Does your internal monologue sound something like: “I wish I could pack up and travel all the time… Should I quit my job? Sell my stuff? Learn some skills? How can I get paid to travel?”
Yeah, we thought so.
No matter if you want to work abroad for a few months or for a year—or if you’re longing to go from adventure to adventure indefinitely—figuring out how to get paid to travel isn’t just the stuff of fantasy these days. The right skills (and some thoughtful planning) can put it squarely in the real world.
Get back into your internal monologue: It’s time to think about the abilities you want to hone and consider the type of life you’d like to lead while you’re traveling. From teaching to working holidays au pair gigs to the full digital nomad experience, you’ll find a road to getting paid to explore the globe.
What kind of skills will help me get paid to travel?
![person sitting at the front of a row-style boat.](https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/program_content/oneA7XmvMfaWUXw57wFhQXANlZwSYhVCxwBfT7w8.webp)
There are many ways to get paid while traveling!
Whether you’re a creative looking to level up digital skills or you’re ready to jump into an in-demand field like English teaching, certain skills can go a long way toward funding your travel dreams:
- Content creation: Writing, editing, blogging, TikTok-ing—if you’re good at storytelling, content creation can help you earn money while you’re traveling. You’ll produce content through written or visual storytelling to make a topic engaging to your audience.
- English/TEFL: English teachers are in demand around the world. Just being a native English speaker goes a long way, but having a TEFL certification can boost your chances of landing a job (and expand the list of countries where you can teach) even more.
- HTML/CSS: The basic programming languages for web development and design, HTML and CSS help you update existing websites, create new pages, and optimize content. In other words, they’re in-demand skills, and they’re skills you can put to good use wherever you have an internet connection.
- Instructor-specific skills: Have real-world knowledge of a specific field you can pass along to others? Maybe you’re an expert photographer, rock climber, surfer–you name it. You can earn money teaching this skill where you travel.
- Nursing: Here’s another in-demand field abroad. A big need for nurses can land you a job and let you use your skills for good.
- Public speaking: If you have deep knowledge about a topic and can communicate well, you can get paid to travel to conferences. Public speaking gigs can go hand-in-hand with a strong online presence (looking at you, content creators), but this skill also transfers well to other work like teaching.
- SEO: SEO, or search engine optimization, improves websites’ visibility in Google and other search engines. If you know how to help businesses drive organic traffic from search engines, you can pick up clients while you’re on the go.
OK, you have the skills. Now, how can you get paid to travel while you put those skills into action?
How to get paid to travel
With so many ways to work abroad, it’s all about the planning. You can find a program that lets you move abroad temporarily, or you can sign up for a career that keeps you traveling. You can even combine gigs like teaching and online content creation to earn enough to fund your wanderlust. Here are some routes to consider:
1. Teach abroad
![tutor teaching two small children](https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/program_content/ZSWcepQNm5iioT61tjiL9IDnxuv7wbMKCG64GzfH.webp)
Expand your love of teaching in a new country!
Let’s start with a classic answer to how to travel for free and get paid: teaching abroad! English teachers can find fulfilling work in countries across the globe, so whether you’re looking to travel to Argentina, Zimbabwe, or anything in between, teaching offers an exciting path to start your globetrotting.
You’ll even find programs that provide free airfare and housing along with your teaching salary. Spin and hop the globe, consider getting TEFL certified, and watch as your dreams of getting paid to travel become your day-to-day reality.
2. Live the digital nomad life
Getting paid to travel sure does sound appealing, doesn’t it? Living the life of a digital nomad (AKA working online while you travel) could be just what you need. Since you’re not tied to a single workplace, you’ll get to choose your destinations as you go.
You can find a regular job that allows you to work completely remotely, or you can tap into your talents as a writer, online English teacher, marketer, photographer, [insert your talent here] to see the world while paying the bills. Brush up on digital-nomad-friendly skills like SEO and HTML to find even more opportunities that keep the paychecks coming.
3. Care for kids as an au pair
If you love working with kids and want a way into an authentic life in a new place, consider working as an au pair. You’ll provide childcare for a family abroad, often with the added perk of free accommodations and meals—au pairs typically live with their host family. Your main job will cover childcare for your host family’s kids, though depending on your program’s rules, you might also do some light housework or cooking.
Au pair programs highlight cultural exchange. You’ll speak your language to the kids, and you’ll get to pick up the local language and experience the culture in return. Since you’re living in the family’s house while earning an income, it’s a great way to travel on a budget.
4. Show off your knowledge as a tour guide
![Group shot of photographers near the mountains.](https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/program_content/1BbLvAHitJIijnRdVo5mzqv9VmPf7nRsESS5O33x.webp)
Get paid while sharing your passion with others.
Hello, seasoned traveler. That’s the world of tourism calling your name. Working as a tour guide will combine your love of history, knowledge of a place’s architecture (and maybe even archeology), and public speaking skills into a job abroad that’s equal parts fun and educational.
You could lead walking tours, bus tours, or private tours, and you might work for a company or even start offering your own tours. If you have niche skills or inside knowledge (think: hands-on tours in foodie destinations), you can use that to develop something unique. Just don’t forget to research any credentials or certifications you may need to set up shop in your chosen location.
5. Do medical work abroad
You’ll need specific skills and training for this one, but if you do have a background in medicine, you can put your knowledge to good use and make a difference in people’s lives abroad.
Having in-demand skills in fields like nursing and dentistry can translate to amazing opportunities for you to travel and get paid. Make sure you’re really qualified as you look for work that lets you have a meaningful impact.
6. Become a flight attendant
Flight attendants certainly know how to get paid to travel the world, so consider this your ticket to a career in travel. You’ll work on airplanes, making sure travelers have comfortable, safe flights, and you’ll jet off to new destinations as part of your job.
You may have time to check out where you’ve landed between flights, but that’s not the only perk. Benefits often include free or discounted travel via your airline. When you’re not helping to make travel easier for fellow fliers, you’ll get to make your own dream travel plans.
7. Work on a cruise ship
![A sea captain and first mate at the steering wheel on the water.](https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/program_content/8yVdAN4q195wVNTZQvXvZKr07VN2163roMXLbVzj.webp)
Cruise ships are one of the most lucrative ways to make money abroad.
Of course, planes aren’t the only mode of travel out there. Apply to work on a cruise ship and you’ll have another way to literally get paid to travel (and likely have free accommodations and food thrown in).
Cruise ships have opportunities in a variety of areas, including retail, entertainment, and technical opportunities like electrician and deck crew jobs. Ships may also hire chefs, servers, bartenders, babysitters, photographers, and more, so there’s sure to be a job that suits your skills and lets you sail from port to port, exploring.
8. Become an instructor
If your skills fall more on the adventurous end of the spectrum, you can still leverage your abilities into travel opportunities.
Know the ins and outs of scuba diving? Get a scuba job like a divemaster and see the world from underwater. Or do you feel more at home surrounded by above-ground mountains and powdery snow? There’s a job at a ski resort waiting for you.
You can also travel and find teaching gigs in areas like fitness or yoga with the right certifications, so whatever your skills, consider using them to figure out how to travel for free and get paid as an instructor. From rock climbers and hikers to surfers, sailors, and everything in between, folks with a penchant for adventure have a way overseas.
9. Channel your love of the outdoors into free travel
Farms, wineries, national parks—if you're wondering how to get paid to travel the world, set your sights on the great outdoors. From WWOOFing on a farm to WWOOF alternatives, you’ll find a variety of ways to trade work for free housing in a place you want to explore.
Is your vibe more about connecting with young people in a new environment? Consider working as a camp counselor instead. Nature lovers have plenty of opportunities in the parks and forests of our planet.
10. Go for a working holiday
![Person sitting facing the pool with a laptop and notebook behind them.](https://images2.goabroad.com/image/upload/images2/program_content/J4z0awPrpt4lFu3WftkG4N2Rx7gya3OePjSK9Lgr.webp)
A working holiday is the perfect balance of structure and freedom.
Working holidays let you learn and gain new skills on the job while earning money to travel, while traveling. Sound appealing? A working holiday could be just what you need if you’re searching for a way to fund a shorter stint abroad.
There are all sorts of working holiday programs out there, typically spanning a few weeks to about a year. Check your eligibility before settling on a destination, as working holiday visa rules vary. Who knows, maybe you’ll use the skills you build on your working holiday to land your next job abroad.
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With strategic planning and the right skills, you *can* get paid to travel
Getting paid to travel is no longer a too-good-to-be-true dream. Build key skills, search for jobs that let you work abroad, and make that adventurous plan. You’re in for a world of learning—about yourself and your career path, about other cultures, people, and languages, and about travel itself—when you do.