5 Highest Paying Remote Jobs To Consider

Traditional office settings are changing. As we roll into 2024, the new norm is hybrid and remote work, with a survey revealing that 60% of the U.S. workforce will be remote by the new year. Remote work (and partially remote work) boasts many benefits for both employers and employees, including flexibility which allows for more productivity; boosted mental and physical wellbeing; increased job satisfaction; and more comfortable, ergonomic workspaces that can be tailored to your needs as an individual.

FlexJobs’ Remote Work & RTO Pulse report found that more than half of workers know someone who has quit or plans to quit because of return-to-office mandates. In the same survey, 63% said remote work was most important to them in a job, even ahead of salary.

Who could a remote role be good for?

Many individuals opt in for remote working arrangements due to personal or logistical reasons, for example, you may want to be able to spend more time with your growing family, have greater flexibility for doctor’s appointments or meetings at your children’s school, or want to protect the environment through avoiding commuting. Many introverts also find working remotely beneficial and suited to their personality and working preferences.

But beyond preferences, you need to bring something to the table for your employer to be willing to hire you remotely. To succeed in a remote working arrangement requires you to have discipline, confidence in your field of work, and being self-motivated and organized. You also need to consider if it is practical to work remotely in your current circumstances; for example, do you have a quiet, distraction-free space in which to work? Do you have a stable internet connection?

Below is a list of a few of the highest-paying remote jobs you can consider.

Disclaimer: Salaries are taken from Salary.com, Mondo, and Glassdoor. It’s also essential to remember that while these roles are available remotely, some employers may prefer to hire a candidate who can deliver the role in person at the office all the time.

Lead Software Engineer

As a lead software engineer, your responsibilities will be a carefully balanced combination of technical software development and maintenance, and leadership to the engineering team who is responsible for developing and testing software applications. You will be a key point of contact to other teams within your organization, and may need to give presentations to other stakeholders involved in the product.

What qualifications/requirements are necessary?

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field such as computer science or information technology
• Five to seven years of software development experience and strong domain knowledge
• Coding skills in languages such as C++, Java, and HTML5
• Research, testing, and data analysis experience
• Knowledge of progressive, state-of-the-art development tools and programming techniques

Average salary:

$122,667 (however some companies pay as much as $240,000)

Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity engineering is rapidly becoming one of the most in-demand roles in the U.S. and globally, mainly due to the fact that most people are working or studying from home at least part of the time, and many organizations are managing their teams, products, services, and communications online, exposing themselves to greater threats of cyber attack. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that demand for this role will grow 32% over the next decade, with 600,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. currently, and an estimated 3.5 million open roles globally. In this role, you will be safeguarding an organization’s computer networks, systems, websites, and applications from cyber threats and attacks, and develop, maintain, and test the effectiveness of security systems.

What qualifications/requirements are necessary?

• Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or related
• Practical professional qualifications in cybersecurity
• Hands-on experience in incident detection and response
• Strong communication skills
• Python, C++, Java, Ruby, Node, Go, and/or Power Shell proficiency

Average salary:

$149,617

Program Delivery Director

As a program delivery director, you will be focused on managing and ensuring the overall success of the projects you oversee. Some of your tasks will include setting goals, establishing timelines, managing budgets, allocating resources, and supervising managers and delivery teams while developing reporting for stakeholders at the executive level.

What qualifications/requirements are necessary?

• PMP and/or industry-specific qualifications
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business or related sometimes preferred
• Significant project management or program delivery experience
• Project management technical tools proficiency
• Strong operational, analytical, and planning and communication skills

Average salary:

$185,000

Product Manager

As a product manager, you will be playing a pivotal role in developing and releasing products with the end customer in mind, and managing their entire lifecycle. You will be involved in conducting market research and collaborating with other teams such as engineering, marketing, and sales teams to ensure the product’s successful adoption.

What qualifications/requirements are necessary?

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field
• Industry-specific technical expertise
• Strong analytical, leadership, and communication skills
• Product management certifications would be helpful
• Related experience in product development

Average salary:

Dependant on level, can vary from $110,422 for Product Manager, to $180,934 for Principal Product Manager. AI product managers earn even more, on average $193,000.

AI Research Scientist

If being at the forefront of the AI boom and driving innovative solutions using artificial intelligence excites you, you might want to consider a career as an AI research scientist. The global artificial intelligence market is projected to grow at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of 36.8%, and roles within this industry, particularly AI research scientists, are in popular demand due to the mass adoption of artificial intelligence in businesses and to create new products globally. In this role, you would be exploring and developing new techniques and infrastructure to build new, ground-breaking products in collaboration with product and engineering teams.

What qualifications/requirements are necessary?

• Advanced degree in computer science, engineering, or related
• Machine learning experience
• Strong programming skills in languages such as Python, C++, TensorFlow, and PyTorch
• Relevant research experience is also preferred by many employers

Average salary:

This role nets some of the highest non-leadership salaries in technology, from around $130,000, to some researches making seven figures, dependant on location and employer.

How can you find a high-paying remote job?

There is a variety of flexible-work-specific job boards you can use to find your next high-pay remote job, such as:

• FlexJobs
• We Work Remotely
• Remote

Other job boards that include remote job filters include:

• LinkedIn
• Indeed
• ZipRecruiter

High-paying jobs may also be very niche depending on your industry, so it’s wise to tap into your professional network and expand your networking reach to connect with key decision-makers and recruiters who are hiring for your desired remote role. Additionally, try running a Google search for “remote first employers” and search through their roles to see if you find a good fit.

Ultimately, landing a high-paying remote job will take considerable research, dedication, and strong work ethic on your part. But with a solid plan, it is achievable, and you can experience a fulfilling career while defining your work environment and creating a comfortable space to experience the best of both worlds.