Did you know that the average American spends about 200 hours a year — the equivalent of 24 full work days — dreaming about travel?

If you’re tied to your desk and desperately daydreaming about your next vacay, maybe it’s time to consider an exciting new career in travel.

From jobs in the travel industry to professional roles that include lots of travel days, there are more jobs that allow you to travel than ever before. Best of all, many travel jobs generate steady income and have a surprisingly high salary potential.

Keep reading below for a comprehensive guide to the best traveling jobs that will satisfy your desire to explore the world — and ensure you can pay the bills.

(Important note: The salaries and requirements in this article are based on data from the United States and may vary from country to country.)

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1. Airline Pilot

Becoming a professional airline pilot is one of the most well-known travel jobs that offers both adventure and high earning potential. Pilots not only get to travel to exciting destinations but also enjoy a competitive salary and excellent benefits.

Considering that 50% of today’s pilots will retire in the next 15 years, the demand for new pilots is (pardon the pun) sky-high.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and FAA-approved flight training

Earning potential: $99,640 – $202,180/year

2. Cruise Ship Worker

Large cruise ships employ thousands of workers, from chefs and housekeepers to engineers, deckhands, and event coordinators.

Although the hours may be long and you’ll be away from home for months at a time, you can pocket almost everything you earn, which can bulk up your savings account fast!

Qualifications: High school diploma and/or relevant experience for entry-level positions

Earning potential: $61,462 – $82,335/year

3. Humanitarian Aid Worker

Would you like to make a real difference while exploring different parts of the country or the world?

International aid organizations frequently seek professionals with various skill sets, including healthcare, engineering, project management, and education.

Qualifications: Professional experience in relevant field

Earning potential: $18,500 – $90,000/year (average $41,720)

4. Travel Consultant

The most highly paid travel agents are usually travel consultants that help clients plan business trips or vacations.

They might assess budgets, book flights and accommodations, and offer insight into sightseeing options, currency exchange, and international regulations.

Qualifications: Experience as a travel agent and on-the-job training

Earning potential: $24,500 – $109,500/year (average $54,104)

5. Manufacturing Sales Representative

If you have a background in sales, why not become a sales rep for a wholesale, manufacturing, or pharmaceutical company?

You can travel the country (or around the world) to sell products to private businesses, government agencies, or other organizations.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience

Earning potential: $62,890/year

6. Construction Manager

Would you like to travel to exciting destinations and stay for months or years while working on building projects?

Construction managers plan, coordinate, and supervise construction projects from start to finish. This includes everything from shopping malls and housing developments to hotels, casinos, hospitals, and more.

Qualifications: Construction experience and a bachelor’s degree in a related field

Earning potential: $98,890/year

7. Flight Attendant

The barrier to becoming a flight attendant is lower than some of the other jobs on this list, making it one of the best jobs for travel.

You’ll spend your days caring for airline passengers’ needs as well as ensuring the comfort and safety of everyone onboard.

Qualifications: On-the-job training and FAA certification

Earning potential: $61,640/year

8. Traveling Nurse

If you’re passionate about healthcare and traveling, combine your interests into one of the best traveling jobs available — a traveling nurse.

Earning an average salary 25% higher than standard registered nurses, traveling nurses usually work at a medical facility for several months before transferring to their next position.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in nursing and relevant experience

Earning potential: $105,021/year

9. Tour Coordinator

Similar to traditional travel agents, tour coordinators make travel arrangements for groups of clients as well as assist them while traveling.

Some tour coordinators are more like event managers, organizing travel arrangements and venue bookings for concerts, entertainers, and other performances.

Qualifications: Relevant experience as a travel agent

Earning potential: $25,500 – $65,000/year ($43,476 average)

10. Event Planner

Imagine getting paid to travel from city to city planning huge corporate events, meetings, or conventions.

This is the life of a professional event planner, who plan and oversee major events at hotels, resorts, and convention centers.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience

Earning potential: $49,470/year

11. Web Developer

Although some web developers still work in traditional offices, many are able to work remotely from anywhere they choose.

Brush up on your Javascript and HTML and then look for remote-only positions that will allow you to build and maintain websites from anywhere in the world.

You might also consider related fields such as graphic design, programming, or SEO management.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field

Earning potential: $78,300/year

12. Travel Photographer

If you’re handy with a camera, why not hit the road and turn your hobby into a lucrative business?

You might get commissioned to work with travel writers, journalists, or tour companies, or you can start your own business and sell your work online or directly to private buyers.

Qualifications: Passion, experience, and talent

Earning potential: $38,950/year

13. Consultant

Experts in their field can travel the world to offer sought-after advice as a consultant (and get paid big bucks for their knowledge).

Companies hire experienced consultants to give advice on business decisions, company growth, future projects, and much more.

Consultants may be brought into a location for weeks or months to work with top-level executives and planners.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree (at minimum) and extensive experience in the field

Earning potential: $32,000 – $202,000 ($91,153 average)

14. Interpreter or Translator

Are you lucky enough to speak more than one language fluently? If so, your skills could allow you a career in travel as a translator or an interpreter.

You may work in professional corporate settings, conference centers, or special event venues to convert information from one language to another.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree (usually) and fluency in more than one language

Earning potential: $49,110/year

15. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant is one of the best traveling jobs because you can literally do it from anywhere.

Work from the comfort of your home office (or a hammock in Tahiti) as you offer basic administrative services to individuals or corporations.

Some VAs also specialize in niche offerings like bookkeeping, online marketing, or content creation.

Qualifications: Relevant experience

Earning potential: $15,000 – $108,500/year ($59,153 average)

16. Dropshipping

Dropshippers sell physical products entirely online, meaning there’s no storefront or warehouse to manage.

Instead, they set up a digital storefront online, promote products to their target audience, and then act as the “middleman” while suppliers ship goods directly to the customers.

Qualifications: Experience in website management and online marketing (or a willingness to learn)

Earning potential: $21,000 – $51,000/year ($39,287 average)

17. Online English Teacher

You can use that TEFL or TESOL certificate to teach students in a foreign country, but you can also use it to score a remote-only position online.

Teach students in a virtual classroom from anywhere in the world, whether it’s the basics of English to young children or business English to working professionals.

Qualifications: TEFL or TESOL certification and/or a bachelor’s degree

Earning potential: $29,000 – $62,000/year ($43,808 average)

18. Digital Marketer

If you’re looking for jobs to travel the world, digital marketing offers great job security and solid earning potential.

Virtually every company on the planet needs guidance on how to advertise their business online.

You’ll help them with everything from web design to SEO to social media campaigns — with the ability to work from anywhere you choose.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience in marketing

Earning potential: $20,000 – $113,000/year ($60,331 average)

19. Customer Service Representative

Gone are the days when customer service reps spent long hours sitting in call centers. The majority of customer service jobs are now fully remote, meaning you can assist customers from anywhere as long as you have a stable internet and phone connection.

You might answer questions or handle troubleshooting from existing customers or make cold calls to sell products to new customers.

Qualifications: High school diploma and/or relevant customer service experience

Earning potential: $27,990 – $59,630/year ($37,780 average)

20. Yacht Crew

If you want to sail around the world in luxury and make a good living doing it, learn some basic seafaring skills and become a yacht steward or deckhand.

Like other jobs on the water, the hours may be long and the work may be hard, but this is a surefire way to see the world while traveling in comfort.

Qualifications: Relevant experience and safety training/knowledge

Earning potential: $32,400 – $45,600/year

21. Scuba Diving Instructor

If you can’t get enough of the water, become a certified PADI instructor and get paid to teach others to dive.

You might work at a beachfront resort, a dive center, or on a cruise ship. You’ll spend your days ensuring the safety of students while you introduce them to the wonders of the underwater world.

Qualifications: PADI certification and relevant diving experience

Earning potential: $41,909 – $59,803/year

22. Foreign Service Worker

Combine your professional background with an exciting government job and become a foreign service worker.

Working in your niche field — medical, technology, security, HR (just to name a few) — you’ll be assigned to work in embassies, consulates, or other agencies abroad.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and relevant experience in your field

Earning potential: $82,160 – $105,758/year

23. Ski or Snowboard Instructor

Did you know that your love of skiing or snowboarding can open the door to some of the best traveling jobs on the planet?

Spend your days on the slopes of a beautiful ski resort teaching students about your favorite sport.

Some instructors even bounce between hemispheres every season, teaching “down under” in New Zealand or South America while it’s summertime in North America and Europe.

Qualifications: Instructor certification (varies by location) and relevant experience

Earning potential: $22,500 – $53,500/year

24. Tour Guide

If you’re ready to dive deep into history and culture, consider becoming a tour guide at a popular destination in your home country (or abroad).

Tour guides are well-versed in everything from archaeology to anthropology, so you’ll have to do your homework.

If you put in the work, though, you could score an amazing job leading people around some of the world’s most fabulous destinations.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and/or extensive knowledge of an area

Earning potential: $28,171 – $39,381/year

25. Retail Buyer

Do you love to shop ‘til you drop? You can turn your favorite hobby into an exciting career as a buyer for a clothing company, hospitality venue, or another major retail company.

Retail buyers may attend trade shows, conferences, and vendor meetings in destinations around the country (or around the world).

It’s your job to discover new products and negotiate merchandise deals, as well as keep up with the latest industry and consumer trends.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and/or relevant industry experience

Earning potential: $38,000 – $72,000/year

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The Best Traveling Jobs Await

So, which of these traveling careers appealed to you most?

Will you take to the skies as a pilot or flight attendant? Will you join the growing crowd of digital nomads and work remotely from your laptop? Or will you seek a professional position that includes lots of travel perks?

Whatever you decide, one thing is for sure — you’ll love your new career in travel!

If you enjoyed this post on the best traveling jobs, don’t miss this related article about the best ways to make money online.

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