Is it possible to make money while traveling, or do you have to work a 9-5 to make ends meet? Well, the truth is, there are several ways that you can travel the world and still make money! Most people would assume that you’d have to be a flight attendant, which is a great career that allows travel, but it isn’t as “freeing” as most would prefer.

Some people take on online FNP programs such as those to enhance their skill set. You could also choose to get an MSN in nursing education and teach nursing students all over the world.  This will help to bring in more money and allow you to travel for longer! The good thing is that as a nurse, you could work anywhere with the right licenses and permissions. Other travelers become bloggers, teachers, or enlist in an IT course.

Most want to live a travel lifestyle but aren’t sure where or how to start, and that’s okay. Below, you’ll find some of the top career options that will allow you to quit your 9-5 and start living out your travel dreams, all while earning an income.

#1: Become a Blogger

If you love traveling and wish to get paid for doing it, you can become a blogger. There are three ways that you can become a blogger: (1) Working full or part time for a company that provides blog posts for clients, (2) A freelance blogger, and (3) Start your own blog. Bloggers can earn anywhere from $0 to $15,000 a month. The most successful bloggers make closer to $15,000 dollars a month when they implement these strategies:

• Create engaging content that blog readers enjoy.
• Have a solid business plan to make money in place.
• Have an immense amount of knowledge on SEO (search engine optimization).
• Market and promote their blog on a consistent basis.
• Select a niche that they’re able to profit from.

Selecting a Niche

When creating a blog, it’s important to have a niche, or area of expertise. Some niches can be broad, such as lifestyle (health/wellness, cooking, travel) or a very specific niche (just traveling). Because you already love traveling, traveling would be a good niche to start with. There are several travel blogs out there, but everyone’s traveling experiences are unique to them, so you can find a way to make yours stand out. You can combine travel with cooking and create recipes inspired by all of the places you travel to.

#2: Become a Digital Nomad

Digital nomad is the term applied to people who work remotely (online jobs), but they usually travel to different places to work. Their office could look like a coffee shop in Paris, or a library in Cairo— anywhere they feel like traveling to as long as there’s a reliable internet connection. Common jobs for digital nomads are usually creative freelance work, such as:

• Graphic Design
• Photography
• Website Design
• Writing

You can also work for a company and be considered a digital nomad, as long as your job is fully remote. Other digital nomad jobs include:

• Accounting
• Blogging
• Customer Service
• Human Resources (HR)
• Information Technology (IT)
• Marketing
• Project Management
• Software Development
• Teaching

The exciting career of a digital nomad can earn you up to $4,000 a month. Just remember to always practice safe traveling habits, especially safety with rideshare services.

#3: Become an English Teacher

An English teacher overseas, that is. Many countries are looking for teachers to teach English as a second language (ESL), and you can make up to $3,000 a month. All you need is a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certificate, or a college degree if you plan to teach online. When teaching online, you can still travel as much as you want, as long as you have a reliable internet connection. If teaching in person, you can choose to teach in a different country each year, or whenever your teaching contract is up.

#4: Become a Live-in Babysitter/Au Pair

If you’re between the ages of 17 and 30, then you qualify to become an au pair. These live-in babysitters travel to a foreign country of their choice and live with a host family that has at least one child under the age of 18. Au pairs teach the children (and other family members) about their own culture, while also learning about the culture of the host family. As an au pair, you will receive free room and board provided by the host family and also a weekly income, in exchange for helping out with the children and around the house.

#5: Become a Travel Agent

The younger generations of travelers are pretty good at planning, booking, and organizing their own trips, but the older generations typically appreciate help with planning vacations. Travel agents are expected to provide expert travel advice about the destinations they are promoting to people, meaning that you have to spend a lot of time traveling to different places. Some travel agents also are able to travel for free, and they can make up to $6,000 each month.

#6: List YOUR Place on Airbnb While You’re Away

You’re probably already using Airbnb (an online platform for vacation rentals and tourism activities with more than 54 million active bookers on Airbnb) to book lodging while you’re traveling, so why not list your own place while you’re traveling? Almost anyone can list their entire place or a unique space on Airbnb and start earning money quickly.

Keep in mind that with any of these options, you may not make the projected salary in your first month. It’s important to be patient and keep working at it to live the life you want.