A Guide to High-Paying Jobs That Require Travel

The dream of earning a high salary while being able to travel for your career is one that many people hope to achieve. While a lot of jobs that require travel and pay well typically involve working in the tourism, travel, or aviation industry, you don’t necessarily need to become a pilot or flight attendant to be able to travel for work.

There are many types of travel jobs out there that will serve your wanderlust. If being able to travel for work is something that interests you, then keep reading this article to learn about high-paying jobs that require travel, and how to find a job that requires travel and pays well.

What Are Good Jobs That Require Travel And Pay Well?

There are careers in many industries that require travel and pay well, but some of the best jobs are within the airline and business sectors. Aircraft pilots in aviation and sales directors in business development earn a substantial average salary, and their jobs typically revolve around travel. While traveling as a pilot is a given, sales directors must travel to conduct business deals, whether it be nationally or internationally.

However, if the airline and business industries are not of interest to you, there are many other industries that require travel and are in high demand. Some of these industries include construction, event planning, and nursing. 

Why Get a Job That Requires Travel and Pays Well

• The opportunity to travel. This is typically the number one reason why a job that requires travel is appealing. You get to visit different states, countries, and meet new people, all while adding to your own personal experience by encountering various cultures.
• Flexible working hours. If you want a flexible lifestyle, then getting a job that lets you travel may offer adjustable working hours. You’re always on the go, so it gives you a lot of free time in between traveling.
• Competitive industry. The travel industry is vast and requires numerous jobs that can cater to your career goals. Most of the jobs offer a competitive salary so you won’t run out of options.

Is It Easy to Find a Job That Requires Travel and Pays Well?

Yes, it is easy to find a job that pays well and requires you to travel. Online job search platforms like Indeed or Glassdoor compile tons of job postings that will help you in looking for a traveling job.

Jobs in Demand Now That Require Travel and Pay Well

Below are some of the best types of jobs for people who want to travel for work, with some offering entry-level positions that you can pursue first to develop your career and earning potential. The salary data below was taken from Payscale for industry-specific requirements, and the job outlook data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). 

What Are the Highest-Paying Jobs That Require Travel?

Airline Pilot

Airline pilots fly aircraft vehicles from one place to another. This type of job requires a degree and an aviation license if you want to pursue it. Moreover, there are many job options for them from airline cargo, to major airlines, or even small, regional flights.

Sales Director

Sales directors are high-level management executives equipped with in-depth business skills and expertise in leading sales teams. If they work for a big company, they’ll typically travel between different corporate offices to meet with teams and other executives.

Creative Director

Creative directors manage a team of graphic designers specifically catering to clients’ marketing needs. Also, they oversee the creation of different design materials and advertising ensuring high-quality output. They are usually required to travel to meet with clients.

Travel Nurse

Travel nurses are registered nurses that are hired by healthcare agencies to treat patients in various locations or facilities. For example, when a natural disaster occurs, either nationally or internationally, travel nurses are sent to aid the affected community. This type of job involves a nursing degree.

Construction Manager

Construction managers supervise construction sites, so they are typically on-the-go throughout their day or week, traveling to various construction locations. Most construction managers are on-site and stay at a specific construction site for a scheduled amount of time to oversee day-to-day operations. When that project is complete, they may then need to move to another location to oversee a new project.

Executive Recruiter

Executive recruiters manage a team of recruiters that are tasked with placing employees in vacant positions for different businesses. They travel frequently to help other recruiters in their hiring process such as conducting background checks and interviewing.

Event Planner

Event planners organize and facilitate events, parties, or other large gatherings. Event planners have a wide range of options in coordinating different functions, from weddings, meetings, or galas. They travel to where the event will be hosted to supervise and chaperone the event to ensure its success.

Hotel Manager

A hotel manager is responsible for handling the overall accommodation and operations of a hotel. They oversee employees, handle marketing, and help clients to guarantee a smooth system. A hotel manager might be tasked with traveling to other hotels of a similar chain to oversee operations.

Flight Attendant

Flight attendants attend to passengers providing food and refreshment services on the flights. They instruct passengers about safety measures and risk management, demonstrating in-flight procedures. Most of the time, flight attendants will be inside airplanes assisting passengers with their concerns. The destinations their flights travel to could vary and sometimes they are on a layover and can explore the locale.

Travel Agent

Travel agents typically work under a travel agency providing customer service experience through booking travel like cruise ship vacations, flights, and vacation packages. With their superb communication skills, they act as travel advisors to help clients plan and manage their travel expenses by offering special deals. Travel agents are asked to travel to vacation destinations to be better informed when advising or selling packages to clients.

What Training Do You Need for a Job That Requires Travel and Pays Well?

The training you’ll need to get a high-paying traveling job will typically include a formal education degree. This will be coupled with training courses related to the specific job that you want. Informal training through different mediums like books or videos may also be necessary.

Get a College Degree

The majority of jobs in this list require an educational degree. A bachelor’s degree will take around four years of schooling, which is time-consuming and can be costly. However, a degree is a surefire way to get a traveling job and will aid you in your long-term career goals.

Enroll in Training Courses

There are institutions, specifically in the tourism and hospitality industry, that offer training courses that help in achieving your dreams of getting a traveling job. The courses are typically catered to flight attendants or hotel service workers and are a great tool in advancing your career. These training courses will last from 10 to 12 weeks and are more cost-efficient than getting a formal education.

Acquire Industry Knowledge

Gathering relevant industry knowledge from books, videos, or informative articles can help you sharpen your skills and understanding of your desired industry so you can become an expert in the field.

Can a Coding Bootcamp Help You Get a Job That Requires Travel and Pays Well?

Yes, coding bootcamps can help you get a job that requires travel and pays well. Positions like computer consultants, software developers, and information security analysts all require travel to implement systems and software for clients and other companies. 

A coding bootcamp can provide you with the necessary coding skills to be able to get one of these jobs that require travel and pay well. Coding bootcamps are training grounds that offer different courses to help you become a professional in a tech career. The courses typically run for about 17 weeks and offer intensive training and knowledge for people who enroll.

If you are considering a job that requires travel and pays well in the tech industry, these coding bootcamps that should be on your radar:

• Thinkful
• Flatiron School
• Le Wagon

Where to Find Jobs That Require Travel and Pay Well

The Internet has many websites to help you find jobs, but the three top job search engines are the best places for you to find jobs that require travel. The websites highlighted below can help you explore the different job postings that align with your career goals and aspirations. 

Indeed

Indeed is a job posting website capable of searching for millions of jobs. You can optimize your job search by inputting your desired job and where you’re located. It also has a company review section and a salary guide to ensure that you’re properly compensated.

Glassdoor

Glassdoor helps you in your job search by providing company reviews, job choices, and even an option to compare salaries from different job offerings. They have a feature where you can choose specific locations and salary ranges that will best suit your needs.

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SimplyHired

SimplyHired is an online recruitment website that lets you search through millions of job ads. They compile and aggregate data from multiple websites to create a comprehensive stream of job postings.

Ready to Start Your New Career?

If you want a traveling job that pays well then you need to hone your skills and be well-informed of industry-relevant topics, trends, and protocols. Industries like tourism and hospitality give you a much higher chance of getting to travel for work compared to other industries.

The highest-paying on-the-go jobs that require travel typically have educational and work barriers that you have to cross such as earning a college degree or having prior related work experience. However, if you love to travel, then getting a traveling job that pays well is a great way to acquire long-term career satisfaction.

Jobs That Require Travel and Pay Well FAQ