the basics of one of these skills, there are plenty of online courses that can help you get certified in a short amount of time to fill in any of those gaps in your knowledge or add something “certifiable” to your LinkedIn profile or resume without going into student debt.
With one of these five tech skills mastered, the sky’s the limit when it comes to finding a high-paying remote career.
