Unlock High-Paying Remote Careers: 9 Legit Jobs Earning $65+ Per Hour

There's a lot to love about working from home: no commute, more flexibility, and a better work-life balance. Or maybe you'd like to be a digital nomad, traveling the world and working on a schedule you define. As more companies embrace remote work, anything's possible.

Still, there are common misconceptions. Some people believe remote work is suitable only for those who are technically inclined. Others believe that you need to be a senior-level manager with a substantial salary to qualify for such flexibility.

The truth is that many jobs can now be done remotely, and some of them can help you keep more cash in your wallet. Here are nine remote jobs with an average hourly pay of $65 or more.

Editor's note: All data is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) unless otherwise noted.

1. Sales Manager

Median hourly wage: $66.38 Rather than dealing directly with customers, sales managers set goals for their team and analyze their performance. CRM software and video conferencing enable remote management of a sales force, eliminating the need for an on-site workforce. Some businesses even prefer a remote sales manager positioned closer to key customers.

2. Political Scientist

Median hourly wage: $67.01 While many college students majoring in political science hope to one day serve in elected office, there is also a need for political scientists. These researchers analyze policies and public opinion for think tanks, nonprofit organizations, and even some government agencies. Much of a political scientist's work involves research and writing, which you can effectively do from a home office.

3. HR Manager

Median hourly wage: $67.32 Most of us think of human resources as a department located in the main office. However, many new businesses offer remote work by default, and some don't even have an office. Talented HR managers don't need to be on-site to perform core functions, such as drafting and publishing policies or overseeing the online hiring process.

4. Information Research Scientist

Median hourly wage: $67.74 If you know your way around data and analytics, you could become an information research scientist. In this role, you find new ways to interpret data, often through developing new algorithms. Therefore, universities and financial institutions are hiring research scientists to work remotely on AI platforms.

5. Attorney

Median hourly wage: $72.67 While the layperson imagines attorneys spend a significant amount of their time in court, much of the legal work can be done remotely. This includes legal research, writing briefs, fact-checking, and initial client consultations. Busy law firms are eager to find qualified attorneys to take on these tasks in remote roles.

6. Financial Manager

Median hourly wage: $77.74 Financial managers are responsible for their organizations' fiscal health. Most of their day-to-day work involves creating reports and developing long-term financial strategies. With the rise of digital banking systems and accounting software, these are things you can do from just about anywhere these days.

7. Physicist

Median hourly wage: $79.95 While you may picture physicists working in a lab or an academic environment, many spend the majority of their time developing mathematical models and analyzing data. Not only is this type of work conducive to a remote environment, but the deep thought and exceptional analytical skills required for the role demand a quiet, solitary place to get things done.

8. Architectural Manager

Median hourly wage: $80.64 Architecture and engineering jobs used to be bound to a desk and a slide rule, but have long since moved into cyberspace. Several new firms operate entirely online, creating a need for remote architectural managers. In this role, you oversee projects from conception to completion while performing traditional managerial tasks like hiring and budgeting.

9. IT Manager

Median hourly wage: $82.31 In the days when the server closet was just up the hall, the IT staff had to stay close to the office. Today, many businesses host their tech stack in the cloud, so nothing is preventing IT managers from working remotely. Most of their work revolves around planning and coordinating their teams, things that can be done from anywhere with a solid internet connection.

Just a few years ago, high-paying remote jobs might have seemed like an urban legend. Today, they're a reality, and some might say they're becoming the norm. If any of these nine jobs are related to your work, you might find yourself on the path to build wealth after a quick job hop. If that seems unlikely, don't give up hope. Business leaders today recognize that flexibility and work-life balance are key to employee retention.