Rising costs mean Americans need higher incomes just to cover necessities, plan for retirement, and afford discretionary purchases. This gap between wages and living costs has workers scrambling to find jobs that pay well above minimum wage, so they can actually build real wealth, not just get by.
Remote work cuts commuting costs and time. As more high-paying jobs shift to async-friendly models with minimal video calls, it could be your next perfect fit.
See what remote jobs have the potential to pay $70 per hour, or $145,000 a year.
Editor's note: Salary information comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Financial Manager
Median annual salary: $161,700
It's never a good idea to underpay the person managing your finances, so companies offer high salaries to protect their financial health. Finance managers use data to create budgets, forecasts, and plan for company growth. Hitting that high salary mark generally requires about five years of experience in finance, such as accounting, securities, or as an analyst.
The BLS projects this occupation will grow 15% over the next 10 years, so it's a good time to start down this career path.
Marketing Manager
Median annual salary: $159,660
Breaking into the marketing field can be difficult, but once you have enough experience under your belt to manage a team, the pay can be very rewarding. Advertising and promotions managers make slightly less, but it's still in the six-figure range.
The BLS projects occupational growth in this field to be at a rate of 6% over the next decade, or about 36,400 job openings each year. Prospective employees can now find various marketing roles at companies that are fully remote.
Corporate Scriptwriter
Median annual salary: $85,000
Video script writing for businesses pays $70 to $100 per hour and offers flexibility for async work. Most positions are freelance or part-time, giving you control over your schedule. While the field is competitive and typically requires some writing experience, the BLS projects 13,400 annual openings for writers.
As AI evolves, scriptwriting that captures authentic brand voice remains in demand, especially for companies seeking human creativity over automation.
Senior SEO Specialist
Median annual salary: $91,000
SEO specialists can have a wide range in salary, but experience in the field often brings in much higher salaries, which are at least $70 per hour or more. Job openings that pay about $150,000 annually are usually for large corporate companies with recognizable names.
Whether these positions are in-office or remote is largely dependent on the employer, but the trend is toward remote work.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Median annual salary: $81,680
Licensed CPAs can earn $150 to $450 per hour while fully remote, with no client meetings required. While top earners typically have years of experience and established corporate clients, you can start building your practice on platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.
Many CPAs begin with lower rates to build their portfolios, then scale to higher-paying clients as their reputations grow. The remote nature of accounting work means you control your schedule and can work with clients across time zones without constant video calls.
Management Consultant
Median annual salary: $155,000
Management consultants advising businesses on strategy, operations, and efficiency can earn $70-$150+ per hour remotely. The role requires strong analytical skills and business acumen, but freelance opportunities on platforms like Catalant Technologies let you consult from home, primarily async work with minimal video calls.
You'll work with C-suite executives and teams across industries, building your reputation and client base to command higher rates over time.
UX/UI Designer
Median annual salary: $104,000
User experience and interface designers can make up to $100 an hour with skills and experience in the field, and can find plenty of remote options with minimal video call requirements (think Slack instead).
Educational requirements are generally negotiable, with a strong portfolio of work generally taking precedence over a degree.
Lawyer
Median annual salary: $151,160
Despite what primetime programming tells us, not all lawyers spend time in the courtroom. Most of the job is doing legal research, drafting documents, coordinating settlements, and other tasks that can be done remotely, and is increasingly being done so.
Once you have a law degree and pass the state bar exam, you can comfortably work from home if you don't crave courtroom battles. The kind of law you specialize in will also make a difference in how much video calling you'll have to do.
Bottom Line
While many employers mandate office returns, companies risk losing up to 70% of potential candidates. Worse yet, it can cost businesses the best employees as they leave to pursue remote or freelance options that they can do from home.
Not all jobs can be done remotely, but those that can face the strongest pushback against working in an office from the employee side. Working from home lowers financial stress from commuting, and the time saved can help alleviate other stressors, as well.
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