See the World and Get Paid: 10 Traveling Jobs You Should Check Out

Sometimes, there’s nothing like the feeling of traveling down a wide open road or flying through a cloudy sky. Getting to go to far-off places doesn’t have to be part of a hobby. In some instances, it can be part of your job. Many people love jobs that require travel for a variety of reasons. Perhaps it’s because of the promise of freedom. Or maybe they simply love to explore new places and meet new people. Traveling jobs also provide the chance to expand a person’s knowledge by learning from new cultures.

Much of the business world appears to be embracing more remote work. As just one example, a study conducted by AT&T predicted that the number of jobs moving to the hybrid work model would increase from 42 percent in 2021 to more than 80 percent in 2024. Increased remote work means opening up the possibility of people being able to work from pretty much anywhere, but that is not necessarily tied to their jobs. Think of it more as an added perk, creating multiple full-time travel jobs.

However, jobs that require travel and pay well appear to be going in a positive direction as well. For example, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that the number of pilots and flight engineers will increase by 6 percent over the coming decade. If you’re looking for traveling jobs that pay well, you’ll find some excellent options for you to pursue, with many of them in high demand for applicants.

Here are ten of the best traveling jobs, along with how you can get started on each career path.

10 Jobs That Require Travel

1. Flight Attendant

Flight attendants aren’t just there to hand out snacks and drinks. Part of their jobs involves checking safety equipment to ensure everything looks good. Flight attendants must also have conflict resolution skills to deal with unruly passengers or people who just want to stir up trouble. They also have training to handle some medical emergencies should they happen in the middle of a flight. As a flight attendant, you get to travel the world, spending up to 100 hours in the air every month. Shifts can be exhausting (up to 14 hours), but if there’s enough time between flights, you can check out local landmarks and other fascinating sights in a foreign country. Some airlines also allow their flight attendants to travel for free when they’re not on the job.

• Average salary: About $61,000.
• How to get started: Get a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, communication, tourism, or public relations to increase your chances, then apply for an open position. Further training and certification will happen after you’ve been accepted.

2. Online English as a Second Language Teacher

A teacher who teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) online works with students who speak another language so they can become more proficient in English. The courses are usually offered on a video stream where teachers can interact with students directly. As an online teacher, you have more flexibility to teach from anywhere. Some teachers even choose to live in a country that speaks the primary language of their students, providing more immersion for the subject. These are full-time travel jobs that allow you to help others learn new things.

• Average salary: About $57,000, with chances for additional pay.
• How to get started: Requirements will vary depending on state or country of residence. Check out ESLteacher.org for more information.

3. Training Specialist

Training specialists work with employees of other companies so they have the skills necessary to do their jobs well. From an office, a training specialist will create the programs that employees will follow. But after that, they get to go to where the company is and work with the employees directly. That means traveling all over the country, visiting a variety of interesting organizations and locations while taking advantage of new opportunities. During your travels, you’ll be able to check out famous restaurants and tourist sites, sometimes on the company’s dime.

• Average salary: About $61,000.
• How to get started: Most training specialists have at least a bachelor’s degree, with some having a master’s degree. You can get help with some of the training specialist interview questions here.

4. Cruise Ship Worker

When it comes to jobs that involve traveling, a cruise ship worker is one of the most luxurious ways to see distant locations. It certainly sounds like a dream job that lets you travel the world. When you work on a cruise ship, you can do a variety of tasks from preparing meals, cleaning up guest suites, performing in front of hundreds of people, and more. On top of that, your meals, room, and board are usually free. It should be noted that while the passengers are off on their excursions, you’ll still need to be on the ship. Visiting exotic locales would need to happen between cruise trips.

• Average salary: Due to the number of different positions, this can vary wildly.
• How to get started: You can check out a wide selection of cruise ship jobs here.

5. Yachtie

A yachtie is someone who works on a luxury yacht. Many of their duties are similar to those of a cruise ship worker. Those responsibilities include cleaning guest rooms, preparing food, maintaining the ship, and more. A yachtie is one of those travel jobs that often get the chance to see many parts of the world that are otherwise hard to get to. While working on a yacht might sound glamorous, yachties can work up to 18-hour days while being at sea for months at a time. Despite these drawbacks, the pay is good and sometimes simply being on a yacht can provide opportunities for adventure.

• Average salary: Again, this can vary to a large degree, but you can find a good summary of salaries here.
• How to get started: Check out the steps you can take to become a yachtie with this guide.

6. Travel Nurse

Travel nurses work for staffing agencies and fill in at hospitals experiencing temporary vacancies. The job has become more prevalent largely thanks to the nursing shortage many areas face. With hospitals desperately needing more nurses, a travel nurse can fill that gap from eight weeks to two years. Travel nurses can go pretty much anywhere that needs their expertise. If you have medical experience and don’t want to be tied down to one place for too long, becoming a travel nurse will help you see the world while providing help to people of all types of backgrounds.

• Average salary: About $75,000.
• How to get started: To be a travel nurse, you’ll need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). You can find more information on that degree and other requirements here.

7. Photographer

Photographers often have opportunities to travel to a variety of interesting places to capture beautiful pictures of people, nature, events, and more. A travel photographer is someone who values exploration and discovery. One day they may be taking a picture of a desert cactus. Another day, they may be snapping a photo of a toucan in the Amazon. Photography provides a sense of adventure that other occupations may find difficult to capture. As long as you have a desire to travel and learn, photography may be the perfect choice for you.

• Average salary: About $39,000, though that number can climb significantly depending on the client.
• How to get started: There are several paths you can follow to become a photographer. Learn what some of them are here.

8. Travel Agent

A travel agent may not seem like one of those jobs that require travel. After all, a great deal of an agent’s responsibilities involve working from an office and interacting with customers over the phone. However, the best travel agents do more than just office work. They often travel the world so that they have experience to draw from when they recommend places to visit and things to do while they’re there. Effective travel agents should have a love for the travel industry and helping people experience what our wonderful planet has to offer. Only by traveling can a travel agent make sincere recommendations for clients to choose from.

• Average salary: About $43,000.
• How to get started: Becoming a travel agent often takes training and some formal education. You can find out more here.

9. Truck Driver

It’s not for the faint of heart, but being a truck driver can certainly satisfy the itch many people have for traveling. As a truck driver, you’ll visit big cities, small communities, and everything in between. While it might not be one of the fastest growing industries out there, truck drivers are in high demand right now. According to the American Trucking Association, the industry is in need of 80,000 drivers, meaning pay and benefits are much more competitive than they were years ago. If you’re willing to endure long hours on the road, truck driving is one of those traveling jobs that will help you see more of the world than you ever could before.

• Average salary: About $48,000.
• How to get started: Many companies and educational institutions offer programs and courses to help you begin your career as a truck driver. One thing you’ll need is a Commercial Driver’s License. Check out the steps to getting a CDL here.

10. Geoscientist

A geoscientist is someone who helps companies locate a variety of materials buried underground. Those materials can be precious metals, petroleum, groundwater, and more. It’s one of those jobs that travel, often to places far removed from the nearest signs of civilization. Anyone who wants to go to remote areas will find being a geoscientist a rewarding career. One thing to keep in mind is that you may have to work for a time in some rough conditions. This is a natural consequence of what the position entails.

• Average salary: About $83,000.
• How to get started: To become a geoscientist, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree and likely a master’s degree to be competitive. You’ll find more information and how to start your career here.

More Jobs Await

The above travel jobs are just the start of what’s on offer out there. Some others include tour guide, serving in the Peace Corps, SCUBA diving instructor, and more. Whatever you want to explore, travel jobs can take you all over the world, from Canada to South Africa to New Zealand. Do a little research of your own, and you’ll discover that right long-term job for you.

How to Excel While Traveling the World

Jobs that require travel also often require remote work skills. Learning how to work remotely can be a challenge, but here are some helpful tips you can use to excel at your job outside an office setting.

• Create a routine and stick to it.
• Make sure to keep your work life separate from your personal life.
• Use messaging software to communicate with your coworkers.
• Find a place where you can easily eliminate distractions.
• Keep your workspace organized.
• Establish boundaries for when you work and when you don’t.
• Don’t stay in your pajamas all day—actually get dressed for work.

After that, if you’re still having doubts about getting a job that requires a lot of travel, you can still take advantage of remote work. All you need to do is find a job that allows you to work from home. Check out the following articles to learn more:

Top 20 Companies With Work from Home Jobs

25 Side Hustles From Home to Make Extra Money