You’ve seen the ads online: “Make $2,000 a week with these online jobs, no experience required!” Or the comments on completely unrelated social media posts: “I make $120,000 a year working five hours a week online using this website.” It all seems too good to be true—and to be completely up front, it is.
There is no “one simple trick” that will help you make a salary online that’s wildly disproportionate to what you’d make in a traditional in-person role in a fraction of the time. However, you can find good, legitimate online jobs that don’t require a lot of—or even any—experience.
To help you find the right role for you, we listed 20 most common online jobs out there that require little experience and even no experience at all. Plus, some tips on how to land a legitimate online job and avoid scams.
How to tell if an online job is legitimate: Watch out for these red flags
There are a number of online and remote jobs that are completely real and pay you a decent amount of money in return for your labor. However, there are also plenty of scams masquerading as legitimate online jobs, as well as jobs that are real but pay you so little they may not be worth your time and effort. Here are key red flags to look out for:
It says you won't have to do much work
“Online jobs are still jobs,” says Esther Inman, a career coach and the CEO and founder of Virtual Assistant Internship, a company that helps people looking to start online careers. If an online role you’re considering “ever seems too good to be true or like you don’t have to do much in order to get paid, then it is a scam.” Any jobs that advertise themselves with statements like “work five hours a week and make $1,000” should be ignored, Inman says.
You're charged an application or supplies fee
You’d be smart to also avoid any job that has an application fee or requires you to pay up front for supplies or anything else. If you’re asked to prepay for inventory as an independent “distributor” or “business owner” for a larger company (or as product assembler or package reshipper or processor), this is also a red flag. Worst-case scenario, it’s a scam or an illegal pyramid scheme.
Best-case scenario, you’re joining a multi-level marketing (MLM) company. While they’re not explicitly illegal, “most people who join legitimate MLMs make little or no money, some of them lose money,” according to the FTC—and some of them lose a lot of money. If you want to make money online as a salesperson, many reputable businesses employ remote sales staff.
Bad grammar and no social media presence
Misspellings or a lot of basic errors in a job posting can also be a dead giveaway something’s not right, says Muse career coach Olivia Johnson. She also warns that a company with little to no online presence or a small amount of employees associated on LinkedIn may be a sign of a scam. “It’s almost like you're trying to see if something is a spam email or a scam in your own personal email; it’s the same concept,” she says.
Johnson suggests relying primarily on reputable sources to vet potential employers—in other words, brand-name job boards and platforms like LinkedIn, or The Muse (hi!). She adds that while you don’t have to avoid other sites altogether, be aware that they come with higher risk of scams.
There's a promise of huge profit in little time
Some legitimate online jobs don’t pay very much. This includes things like performing micro jobs or short tasks, writing for a content mill, or taking online surveys. Usually, this type of work doesn't pay much and any promise of a huge profit is very likely a scam.
However, these types of jobs—when offered by a legitimate company—could be the right choice for your particular situation. Perhaps, you’re looking for something that requires a lower time commitment to make extra money, but already has another source of income. So, you don’t need to avoid them completely, just be realistic about how much money you’ll be making.
Want to make sure you’re applying to real opportunities with legitimate companies? Search for online jobs here on The Muse »
20 online jobs with no experience required
Now you that you've learned how to spot a fake opportunity, here’s a list of online jobs with no or little experience required:
1. Data entry clerk
Average annual salary: $38,867
Data entry clerks take information from a spreadsheet, printed document, order form, or other source, and input it into another. Usually, it's a digital source, often a database, computer program, or spreadsheet.
Responsibilities can also include verifying information and checking for errors. For example, a financial accounts processing company may need data entry clerks to manually input or verify invoices or other bills for outside clients. Many companies will hire data entry clerks or keyers with a high school diploma and no work experience on a full-time, part-time, or freelance basis.
Since much of the data and information that companies now process is digital, this is a common work-from-home job. Often, data entry doesn’t need to be done during business hours, so it can be good for those looking for flexible hours as well.
2. Proofreader or copy editor
Average annual salary for a proofreader: $50,694
Average annual salary for a copy editor: $55,535
Proofreaders and copy editors are two slightly different positions with similar goals: to make sure a written text is error free. Proofreaders are often the last set of eyes on a text before it’s printed, published, or posted online. They check a document for any grammatical or style errors, incorrect formatting, or typos. Copy editors do similar work, but might also make changes to a written piece’s sentences or paragraphs to ensure accuracy and clarity.
Companies producing large amounts of written material may hire in-person or remote proofreaders or copy editors to work part or full-time. There are also opportunities to do this work as a contractor or freelancer on a per-project basis.
To become a proofreader or copy editor, you’ll need a strong handle on English spelling and grammar conventions and a keen eye for detail, and you should expect to take a skills test before being hired. If you have experience in the subject matter a company deals with or familiarity with the style guide they use, that will likely be a bonus.
Copy editors and proofreaders often have English, communication, or similar degrees. However, in some cases you can find copy editor and proofreader positions without prior professional experience.
3. Virtual assistant
Average annual salary: $44,794
Virtual assistants often have clerical or secretarial duties. Responsibilities might include responding to emails and other messages, scheduling meetings, preparing memos, maintaining databases and filing, or even booking flights and making hotel reservations.
Usually, no degree is required, but you'll need excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as time management, organizational, and critical thinking skills. A virtual assistant must also be technologically literate, being able to work with multiple software programs, including Excel and Powerpoint, different email servers, and other softwares provided by the employer.
4. Administrative assistant
Average annual salary: $44,683
In an increasingly digital world, many administrative assistants can now do their jobs entirely online on a full-time or part-time schedule. (However, not every administrative assistant has only online duties—be sure to carefully read any job description before applying!)
Administrative assistants typically perform secretarial tasks such as data entry, billing, inventory, record-keeping, correspondence, and accounting. For this reason, great typing skills are a must, as well as agility and critical thinking.
It's possible to land an administrative assistant job with just a high school diploma, but some employers might prefer a college degree. Many administrative assistant roles are entry level, but some employers may require more experience.
5. Executive assistant
Average annual salary: $64,339
Executive assistants are administrative assistants who specifically work for executives and director-level personnel in a company. In addition to administrative assistant duties, they might organize their executive’s calendar, plan their travel, take notes for them at meetings, and do research.
This is a great role for those who “need flexible work schedules, but are very organized, work well without direction” and have strong problem-solving skills, Inman says.
Like administrative assistant jobs, you can often find executive assistant roles that are 100% online, but some companies might need you in-office a couple of days per week. Pay attention to the job description before applying.
6. Social media manager
Average annual salary: $57,683
As businesses’ online presence becomes more important, organizations increasingly need social media managers (also referred as social media coordinators) to help run their X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and other accounts. Depending on the company, a social media manager might be responsible for a variety of tasks, including:
- Planning and scheduling posts across social platforms
- Writing the copy and creating the graphics to go along with these posts
- Responding to audience comments and questions that come through social feeds
- Monitoring social performance
- Conceiving of and implementing social media marketing campaigns and strategies
This might be an entry-level position at a smaller business without a large—or any—marketing department. But it might be a higher-level position with more responsibilities and even direct reports at a company with a larger marketing team.
You can find remote social media manager positions for all types of organizations—from local restaurants to giant tech companies—and these positions can be full-time, part-time, or freelance.
You’ll have to demonstrate a strong handle on the intricacies of various social platforms—especially Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok—and it will help if you can show examples of accounts you’ve successfully managed, whether your own or someone else’s.
Strong writing skills and some data analysis skills will also help you stand out. You don’t necessarily need a bachelor’s degree to get hired—particularly if you have a strong portfolio—but many positions will require a degree in marketing or similar.
7. Social media influencer
Average annual salary: $69,000
Influencing hasn’t just exploded in popularity since the inception of social media—it’s also leveled the playing field for workers of all backgrounds. Johnson emphasizes that while it can take a lot of work to get your platform off the ground—and reach enough followers to monetize your accounts—you don’t need to start with much experience besides a passion for a specific topic and a strong brand strategy.
“There is science to the madness; you have to know when are the best times to post, how many posts is enough, or how many posts is too much that people are now gonna start ignoring you,” she says. “You definitely have to be a hard worker and have a strong work ethic, even as easy as it may look.”
Maybe you love trying new makeup products or restaurants, or visiting unique destinations or sites. With a consistent and professional online presence, you could turn those hobbies into opportunities for brand partnerships or sponsorships, or even benefit from affiliate marketing, where you make a cut of the sales when you link to certain products or services.
Even the most niche speciality could draw an audience, especially if it’s educational or informative. For example, there are influencers who share Excel tips, break down stocks, and analyze movies or television shows.
There are tons of platforms to work with, depending on the medium you prefer, and many offer opportunities to monetize your content. TikTok and YouTube lend themselves well to people who like vlogging (video blogging), while Instagram, X, Substack, and Facebook provide plenty of opportunity to explore written or image-focused content.
8. Graphic designer
Average annual salary: $51,424
Graphic designers create visuals that communicate the ideas, messages, and aesthetics that an organization, brand, or individual is trying to put forward. They might work with words, images, or both and generally create art digitally or convert handmade art to a digital medium.
Graphic designers can design pretty much any visuals, such as logos, product packaging, infographics, social media images, and even elements of websites and software programs. Once they know what their employers or clients want, most of their work is done solo using a computer and other equipment they can easily keep at their home, making it an ideal online job.
Some companies might hire full time or part time designers to work on graphics for their purposes or their clients’, or they might establish relationships with freelancers or contractors whose work they like. In order to be a graphic designer, you’ll need creativity and artistic skills as well as a strong grasp on the latest design, photo, and layout software.
You’ll also need strong communication skills to make sure you and whoever you’re designing for are on the same page. Graphic designers typically, but not always, have a bachelor’s degree, but a strong portfolio of your work is paramount regardless.
9. Writer
On a broad level, writers create all the text you read on a day-to-day basis both online and offline. However, there are many types of writers, and many of these jobs can be done online on a full time, part time, contract, or freelance basis.
For all types of online writing jobs, you’ll need strong writing skills and strong writing samples. If you’re posting your work online, knowledge of basic search engine optimization (SEO) practices (i.e. how to write so that your work is highly ranked by Google) is a big plus and can be learned through a number of online certifications and resources.
Here are a few common kinds of remote writing roles:
Technical or medical writer
Average annual salary for a technical writer: $67,010
Average annual salary for a medical writer: $82,737
Technical and medical writers take complex technical and scientific information and break it down in an easily understandable way for informational pamphlets and brochures, instruction manuals, articles, and educational resources. These professionals often have a bachelor’s degree in English, communications, or journalism.
Demonstrating background knowledge in the subject matter you want to write about may be necessary. Some companies also prefer technical and medical writers that have a degree in their focus subject matter and strong writing chops.
Copywriter
Average annual salary: $59,458
Copywriters create written, generally shorter, content that is intended to help sell an idea, product, service, or brand. They might write the text for social media posts, websites, product packages, or any number of sales or marketing tools. Most copywriter positions require a bachelor’s degree in a marketing, writing, or communications field.
Content writer
Average annual salary: $55,288
Content writers tend to create longer-form text than copywriters—for example, articles based on expertise, interviews, and other primary sources. Their goal is generally to educate, inform, or increase brand awareness and drive traffic to the company’s website. Content writers can be full or part time employees, but can also be freelance for the most schedule flexibility.
Blogger or newsletter writer
Average annual salary: $41,044
If running your own show as a writer sounds appealing, you could consider starting a blog or newsletter. While it poses as much risk as influencing in terms of creating a sustainable business, it’s a job you could pick up as a side gig or hobby before committing to fully.
If you build a consistent or large enough following, you could turn readers into subscribers or members via a platform like Substack, or get into affiliate marketing. Blog posts or newsletters can also serve as a great portfolio to attract freelance clients in your space or area of expertise.
Read this next: How to Make Money Online For Beginners: 18 Ideas
10. Customer service representative
Average annual salary: $44,312
Customer service representatives provide phone, chat, or email support to a company’s customers and help them solve problems with or answer questions about their products or services. This is one of the most common options people looking for online jobs will see, Inman says.
However, you need to be careful which roles you apply for and accept because many of them have strict schedules and offer little growth potential. Be sure to inquire about opportunities for advancement and flexible hours—if that’s what you’re after.
This job is great for people who love talking with others and can handle dealing with customers who might be upset. On the flip side, it isn’t always the right fit for folks with kids or other caretaking responsibilities because, Inman warns. As a phone support representative you need to have a quiet background and be available without interruption during set times.
That said, some customer support jobs use email or chat—with those jobs, noise isn’t a concern—which are ideal for people looking for email jobs online with no experience.
11. Sales representative
Average annual salary: $50,444
Sales representatives sell products and services on behalf of their employer. They may be provided a list of clients to reach out to or receive calls from potential customers. This job is ideal for those who want to work online but still interact with many people on a daily basis.
You can work as a full- or part-time employee. A bachelor’s degree isn’t usually necessary to get hired as a sales representative, but you definitely need strong written and verbal communication and persuasive skills.
If you come across a sales position that requires you to pay up front for a product you’re going to sell or recruit other salespeople or only pays commission, that’s often a red flag and it's likely better looking elsewhere.
12. Account executive
Average annual salary: $64,408
Similarly to a sales representative, account executives are often tasked with selling products or services to companies, organizations, or individuals. However, they're one step above in the career ladder and have more responsibilities.
Account executives set sales quotas that must be met, carry out research to identify potential clients, and do the necessary work to close the deal. As for necessary work, think cold calling and developing target pitches, for example.
If you're communicative, organized, and have good time management skills, you could be a good fit for this role, which often has entry-level positions open. However, some companies might require a bachelor's degree in marketing or similar, as well as some related experience.
13. Software engineer or developer
Average annual salary: $94,226
Software engineers or developers use different coding languages to create computer programs, websites, and computer systems. They spend a lot of time troubleshooting and problem solving to get their code to work correctly. Software engineers almost always work as part of a team, so collaboration and communication skills are a must. However, all of this work can be done online and companies often hire fully remote software engineers.
To get hired as a software engineer, you don’t necessarily need professional experience, but you do need to demonstrate that you know how to code. Occasionally, jobs will require that you know the specific coding language the team uses, such as SQL, JavaScript, or Python.
You can learn to code by getting a computer science degree, but attending a coding bootcamp or teaching yourself is also an option—as long as you’re able to show your interviewers examples of projects you’ve coded and ace a technical interview.
14. English teacher
Average annual salary: $47,981
Online English teachers instruct students from countries where English isn’t the primary language. This job is “great for former teachers or if you don’t mind working super early in the morning” due to time zone differences, Inman says. Companies that hire online English teachers will often give you the resources you need to teach your students, such as lesson plans or access to online language platforms or games.
Many of these companies will require that online English teachers have a teaching certification and a TESOL or TEFL certificate (which shows you’re qualified to teach English as a second or foreign language). Some companies won’t require a teaching background, just a native-level fluency in English and a bachelor’s degree.
15. Tutor
Average annual salary: $39,851
Online or remote tutors are becoming increasingly essential. Tutors can work with a range of ages, schools, and curricula, and with online education becoming a new norm and option for a lot of students.
As a tutor, you might help students with specific assignments or topics, conduct test prep, or experiment with new learning tools. The ultimate goal of tutoring is making your mentees feel more confident and perform at their grade or learning level.
You also have the option to tutor via an online company, or start your own business. A certification may be required to work with students regularly, but if teaching is your passion, this could be a great place to start.
16. Community manager
Average annual salary: $57,594
Community managers are responsible for moderating and organizing the audience of a brand or organization across social media groups, Slack channels, online forums, and other communities. In this role, you may be responsible for answering questions, moderating discussions, and adding and removing people from groups.
Community management positions often have a somewhat flexible schedule and are great for extroverts who won’t get drained from communicating with people online all day. As for the skills necessary, you should be familiar with and enthusiastic about social media and have strong written communication skills.
You can also get this job without prior experience or a degree. “There’s no degree in ‘how to best manage a Facebook group’, so really anyone can do this,” Iman says.
17. Translator
Average annual salary: $55,181
If you’re bilingual or can speak, read, or write fluently in more than two languages, you could become an online translator. Translators can work in many different fields, including law, marketing, PR, healthcare, and education. Becoming one requires at most a certification or basic education background, but some companies may require a bachelor's degree.
Beyond being able to translate one language into another, you should be well versed in cultural and societal norms of the countries or regions you’re working with in order to produce accurate work and build strong business relationships.
18. Project manager
Average annual salary: $80,412
Project managers supervise and command projects for a company. Depending on the industry you're in, these projects could be related to marketing, content, software development, or product development, for example. Pretty much every industry, from technology to healthcare often needs a project manager.
Though generally you'd need a few years of experience to become a project manager, some companies offer entry-level roles and internships. In this case, you're likely to assist a mid-level or senior employee.
If you’re highly organized, love collaborating with others, have strong communication skills, and a keen eye for problem solving, you can delve into an entry-level role with minimal experience or even just a certification or course. Going freelance is another option, if you prefer to set your own hours and work with several different clients or types of companies at once.
19. Photo and video editor
Average annual salary for a video editor: $55,115
Average annual salary for a photo editor: $64,550
Becoming a video or photo editor does require knowledge and hands-on experience with popular video and photo editing software and tools, such as Adobe Creative Suite. But it’s also something that can be self-taught through online training, bootcamps, and certifications.
To land a job or attract clients as a freelancer, be sure to build and regularly showcase your portfolio of work, be it professional or personal. Photo and video editing skills can also be paired with other fields, including marketing, tech, or hospitality (e.g. wedding or travel photography), many of which hire in a remote or online-only capacity.
20. Transcriber (or transcriptionist)
Average annual salary: $48,950
If you're looking for easy paid writing jobs online, no degree required, no experience needed, you may be an ideal candidate for a transcribing position. Your job would be transcribing video recordings and audio recording of meetings, interviews, conversations to create a writing record of that content.
As a transcriber, you can work for companies or individuals—museums, law firms, and content creators are some examples. The most important requirement for this position is being able to type fast and accurately. Since you might receive recordings in various formats, being tech savvy also helps.
To get into this field as an entry-level employee, you typically need a highschool diploma and little experience. Some companies may also require knowledge of the terminology or jargon used in that specific field.
How to find online work without experience
Even if you don’t have experience that’s directly relevant to the online job you want—or any professional experience at all—it’s still possible for you to snag a great role. Here are a few tips to help you out:
Figure out the skills you need for the job you want
Before figuring out how to sell yourself for a given job, it’s always helpful to know what employers hiring for this and similar jobs are looking for. Pull up a few job descriptions for the type of job you want and read through them to identify what skills and experiences employers generally want applicants to have.
Highlight your transferable skills in your job search
Transferable skills are abilities that you’ve used in one situation that can be used in a job that doesn’t seem directly related. For example, if you coordinated the schedule for a student or parents’ group, that could translate to an executive assistant job where scheduling and planning are regular tasks. Work these skills into your resume, cover letter, and interview question responses so whoever is hiring you understands that you have the skills they’re looking for.
Take an online class or earn a certificate
If there’s a job you’re interested in but don’t have the skills for, you can always learn those skills. Consider taking an online course or earning a certificate. There are many free or low-cost options that will help you learn marketable skills on sites such as Coursera or LinkedIn Learning. You might also consider taking an online course from an accredited university.
Apply for an online internship
When you’re looking for in-person work after finishing your education or a certification program, it’s common to look for an internship first. However, this option is often overlooked in the online space, Inman says.
Online internships often have a lower barrier to entry than a permanent role and will help you get on-the-job skills and training. After this experience, you'd likely be a more valuable hire for either the employer you interned for or another employer. (You can search for online internships on The Muse!)
Create an online portfolio (if relevant)
For writers, designers, software engineers, social media managers, and anyone else who will be producing creative work for an employer, a strong portfolio is indispensable. Create an online portfolio or personal website that puts all of your best work in one place. You can link to it directly on your resume.
If you haven’t held a job in the field before, consider creating graphics, articles, programming projects, or whatever else you’d be producing in your job so employers can see your skills and style.
Show that you have what it takes to be a good online employee
When employers are hiring a remote worker, they want to know that the employee will still complete their work on time and won’t struggle to keep up without being in the office. Be sure to emphasize your independence as well as your communication, organizational, and time management skills throughout the hiring process. Finally, prepare to answer common remote interview questions.
FAQs
Is it possible to work remotely with no experience?
Yes. There are plenty of companies with entry-level remote jobs. However, candidates are often required to demonstrate some sort of knowledge on the field or have some past experience as a volunteer, intern, or school projects that helped them develop the necessary skills for that position.
Are there online jobs for 18 year olds with no experience?
Some examples of good jobs for 18 year olds with no experience include transcription, photo and video editing, graphic design, and freelance writing. Usually, these roles require skills learned at high school, online certifications, or that you can teach yourself and build a portfolio of personal projects.
Are there online jobs that pay well, no experience required?
As an inexperienced worker, it's less likely you'll make a lot of money in your first job, since you'd get an entry-level role. However, thinking about the future, remote jobs that often pay well after you gain some experience include software engineering, project management, and medical writing. The average pay for these jobs in 2024 is, respectively, $94,226, $80,412, and $82,737.
Alyse Kalish and Amanda Cardoso contributed to the current version of this article.