Not sure how to make money on the road? Find out which remote van life jobs, businesses and side hustles are the most common ways to support your lifestyle!
We find that there are three kinds of van lifers out there:
- Those who got into van life to see what it was like and ended up loving it,
- Those who knew they would love living in a van from the beginning and
- Those who gave it a try and gave up somewhere down the road.
If you belong to one of the first two categories, chances are you’ve come to learn how much it costs to live in a van, and thus you know how much money you need to make to continue to live this lifestyle.
And while the amount of money you spend on the road may vary, the fact that you need money to continue this lifestyle can sometimes smack you pretty hard in the face.
THE TAKEAWAY – IN THIS POST YOU WILL LEARN
- There are plenty of ways to make money on the road and one perfectly suited for you
- The most common van life jobs are typically
- Your current job you turn into remote work
- Entrepreneurial jobs you create around your skills, interests and passions
- Seasonal work you do part of the year to pay for the rest of the year
- We have worked a variety of jobs and have great tips from our experience
After many years on the road, we’ve come to learn that we never have enough money to do ALL of the things we want to do. But we always have enough money to enjoy the lifestyle and we have come to learn lots of creative ways to make money on the road.
In this post, we’ll walk you through some of the best ways to earn money traveling. We’ll provide a broad list based on many of our friends who earn a decent living while enjoying the perks of van life. And we’ll also take you a little deeper into the remote jobs that we have actually worked to continue to fund our dreams.
Plus, we’ll share some insight into how you can be creative with specialized skills. Professional licensing or industry certifications can provide you with more opportunities to do temporary and seasonal work remotely while not missing a paycheck!
Remote Van Life Jobs for Making Money On The Road
Although we tried to be as general as possible with the job opportunities listed below so that virtually anybody could pursue them, some of these ideas will require that you either have or are willing to pursue, advanced training or education to be able to fill the role.
You can’t just start a bookkeeping or graphic design consultation business without having the professional knowledge, skills and certification to properly represent clients in these industries.
However, we wanted to provide a thorough list because we have found many people didn’t realize that they could do their current work while living in a van anywhere in the world!
On that note, let’s get into our list of best van life jobs that are certain to help you make money so that you can continue to pursue your best life on the road!
Start a Website or Blog
You’re reading this post right now because we were once inspired by other digital nomads to pursue our dream of traveling full-time while having remote income to support the travel habit.
Starting a website or blog to document your travels can be a great way to earn money on the road. While it is fun and can be a way to earn great money, unfortunately, it takes a while to get set up and for your content to become known.
While blogging can be a full-time job, it often takes a long time to earn direct income. Many brands will, however, offer you free products to take along to use and review while you travel. This can therefore reduce your living costs as you build up a travel blog and document your lifestyle on the road.
The advantage of this form of van life remote work is its location independence and the fact that you don’t require a constant internet connection. You can type up your content and only upload it at a later stage if you’re off the beaten track during a particular adventure.
It’s the perfect van life job if you’re not stressed about cash and have another form of income while you set up your own business. While it can be perceived as many peoples’ dream job, the reality can be very different and there are perhaps other remote jobs that you can do in the meantime.
With a platform like Blogger, blogging is made easy and you can effortlessly set up your own platform to show the world your new lifestyle on the road.
OUR EXPERIENCE:
We have made over $10,000 per year the past 3 years through our various websites through advertisement and affiliate marketing. This is 100% passive income – meaning you make money while you sleep… once you’ve done the hard work of building the content.
But there is a lot of strategy that goes into planning and executing a well-thought-out website. The days of “Dear Diary” blogging are gone. If you’re ready to start a website, put on your big boy/girl pants and get ready to do a lot of heavy lifting. But know that the rewards are worth it all when you start to see success!
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET STARTED:
- How To Start A Travel Blog – NOMADasaurus
- How To Start A Travel Blog – NomadicMatt
- DigitalNomadWannabe Facebook Group
- Make Traffic Happen Facebook Group
Become a Brand Influencer
A brand influencer, also known as a brand ambassador or “influencer,” can tie in closely with your website/blog and be a great way to get started. Many of the van life jobs out there have a symbiotic relationship, as they rely on each other in some way, shape, or form.
While being a brand influencer might not be the best way to make money, it can open up other avenues and lead to other van life jobs. It’s also a pretty cool way to get free products to use while you travel.
Brands love to work with people that incorporate their products seamlessly into their lifestyles, using them in an organic way. There has also been a lot of criticism around the fake feeling around product endorsement.
So if you can get it right with an authentic blog post, then you have the potential to turn it into a lucrative side hustle, earning extra money and scoring some epic products along the way.
You likely won’t make a lot of money as a brand influencer. In fact, you will probably have to start out working basically for free before you have the following and authority to be able to feel comfortable charging brands for your services. But the payoff can be nice, particularly if you’re a gear or experience junkie who will enjoy all of the offers that come your way.
OUR EXPERIENCE:
We fell into becoming brand ambassadors or influencers because we had accidental and almost immediate success with one of our social media platforms. When we hit 50K subscribers and had some videos with millions of views we were almost instantaneously bombarded with requests from companies.
It was a challenge negotiating with brands, however, and we did decide we would charge for our services from Day 1. The fact we had a rate sheet meant that many companies didn’t follow up after we told them our rates. However, those that did turn into great opportunities.
We found in time that we wanted to work for ourselves. And, in being an influencer, you work for the brand you represent. Even though it’s your content on your channels, you still have a responsibility to work with a brand to create content they want to publish according to their content marketing goals.
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET STARTED:
Seasonal Work (Retail, Harvest, Campgrounds, National Parks)
Another great way to make money while living your best van life is seasonal work. Seasonal jobs can be in the form of things such as a ski/snowboard instructor, a wine harvest intern, fruit pickers, crab fisherman, or national park assistant – the list is long and the work is plenty.
As opposed to online van life jobs, seasonal work involves in-person jobs for a short period of time, after which you can travel again. This can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on the work.
The one downside to seasonal work is that you can’t really work remotely on your own schedule. The hours can also be long and the work can be physically tough. But if you put in the time, you can reap the rewards.
Seasonal workers can often make tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the work. Crab fishing, for example, is dangerous work and as a result, the opportunity to make money is high. And beet harvesting is a great way to grab a few thousand dollars for a few short weeks or work – though you’ll put in 12-hour days 6-7 days a week during those weeks!
Seasonal work is also a great way to see lots of different places as you can jump from one season to another, changing industries as you go. You can also follow the summer season around the world if you’re not a fan of the cold. I like to think of it as one of the best van life jobs – you work hard, but you can play even harder.
And a lot of these seasonal jobs offer great perks such as free camping or housing, a meal plan and any local perks such as being able to use facility amenities or local tourist attractions.
OUR EXPERIENCE:
We LOVE seasonal work. I mean, we’d rather not work at all! But if we have to work, what beats a new experience where you may work 4-6 months out of the year to pay for the other 6-8 months of travel?
We’ve done all sorts of seasonal work, from informal campground hosting at a friend’s campground to various restaurant and hospitality industry work in highly trafficked tourist places like Thermopolis, Wyoming and Custer State Park, South Dakota.
We’ve also had a few opportunities to make money with day labor where we picked fruits and vegetables in Washington and even had a chance to get paid to go halibut fishing in Alaska!
The opportunities are literally endless. So check out the resources below to get started with your next seasonal job!
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET STARTED:
Virtual Assistant
A virtual assistant (VA) is a form of remote job that essentially performs the same role as a personal assistant. The only difference is that it occurs virtually and you will assist someone with their online business.
Being a virtual assistant is a great van life job for those just getting started with the lifestyle as it is relatively easy work. You can earn a few hundred dollars a month for a relatively chilled schedule, only working a few hours a day. This leaves lots of time for leisure activities which is often the main motivation behind van life.
The downside to being a virtual assistant is that the work can be a bit mundane, especially if you are doing work such as data entry and calendar management. And you’re not likely to make a lot of money with most VA jobs.
There are, however, other fun virtual assistant jobs on offer such as graphic design, forms of digital marketing, social media management, and travel planning.
If you’re fortunate enough, or brave enough to ask, you may even be able to find a VA job for a company or person that you look up to so you can learn the ins and outs of an industry or topic that interests you.
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET YOU STARTED:
Data Entry
Data entry online jobs are a point of much contention and debate. They have received a bad rep as many of them are fake and are scams. There are, however, legitimate online data entry jobs that can earn you money.
The best advice is to go through a reputable agency or source such as LinkedIn, Fiverr, Upwork, etc. in order to prevent being scammed. Jobs such as data entry clerks, data entry specialists, and data entry operators can earn you some cash and a decent starting point while you search for more permanent remote work.
You can even ask friends or family members who have businesses whether they could use either a VA or a data entry clerk. You’d be surprised to find that your friend with an insurance company or a dentist’s office can use a hand with processing data.
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET YOU STARTED:
Teaching English Online
Teaching English online is a great way to make money during your van life adventure. Many van life individuals have taught online and made a lucrative lifestyle out of it. Many of the jobs involve teaching school children in Asian countries – China being the most popular.
This isn’t always the case, as sometimes professionals that want to improve their English in a professional sense will reach out to native English speakers. Other times it can be purely for conversational purposes.
The downside to teaching online is that a reliable internet connection is non-negotiable and this is sometimes difficult when you’re on the road. Many companies will also require you to have a TEFL certificate and the worthwhile courses can be a bit pricey. You’ll also have an interesting schedule, depending on who you are teaching and where you are living out your van life.
But the pay is usually pretty great considering other options on this list. And you can usually have a pretty flexible schedule – though many companies require that you publish your availability a month or more in advance. You’ll also want to consider the prerequisites for these teaching opportunities as you may be required to have some formal teaching experience and/or college degrees.
OUR EXPERIENCE:
We first considered teaching through VIPKid in 2019 as one of our best friends turned us on to the opportunity. Although I have a background as a high school teacher, by the time it came to completing all of the applications, interviews and figuring out how to coordinate my schedule with the Chinese students I would be teaching, we decided to pursue other opportunities listed in this post.
But we do know a handful of van dwellers who had the commitment to posting their availability a month in advance and had no issues flipping their schedules upside down.
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET STARTED:
Digital Marketing / Social Media Management
Digital marketing encompasses a variety of different online jobs such as SEO, content marketing, and social media management to name a few.
It is essentially the online marketing and promotion of products as well as services offered by a particular company. It’s a great way to work remotely and often can be conducted using only a cell phone and internet connection.
It’s the perfect way to make money while living in a van and traveling the country. As the online world has developed extensively over the past decade, so too have digital marketing jobs and they are in high demand.
If you can set up managing a couple of social media accounts along with another remote job or two, you will be styling. Besides, being a social media manager is fun and you can work with accounts that post content you enjoy. A win-win situation.
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET STARTED:
- How to Become a Social Media Manager (Sprout Social)
- How to Become a Social Media Manager (Indeed.com)
- Find Jobs on UpWork
- Find Jobs on FlexJobs
Freelance Writer
Freelance writing is one of the favored van life jobs as it can be one of the most enjoyable forms of remote work, especially if you are writing about things that you are passionate about. Freelance writers are in high demand and if your writing is of a high standard, you can secure repeat clients that you write for on a monthly basis.
You can join a few Facebook groups to try and get started in finding clients. Or set yourself off on a massive research campaign to identify the top websites you’d want to write for and then to contact each to offer your services.
Rates vary anywhere from $0.03 – $0.08 per word, depending on your experience and expertise. And there are even a bunch of copywriting agencies out there that will find the clients for you and assign you posts to write based on your strengths and availability.
It’s not always rainbows and butterflies though, as some of the freelance writing work can be rather boring and the content you write about isn’t very interesting. But you can make it work out that you set your own financial goals based on your workload so you essentially still work for yourself as much as you’d like.
OUR EXPERIENCE:
Although we ran our own website for the first year we traveled, we needed to make some money as fast as possible. I reached out to a successful travel blogging friend who happened to be experiencing tremendous growth at the time, and he offered me the opportunity for me to write a handful of posts each month.
It was not a ton of money and it did take up a fair amount of time to add in the SEO-required details. But this led to later being able to grow into a more permanent position with him that kept reliable income coming in month after month.
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET STARTED:
Consultant
If you possess a lot of knowledge in a specialized field, it is possible that you can charge for your consulting services if people require your help.
Fields such as law, social media, digital marketing and business development are all great avenues to consult in. However, there are many other options for consultation while working remotely.
You may be a great writer and can host online writing tutorials for a writing firm. You may be an excellent public speaker and can host online seminars for professionals.
The beauty is that your camper van can become your consulting office on the road and it’s the perfect way to make money and also work your own hours.
OUR EXPERIENCE:
I am great at creating big-picture strategies and managing teams, so I marketed myself as a website content consultant with a large travel website several years ago. As it turns out, my talents and passions for planning and organization were exactly what was needed and I was able to work out a small consulting gig that offered virtually unlimited on-the-job training.
So not only did I enjoy what I was doing as I earned income, but also I was making myself more marketable for similar consulting jobs down the road.
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET STARTED:
Photographer
The mark of a great photographer is to capture a moment in time and people will spend money (a lot of money, in fact) for beautifully captured moments. You can also use your photography skills to make money as a photography consultant, advising people online on how to better their results.
The main way that you can earn a living as a remote work photographer is by selling your prints online. Social media is a fantastic way to get your work out there and if you can take amazing photos while you travel, you’ll be sure to make it financially viable.
You can also seek work as a photographer by living in your favorite area and offering photography packages to grow as a professional. One of our best friends has chosen Sedona, Arizona to set up shop and he stays incredibly busy year-round!
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET STARTED:
Bookkeeper
If you enjoy crunching numbers and are a competent accountant, then being an online bookkeeper can be a good option to make money when you’re living in a van.
The starting point here would be to find a company that allows you to work remotely. This can be a bit tricky, but if you can get it right, it will be like your everyday job – only from the road.
Alternatively, if you can’t find a remote job as a bookkeeper or accountant, then it might be time to start your own little business that offers these services. You’ll also then be able to work your own hours and become a full-time digital nomad.
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET STARTED:
House Sitting / Pet Sitting
There are house and pet-sitting websites through which you can offer your services in these fields. People will pay good money to have you look after their house or pet. It’s also a great way to take a break from life on the road and have a place to stay for a bit.
We’ve met people who have traveled the world this way and it could be considered the holy grail. You get to travel, have a place to stay rent-free and you even get paid to do so.
It can also have its downside as not all pets and house owners are created equal. You could get the pet from hell. Or the ultra OCD house owner. But for the most part, this can be a great remote job if you don’t mind the unpredictability of the work.
GREAT RESOURCES TO GET YOU STARTED:
Graphic Designer
A graphic designer is quite a specialized avenue to pursue as a digital nomad as prior experience is a must. However, if you have a keen interest in design, drawing, and art, it could be a great remote job to acquire.
Companies are constantly on the lookout for a great graphic designer as it’s an important aspect of marketing these days. Things need to look good. From logos and packaging to other forms of branding and web design, there is always demand for graphic design work.
Being a graphic designer also allows you the flexibility to work from anywhere, as long as you have a computer and a reliable internet connection. You’re also able to easily work for a company or to go on your own as a freelancer.
Website Development
Web developers, much like graphic designers, are able to work from anywhere. The job only requires good internet and a computer to conduct your business.
Whether it’s freelance websites that you wish to develop or you’re a programmer, this income stream was meant for van life. Project managers are also able to find work in this field as they can oversee web-based projects and be in more of a people-management role.
Dog Walking
A great option for income, if you’re going to be based in a particular place for a bit longer than normal, is to seek out dog walking jobs. This is a great option for those who love animals, but doesn’t have to be the case.
There are often many online jobs for people seeking a dog walker if they have busy corporate lifestyles and aren’t able to get home in time to walk their fur babies.
Start Your Own Online Business
By starting your own online business, you can also create a customized van life remote job that is suited to you and your needs. Whether it’s graphic design, online writing, consulting work, or any other one of the remote jobs out there, it’s possible for you to go on your own.
Graphic design also comes in handy here when you are in the infant stages of your business. You will be able to create the necessary look and feel for your business tailored to you and your needs.
Airbnb/VRBO
Another one of the remote jobs that you can do while living in a van is Airbnb/VRBO check-ins. This is an easy way to make money and is great for those who enjoy human interaction.
The only difficulty is finding part-time work as most people wish to have a reliable person that wishes to stay longer-term.
There’s always a chance to get short-term work so it’s best to keep an eye on Facebook groups and other advertising platforms as there might be something that’s mutually beneficial for both parties.
Your Current Job, Done Virtually
If you’re lucky enough to be in an industry or job that allows for it (or you have a really cool boss), you might even be able to get away with keeping your current job going from the road.
This would be the best-case scenario as you will be experienced in getting the job done and there won’t be a delay between earning an income.
That is, of course, you wish to quit your job and change industries altogether.
Other Remote Jobs for Van Life That May Require More Specialized Skills:
There are a few other jobs, as listed below, that can do done remotely. They do, however, require more specialized skills and education/training so aren’t suitable for every digital nomad. They are as follows:
- Accountant / CPA
- Lawyer
- Traveling Nurse
- Physical Therapist
Finding Van Life Jobs
There are a number of different ways to find remote jobs thanks to the modern-day online world. Although, finding most remote jobs is the same as finding a job in a normal, at-home environment.
These methods to find jobs include websites like LinkedIn and other online job-finding platforms. Adverts at shops, on Facebook, or other social media platforms. Word-of-mouth at social events or other forms of connections that have an “in” at a job.
When it comes to freelance jobs, it can get slightly more difficult. It’s often best if you have a friend or family member that can get you a trial or an online interview in order to speed up the process.
Ultimately, you want to be set up with work before you head off to live the van life as it can get expensive. If you’re not getting any money in, you will end up running out of cash and have to go back to the lifestyle you wanted to escape from.
It’s also worthwhile spending some money on online courses and investing in yourself a bit to ensure you cover your bases and have some sort of plan before heading off. As the saying of the 5 p’s goes – proper planning prevents poor performance. This is solid advice to follow for your van life adventure (and life in general).
Things To Consider When Trying to Earn Money On The Road
There are a few things to consider before heading off on your digital nomad lifestyle that can make or break your trip. The following five things should be thought out before you embark on your trip:
Stay connected
Staying connected is an important aspect of working remotely as you will need to do research, submit work, or check emails on a daily basis.
Things like a signal booster come in handy for when you are in mountainous areas or having an unlimited data plan for when you won’t be near Wi-Fi.
It is crucial that you plan ahead and don’t get caught off guard when you’re in the middle of the Montana mountains fly-fishing for trout.
Related: Check out our post on everything you need to know about van life internet.
Travel Slower
Van life is tough. You don’t have everything you need, constantly at your fingertips like you would at home. The lifestyle isn’t for the faint-hearted and you will have to come to terms with slowing everything down.
This isn’t such a bad thing as our lives are constantly on the go, things are getting busier, and we seldom take time to relax. Just embrace the slower lifestyle. Breathe.
Dedicated Work Space
It is important to have a dedicated workspace in order to separate work life from downtime space. You need to be able to break away from work and take regular breaks away from your computer or desk.
Have your spot to work and change it constantly, especially if you have an outside table that you can move around.
Develop Routine
It’s possible to get caught up in over-working being a van life nomad. There are no office staff around to signal the end of the work day and there is often as much work as you wish to do.
Don’t get caught in the trap of over-working and burn yourself out. The most important thing about this lifestyle is to have fun. If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong.
Take Time for Yourself
Taking time away to enjoy things that you love is important. Mental health is so important, as is keeping happy and healthy. You’re going to be in situations where you’re away from friends and family for long periods of time.
Find things that make you happy and stick to them. Go for that surf. Read that book. Hike that mountain. At the end of the day, it’s about getting the balance right. If the balance is right, you can keep the van life going indefinitely.
This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase a product we recommend using the links in this article, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. We promise to use this pocket money to buy lots of coffee and fuel for the campervan to keep us enjoying #VanLife for just a little longer. We appreciate your support, and only recommend products we know and trust. Thank you friends!
