Being able to work remotely from wherever you are is the dream – a dream that’s becoming more of a reality every day. As more companies embrace distributed teams and asynchronous work, high-paying remote jobs are increasingly available to workers outside of the office, even for workers with limited experience.
Many of these jobs are also projected to be some of the fastest-growing top jobs of the future as AI gains momentum and companies try to keep up. Remote and work from home jobs are predicted to grow by 25% by the end of 2025, according to Ladder’s Remote Work Report. Currently, 22% of the entire US workforce, or 32.6 million Americans, work remotely. This is your chance to explore some of the highest-paying remote jobs and get in on the action during this growth period.
The following roles consistently rank among the top-paid remote jobs based on salary data, growth trends, and demand.
Key points:
- The highest-paying remote jobs include product managers, marketing managers, software engineers, and machine learning engineers.
- Top Industries with high-paying remote and work from home jobs include tech, finance, healthcare, marketing, and ecommerce, with salaries that go as high as $450,000 a year.
- Companies that offer remote jobs include GitHub, Aha!, Shopify, Pinterest, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, IBM, Stripe, MetLife, and more.
- Browse thousands of more publicly shared salaries on our Salary Database.
- Use our Salary Transparent Job Board to find and apply to any of these types of roles.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Remote Jobs (Using Salary Data From Real People)
When we’re talking about the highest-paying remote jobs, we mean those that are fully remote with high, competitive salaries, in-demand skills, flexibility, autonomy, and growth potential. We’ve identified these top-paying remote jobs using salary data from interviews with real remote workers, data we’ve collected in our Salary Database, and job data from the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Keep in mind that our Salary Database currently doesn’t have a way to distinguish between base pay and total compensation. Our salary data may also include other compensation, such as bonuses, commissions, stock options, equity, or other forms of pay in addition to their yearly salary. All Salary Database numbers referred to below are found under remote salaries only.
You can find more salary data by searching for any of the below positions in our Salary Database and filtering on “Remote”. Don’t forget to join and add your salary too!
1. Product Manager
Median salary: $156,580 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $363,000 per year
Product managers often get confused with project managers, but their roles are very different. Product managers don’t manage projects. They manage products and are the reason that everyday products like iPhones ever see the light of day. They help bring the vision of a product to life by guiding the strategy, roadmap, and development of that product.
Key skills include customer research and market analysis, along with knowing how to use tools like Aha!, Jira, and Figma. Aha! Is actually a fully remote company that is often looking for remote product managers. Industries that have a high demand for these skills include tech, ecommerce, and finance, with top companies like Amazon and Stripe often hiring remote product managers as well.
Alternative job titles include product owner and technical product manager.
Job outlook (up to 2033): 8%
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing, or similar area. Many can get their foot in the door with certifications. We interviewed a product manager that makes $80,000 a year in the U.S. Digital Corps, a program for early career people. She got into it through her experience in the Army National Guard and her professional experience!
Recommended learning: IBM Product Manager Professional Certificate
2. Marketing Manager
Median salary: $156,580 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $280,000 per year
Marketing managers can be similar to product managers at times. However, they focus solely on the marketing aspect of a product rather than overseeing the progress of building a product.
As one of the highest-paying creative jobs, their main goal of their role is to create strategies to promote either a product or service, so they can drive customer engagement and increase sales. Core skills they need for their job include analysis, communication, and project management, along with the knowledge of marketing strategies and tools like Google Analytics and Hubspot (both of which hire remotely for these roles).
Top industries that have a demand for marketing managers include tech, e-commerce, finance, media, and any industry that uses marketing to reach their customer base. Many of these roles may also be listed on job boards under digital marketing manager and product marketing manager.
Job outlook (up to 2033): 8%
Education needed: Associates or bachelor’s degree in communication or marketing, but many can get started with courses, certifications, and work experience in sales or marketing.
Recommended learning: IBM Digital Marketing and Growth Hacking Professional Certificate
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3. Software Engineer
Median salary: $130,160 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $450,000 per year (total compensation) for a remote software engineer at Block
Software engineers are often the first role when thinking of what jobs get the most high-salaried remote work. They’re also one of the highest-paying tech jobs, but in a field that’s quickly changing with the rise of AI.
Software engineers don’t simply just build software anymore. They still need to know programming languages, such as Python, C++, and Java, but are also learning to work with AI to build software quicker and better. A few of the AI tools they use include GitHub Copilot and Cursor. They must also be knowledgeable in areas like data engineering, devops and automation, and AI frameworks.
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When looking for jobs as a software engineer, also search under alternative job titles, such as software developer, full stack engineer, and frontend developer in industries like tech, finance, ecommerce, and healthcare. Companies that have a high demand for software engineers include GitHub, GitLab, and Shopify.
Job outlook (up to 2033): 17%
Education needed: Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in computer science or software engineering. Certifications and coding bootcamps can also help workers break into these roles.
Recommended learning: Introduction to Software Engineering
4. Machine Learning Engineer
Median salary: $130,160 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $140,000 per year
Machine learning engineers are also somewhat similar to data scientists. They both work with data to build predictive models, but machine learning engineers focus more on deploying and optimizing these models in production systems. They need to know similar programming languages to data scientists and software engineers, such as Python and Java, with an expertise in ML frameworks like TensorFlow and scikit-learn.
This role has the highest projected growth rate (80%) than any other job on this list, which is no surprise with the current AI race that’s going on. Top industries with a demand for machine learning engineers include tech, finance, and healthcare with the top companies hiring for remote roles being Google and Capital One.
Other job titles that these fall under include AI engineer and deep learning engineer.
Job outlook (2025-2030): 80% (taken from the Future of Jobs Report)
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, mathematics, data science, or related field, but many can get started with courses and certifications.
Recommended learning: Fundamentals of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
5. Actuary
Median salary: $125,770 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $200,000 per year
Actuaries are similar to data scientists in that they both analyze data as part of their job responsibilities. But instead of focusing on trends and insights, actuaries focus on forecasting future events and determining financial impact. In addition to data analysis, their core skills include probability and statistics and financial mathematics. They also need to know how to use tools like Excel, SQL, R, and Python.
The top industries for actuaries are insurance, finance, and government, with companies like Milliman, Mercer, and MetLife being top remote-friendly employers. Alternative job titles include risk analyst and pension analyst.
Job outlook (up to 2033): 22%
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree in actuarial science, mathematics, or statistics.
Recommended learning: Financial Markets
6. Program Manager
Median salary: $122,090 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $275,000 per year
Program managers is another role often confused with project managers and product managers. Instead of managing a product or project, they oversee the planning and execution of multiple related projects. Their skills include managing timelines and risks, and communicating with cross-functional teams using tools like Asana.
Alternative job titles include program lead and technical program manager in industries like tech, government, and finance. We interviewed a program manager that makes $85,000 working for one of the largest financial institutions! Top companies that hire remote program managers include Zapier and HubSpot.
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Job outlook (up to 2033): 8%
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree in business administration or similar area, but many can get started with courses and certifications.
Recommended learning: IBM Program Manager Professional Certificate
7. Cybersecurity Analyst or Engineer
Median salary: $120,360 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $180,000 per year
The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 identified cybersecurity as one of the fastest-growing skillsets globally. These are skills like knowledge of security frameworks and proficiency in tools like Wireshark and Metasploit.
As businesses continue to digitize and cyber threats become more sophisticated, cybersecurity professionals are critical in protecting data and systems from attacks. Many big-name tech companies like Cisco and Crowdstrike have a high demand for cybersecurity professionals and are often hiring for these roles. It’s also one of the top-paying government jobs due to the rising demand for tighter security in government systems.
Alternative titles for cybersecurity engineers or analysts include information security analyst, network security specialist, and threat intelligence analyst.
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Job outlook (up to 2033): 33%
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, information technology, or computer science. A cybersecurity analyst we interviewed that makes $150,000 a year said that certifications can also help you get into the role!
Recommended learning: Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate
8. Data Scientist
Median salary: $108,020 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $260,000 per year for a remote data scientist at Amgen
AI and big data are other fast-growing skillsets identified by the Future of Jobs report – both of which are high-income skills in demand for data scientists. Their main job duty is to help organizations make better business decisions by analyzing and making sense of large sets of data. In order to do this, they need to know programming languages like Python, R, and SQL, and be familiar with tools like Tableau.
A few companies that often hire remote data scientists include IBM, and Snowflake. Other popular job titles in this area include data analyst, data engineer, and business intelligence analyst in industries like tech, healthcare, finance, and marketing.
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Job outlook (up to 2033): 36%
Education needed: Bachelor’s degree in data science, statistics, or computer science, but many can get started with courses, bootcamps, and certifications.
Recommended learning: IBM Data Science Professional Certificate
9. Clinical Research Associate or Manager
Median salary: $100,590 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $115,000 a year for a remote clinical research associate at ICON PLC
Clinical research associates manage clinical trials to make sure they follow regulatory standards and ethical guidelines. Their work is essential to advancing medical research. Skills that they need include regulatory compliance, communication, and analysis using clinical trial management systems like Medidata and Veeva.
This high-paying healthcare job is highly sought after in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, with top companies like Medpace and Syneos Health often hiring remote workers. Clinical trial monitor is another title that this role can often be listed as.
Job outlook (up to 2033): 11%
Education needed: Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in life sciences or healthcare.
Recommended learning: Understanding Clinical Research: Behind the Statistics
10. UX Designer
Median salary: $98,090 per year
Highest salary recorded in our Salary Database: $175,000 a year for a remote UX designer at Fidelity Investments
UX designers create user-friendly experiences digital products like smartphone operating systems, mobile apps, websites, and software. Because of them, we can easily access and navigate important things we use in our everyday life like your bank’s mobile app, tax software, and Instagram.
The key skills required to do their job include user research and interaction design using tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD. UX designers with these skills are in high demand across tech, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, and education. Companies that often hire UX designers remotely include Atlassian and Automattic under alternative job titles like product designer and user researcher (UX Researcher).
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Job outlook (up to 2033): 8%
Education needed: Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in human-computer interaction (HCI), computer science, graphic design, but many can also break in through courses, certifications, and building strong portfolios. We interviewed a UX designer that makes $185,000 a year and got started through a free program at a community college!
Recommended learning: Google UX Design Professional Certificate
Companies With The Highest-Paying Remote Jobs
Among the thousands of companies that are remote-friendly or remote-first, these are a few of the big names that frequently hire remote employees, including their remote work policy, culture, and the types of positions they are often hiring for.
Company | Remote Policy, Culture & Common Roles |
| GitLab | Fully remote since inception. Transparent, async-first culture. Hires remote engineers, product managers, marketers, and operations roles. |
| Automattic | Fully remote with a global team. Emphasizes autonomy and async communication. Remote roles in development, design, support, and marketing. |
| Zapier | Remote-first with team members across dozens of countries. Strong remote ops culture. Hires engineers, marketers, support specialists, and data analysts. |
| Doist | Fully remote and async-first. Prioritizes deep work and work-life balance. Hires remote developers, designers, and marketers. |
| Toptal | Fully remote with a global talent pool. Hires freelancers and internal staff in engineering, design, finance, and project management. |
| Shopify | Shifted to remote-first after 2020. Empowers teams to work from anywhere. Hires developers, UX designers, and product managers remotely. |
| GitHub | Offers remote and hybrid options. Part of Microsoft, with strong support for distributed teams. Hires remote engineers, designers, and community managers. |
| HubSpot | Offers flexible remote, hybrid, or in-office options. Known for strong employee experience. Hires remote roles in sales, marketing, product, and HR. |
| Remote-first company that hires remote roles in engineering, product, design, marketing, and data science. | |
| Cisco | Offers hybrid and remote roles across departments. Known for supporting remote infrastructure and collaboration tools. Hires for remote engineering, cybersecurity, and customer success roles. |
| IBM | Early adopted of remote work and offers a mix of remote, hybrid, and flexible arrangements. Hires for remote roles in AI, cloud computing, consulting, and technical project management. |
| Aha! | Fully remote company focused on product development software. Hires product managers, engineers, and customer success roles remotely. |
| Basecamp | Remote-first company with strong opinions on work-life balance and async communication. Hires in engineering, operations, and support roles. |
| CrowdStrike | Remote-first cybersecurity company. Strong distributed culture with a focus on trust and security. Hires remote roles in threat analysis, engineering, and IT. |
| Offers remote and hybrid roles, depending on team and location. Hires for remote roles in engineering, UX, marketing, and program management. | |
| Trello (Atlassian) | Part of Atlassian, which offers remote-first flexibility. Remote roles in product, engineering, UX, and customer success. |
| Cerebral | Remote-friendly mental health startup. Hires remote therapists, prescribers, engineers, and operations staff. |
| Teladoc Health | Remote-enabled healthcare company. Hires physicians, therapists, support staff, and tech roles to deliver telehealth services. |
| Metlife | Offers remote and hybrid roles in insurance and financial services. Hires for remote positions in claims, underwriting, tech, and customer support. |
| Stripe | Remote-friendly with a global team. Known for strong documentation culture and async work. Hires engineers, product managers, and finance professionals remotely. |
| Mozilla | Offers remote-friendly work globally. Prioritizes open-source culture. Hires developers, researchers, and policy specialists remotely. |
| Dropbox | Adopted a "Virtual First" approach, encouraging remote work for all roles. Hires remote engineers, designers, and product leads. |
| Remote.com | Fully remote, global HR tech company. Builds tools for remote teams. Hires for remote roles in engineering, legal, customer support, and marketing. |
How to Find a High-Paying Remote Job
Remote and work from home jobs that pay well can be found on job boards like our own Salary Transparent Job Board and remote job sites like WeWorkRemotely, FlexJobs, and Wellfound. Always be sure to review a company’s remote work policy before applying.
As you explore the learning pathways for these roles, start doing some mock projects on your to gather a small portfolio and get familiar with what you'd be doing in the real world. Then start looking for entry-level work to get experience. Don’t wait until you think you’re fully qualified. Companies often hire folks that don’t have everything they’re looking for but show that they’re willing to learn and grow alongside that company. Start now using that mindset.
Don’t forget to browse our other resources as you navigate your career, including our tech career guide, finding your market rate, interview questions and answers to prepare for, how to write a cover letter, salary negotiation scripts and myths, how to ask for a raise, guides to the highest-paying jobs without a college degree, side hustle ideas, and more!
That wraps it up for this week. Until next time, stay awesome, stay strong, and keep advocating for yourself no matter what! I’m Daniella – a writer, engineer, former host of the Remote Work Bestie podcast, and decade-long remote worker. I’m extremely passionate about workers' rights and financial freedom, so it’s a pleasure to be able to bring you this type of content through the Salary Transparent Street blog (thank you for the opportunity, Hannah!) You can also follow me on Linkedin. Chat soon!
If this guide helps you land a higher-paying job, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com
For more Salary Transparent Street resources:
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- Need help determining your market rate? Download our free Market Research Guide to learn what you should be making.
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