5 Highest Paid Remote Jobs in 2024, According to Research

What a year it’s been for remote workers. If you look at most online sources, you’d be forgiven for assuming that remote work is declining faster than you can apply for it.

But that’s not all. Even as employers enforce back-to-the-office orders, there are still some positive signs of growth — albeit in contrast to the pandemic data — particularly in high-wage job sectors.

Researchers at Ladders, a job site that focuses exclusively on jobs paying $100,000 or more, analyzed more than half a million job postings on their platform from April to June 2024 to produce the Ladders High Paying Jobs Report for Q2 2024.

Their research revealed that while there was a slight decline in Q1, “remote work regained some ground, gaining about 7% in Q2. Hybrid roles regained 40%,” their report reads.

In addition, “the number of jobs available with six-figure salaries increased by 20% in the last quarter.” John Mullinix, director of growth marketing at Ladders, explains, “As the economy rebounds, companies are expanding and investing in new projects, which is driving the need for higher-paying positions. As inflation increases, companies are adjusting wages to attract and retain the best talent, especially in specialized fields such as technology, healthcare and engineering. Industrial growth in sectors such as technology, finance and healthcare is also playing a big role as these areas continue to expand. In addition, increased investment in technology and sustainability is creating demand for skilled professionals, often with higher salaries.”

The best paid jobs in the second quarter of 2024

So what jobs will be the best paid in summer 2024?

1. Trainee nurse
2. Project manager
3. Physician’s assistant
4. Software engineer
5. Senior Software Engineer
6. General Manager
7. Pharmacy manager
8. Pharmacist (full or part time)
9. Program Manager
10. External Sales Representative

The 5 highest-paid remote jobs in Q2 2024

As we look at the list of the 10 highest paying jobs in the second quarter of 2024, we may be curious about which of these positions are remote or can be performed remotely.

This list shows that at least half of them are quite popular as remote work:

1. Project manager
2. Software engineer
3. Senior Software Engineer
4. General Manager
5. Program Manager

ForbesThe 10 Most Wanted Fully Remote Jobs in 2024, According to ResearchBy Rachel Wells

There seems to be a clear trend here, with project management, operations management, and technology leading the list of the highest-paid remote positions currently being filled.

Let’s take a closer look at the employment projections and expected salary ranges for each of these in-demand remote jobs:

Forbes25 million project managers on demand, median salary rises to $120,000By Rachel Wells

1. Remote Project Manager

Project managers have a bright future ahead of them. Almost every industry, every business needs a project manager to make sure everything is kept in check, on schedule and that projects are delivered to the satisfaction of the client and stakeholders. As such, they are irreplaceable.

Additionally, project management is a skill that can’t be easily replaced by AI, and it’s also relatively easy to learn, since you don’t need a degree to become a project manager. While the training is rigorous and can be difficult, especially if you’re studying for a PMI certification, it’s certainly more beneficial to spend six months studying for a certification than to spend years in college, spending money you can’t afford, and drowning in debt. This is good news for you if you’ve been laid off because your job has been taken over by a new technology, or you’re looking to explore a lucrative career path.

Warning: Project managers earn the most in the technology industry, so you may find that average salaries in other industries are slightly lower.

Average salary range: From $128,376 to $160,574

2. Remote Software Engineer

Software engineers work in a rapidly growing industry; according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for their positions is growing by 25% (significantly faster than average), and FlexJobs has named them one of the 10 most desirable work-from-anywhere jobs—it’s like being a digital nomad!

Average salary range: From $72,460 to $188,310

3. Remote Senior Software Engineer

As you progress through your software engineering career, you will have a variety of career paths to choose from, including freelance or contract software engineers, VP of engineering, and senior software engineers.

Becoming a senior software engineer involves having certain management responsibilities, so you not only need to have exceptional technical skills, but you also need to demonstrate strong leadership, decision-making, and team management skills.

Average salary range: $113,700 to $135,700

4. Remote CEO

A CEO (also known as an operations manager) manages several operations and departments simultaneously and typically reports to a senior management team. You may also manage an entire division of a company. This role requires deep expertise and confidence in understanding many different business functions and knowing the technicalities of the company inside and out.

Exceptional project management skills will be essential to your success in this position.

Average salary range: From $78,356 to $105,170

5. Remote Program Manager

The role of a program manager, another management position, is very similar to a project manager in many ways, but in other ways it can be quite different. This job can be exciting because you are involved in implementing programs that span the entire organization or programs that benefit the community in which you live. You can be a catalyst for change and ensure that resources are put to good use, for the benefit of program participants.

According to the BLS, the demand for program managers, as project management specialists, has increased by 6%, which is higher than the average rate of job growth in the U.S. According to data from Salary.com, program managers earn slightly more each year than their project management colleagues.

Average salary range: From $129,604 to $172,851

For now, it looks like your best bet is to look for well-paid remote positions in the areas of project management, operations management, and technology.

With the availability of six-figure jobs increasing by 20% and the popularity of remote work increasing again by 7% in the last quarter, 2024 is starting to look more optimistic for workers looking for well-paid remote work.