12 Best Travel Jobs For People Who Love To Travel

If you’re looking for a career that lets you be adventurous, travel all over the world while still making money, and work from almost anywhere, then read on to find out how to secure your dream job and start getting paid to travel.

Best-Paying Jobs That Require Travel

Sometimes the opportunity to travel alone is not enough to inspire people to change career paths and lead a nomadic lifestyle traveling the world. Money is a driving factor influencing professionals to stay in their traditional 9-5 job and ditch the opportunity to get paid while traveling.

But, what if I told you that you can still make the big bucks while you travel around the world?

The truth is, there are dozens of rewarding careers that require travel and come with attractive benefits packages and very high salaries. The key to finding a gig that pays you well and allows you to travel is having the appropriate job skills, industry experience, and work qualifications.

Some of the best paying jobs for people who love to travel are as follows:

1. Traveling Nurse
   Average Annual Salary: $70,000

   Traveling nurses are registered nurses who travel the world and work short-term roles at hospitals and other healthcare facilities with nursing shortages. For professionals interested in healthcare and people who hold a registered nurse certification, a career as a traveling nurse can be both fulfilling and exciting.

   Traveling nurses are one of the best paid full-time careers that allow job-seekers to do meaningful work while traveling. The most successful traveling registered nurses can earn an average annual salary of more than $73,000.

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2. Event Coordinator
   Average Annual Salary: $41,000

   Event coordinators plan and manage a variety of events, parties, and business conferences for companies and individuals. The job involves organizing all aspects of an event, from the catering and staff to the venue and decor.

   Event coordinators have ample opportunity to travel depending on where their events are being held. For instance, professionals who coordinate destination weddings have opportunities to travel to some of the world’s most beautiful resorts.

   In addition to being one of the best jobs for people who love to travel, working as an event coordinator also ranks among the top 25 most interesting jobs. Event coordinators and planners typically need a bachelor’s degree to break into the industry and usually earn an average annual salary of more than $50,000 a year.

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3. Photographer
   Average Annual Salary: $49,000

   For creative individuals with a knack for picture taking, a career as a professional photographer can be a lucrative career option. Photographers have the ultimate flexibility at work since the large majority of them are self-employed.

   In addition to earning an average annual salary of approximately $40,000, photographers routinely get to travel for photoshoots. Depending on a photographer’s level of expertise and industry reputation, they could travel either locally, domestically, or internationally.

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4. Travel Agent
   Average Annual Salary: $34,000

   If you’re willing to travel and help individuals and families plan their dream vacations, then a career as a travel agent could be right up your alley. Travel agents typically work for travel agencies and are often able to travel and work remotely since most of their job can be done on the phone or computer.

   Companies often require travel agents to take paid trips to popular destinations in order to share their own travel experiences with customers. In addition to traveling to some of the world’s best resorts and destinations, travel agents also earn a pretty penny. The gig typically comes with an average annual salary of more than $40,000 annually.

   Not only does a career as a travel agent come with great opportunities to travel and experience new places throughout the world, but it’s also ranked among the top ten best jobs for senior citizens.

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5. Travel Writer
   Average Annual Salary: $59,197

   If you have a knack for the written word, then a career in writing could be a great job that allows you to follow your passion and travel the world. Most travel writers are freelance workers, but there are full-time travel writing positions available at major magazines, newspapers, and online news organizations.

   Travel writers get to travel the world and write about their experiences. Writers are usually in fairly high demand since companies are always in need of strong written communications. The gig also offers a lot of flexibility and is one of the top 30 jobs that allow employees to set their own work schedules.

   The most successful travel writers hold a bachelor’s degree in English, Communications, or Journalism and earn an average yearly salary of more than $63,000.

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6. Foreign Service Officer
   Average Annual Salary: $98,534

   Foreign service officers, or U.S. diplomats, work to represent and advance the interests of the United States around the world. Foreign service officers have opportunities to serve at more than 270 embassies and consulates across the globe.

   This is a great job for individuals looking to travel with their families or significant others, as the government often provides appropriate accommodations. Although it can be difficult to obtain a position as a foreign service officer, the work is extremely rewarding, and professionals in this industry typically earn approximately $70,000 a year.

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Entry-Level Jobs That Require Travel

Although most travel jobs require a high level of skill, specialty schooling, and previous work experience, there are still ample entry-level opportunities that require travel.

Whether you’re hoping to work with children or are interested in the travel or transportation industries, there are many entry-level roles that will allow you to work abroad while also gaining valuable experience and finding opportunities for professional and personal growth.

Here are a few of the best entry-level jobs that will pay you to travel:

1. Ship Worker
   Average Annual Salary: $23,000

   Working on a cruise ship is one of the most desired seasonal jobs and a great entry-level job that allows employees to have fun and travel to some of the most beautiful and exotic places on the planet while making money.

   Although the pay isn’t stunning — with the national median wage for cruise ship workers sitting at $13.52 per hour — working on a cruise ship is a cheap way to travel and see the world. Cruise ship workers also usually get free food and living expenses, so they incur very few costs while working.

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2. Au Pair
   Average Annual Salary: $24,651

   For high school students, college grads, and young people looking for entry-level job opportunities with travel perks, securing a position as an au pair could be a great option. Au pairs travel to different countries to care for children.

   Au pairs typically live with the family they work for and receive a small stipend each week. Although this isn’t a high-paying job, it’s a great opportunity for students taking a gap year and young people with a passion for traveling and a love of children.

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3. Flight Attendant
   Average Annual Salary: $37,000

   If you love traveling, especially on planes, then working as a flight attendant is one of the best ways to experience different cities and take in thrilling sights all across the globe. Flight attendants are tasked with keeping airplane passengers comfortable and safe while in the air.

   Although hours can be unpredictable and the job itself can sometimes be tough, working as a flight attendant is a rewarding entry-level role for individuals looking to make money while they travel.

   Working as a flight attendant can be a lucrative airport job for the right candidate. To become a flight attendant and earn an average of more than $56,000 per year, you’ll need a certification from the Federal Aviation Administration and at least a high school diploma.

   Although working as a flight attendant can be a lucrative career option for young professionals hoping to travel the world, it can be a hard job for people with families or in committed relationships. In fact, 61 percent of flight attendants are likely to be single at 40-years-old.

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4. International Aid
   Average Annual Salary: $17,961

   International aid workers are great careers for people who want to travel while also giving back and supporting a cause near and dear to their heart. International aid workers typically visit countries after natural disasters, like tsunamis and earthquakes, and help struggling communities recover and rebuild.

   Although a career as an international aid worker might not be the most profitable, it is highly rewarding. International aid workers are able to travel the world for free while truly making a difference in the lives of people they interact with. An interest in social work and background in health, agriculture, or education will help you land a job as an international aid worker.

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5. Truck Driver
   Average Annual Salary: $51,000

   Commercial truck drivers spend a lot of time on the road transporting goods across the country. Finding a job as a truck driver is especially fitting for people looking to travel across the country and see different cities and sites in the United States.

   With the proper license, there are plenty of entry-level positions available in trucking. Although the position can be isolating, as it requires long bouts of driving on your own, it’s a great way to make a decent salary and travel across America.

   Not only is a career in truck driving one of the best entry-level jobs that require travel, but it’s also ranked as one of the 15 top jobs that don’t require any customer interaction, so it’s a great gig for introverts or people who are naturally shy.

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6. English Teacher
   
   Average Annual Salary: $48,000

   Lending a career teaching English overseas is one of the best travel jobs out there. ESL or English language teachers are in high demand almost everywhere in the world.

   The gig comes with good job security and an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young people. If you’re interested in teaching and working with foreign students, this role is a rewarding way to build your professional skill set while traveling and experiencing a new country and culture.

   There are many entry-level traveling English teacher opportunities available, since the only hard requirements are typically just a proficiency of the English language and a TEFL, or teaching English as a foreign language, certification.

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What to Look for in Jobs That Require Travel

Most careers that involve travel are roles that are expat jobs, nomadic in nature, or in the travel, business, or healthcare industry. Understanding what type of travel career you’re looking for will help you land your dream job and make the job search a breeze.

In general, traveling expat jobs allow American citizens to live and work in a different country for a specific amount of time. If you’re interested in living in a different country for a few months, or even years, then you may want to look for a job as an au pair or English teacher.

For traveling expat jobs, it’s especially important to understand visa requirements. When applying for job opportunities as an expat, it’s a good idea to look for jobs that assist job-seekers with the work visa application and offer employees support services while overseas.

Unlike a traveling expat job, digital nomads are not tied down to any one place or country. Digital nomad jobs have ample flexibility and allow employees to work from anywhere in the world. These positions are typically reliant on computers. For example, if you were to work as a freelance travel writer, you would be considered a digital nomad.

Many nomadic jobs that require travel are freelance or independent contractor positions. When applying for these types of jobs, keep an eye out for positions that allow you to work from a computer while you travel the world.

Other jobs, especially those in the travel, healthcare, and business industries, aren’t temporary travel jobs or work-from-home opportunities, but rather they actually require travel as part of the job’s duties — think cruise ship worker, traveling nurse, flight attendant, or foreign service officer.

If you’re itching to travel the world, keep your eyes peeled for job openings that explicitly list “travel” in the job requirements. This is, perhaps, the key thing to look for when applying for a job that requires you to travel to different places across the globe.

Once you figure out the positions you’re most interested in and listed “travel” as a requirement, do some more digging to determine how much travel is expected and the places you might go.

When looking for a job that requires travel, it’s important to consider exactly what kind of travel you’re looking for. For example, if you’re more interested in local travel, a job as a photographer might be something you’d be interested in, but if you’re looking to travel across the country or the world, working as a flight attendant might be better suited to your career and travel goals.

Keep in mind that when looking for a job that pays you to travel, it’s also still important to consider all other benefits or drawbacks.

Make sure you think about what kind of benefits you’ll need — things like health insurance and life insurance are especially important if you’ll be traveling a lot — your ideal salary, and what opportunities you’ll have for career growth and professional development.

Most of the best jobs that require travel also require a high level of job-specific skills, specialized training or education, and previous experience. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t land your dream travel job right out of college. It can take years of hard work to find a job that aligns with your skills and talents, interests you, and also allows you to travel the world.

The key to finding a rewarding job that involves travel is consistency, hard work, and dedication.

Final Thoughts

Traditional 9-5 office jobs certainly are not for everyone. If the thought of being stuck in a cubicle behind a computer screen all day doesn’t interest you in the slightest, then finding a job that requires travel could be an exciting and rewarding career option for you.

If you’ve always dreamed of traveling the world, why not get paid while you do it? Getting paid to travel by working a job that brings you to different places across the world is a pretty sweet deal.

Traveling is one of the most rewarding and enriching life opportunities. Nowadays, there are many different career paths that allow employees to travel the world and get paid all at the same time.

With the right skills and qualifications, job-seekers can find great opportunities for traveling and working abroad in almost any professional industry. Whether you’re interested in healthcare or hospitality, childcare, or charity, there is plenty of high-paying and entry-level jobs available for adventure seekers and travelers.

Working while traveling the world can be especially rewarding for young professionals who love to explore. Young people in search of a more nomadic lifestyle, who might not have a house or family tying them down to a specific place, can gain practical life and work experience while traveling.

There are many lucrative and exciting job opportunities available to professionals with a passion for traveling. Almost every industry, from healthcare to childcare, has wanderlust opportunities available for qualified and ambitious job-seekers.

Finding a job that allows you to travel the world is a great way to experience new places, learn about different cultures, and meet new people. For people who love to travel, it’s a no-brainer. Getting paid to travel while pursuing a rewarding career in your chosen industry is a great way to step outside your comfort zone and achieve all of your personal and professional goals.

Author

Elsie Boskamp

Elsie is an experienced writer, reporter, and content creator. As a leader in her field, Elsie is best known for her work as a Reporter for The Southampton Press, but she can also be credited with contributions to Long Island Pulse Magazine and Hamptons Online. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Stony Brook University and currently resides in Franklin, Tennessee.