Career Guides June 19, 2026

15 Remote Jobs That Pay $80K+ (2026)

Remote work isn't just about flexibility — it can also mean higher pay. These 15 careers commonly offer remote positions and pay a median salary of $115,868 or more. Many also let you live in a low-cost area while earning a high-cost-of-living salary.

The Remote Salary Advantage

  • • Geographic arbitrage — earn a San Francisco salary while living in a city with 60% lower costs
  • • Save $5K-$12K/year in commuting, parking, work clothes, and lunches
  • • Tax savings — some states have no income tax; remote work lets you choose
  • • Higher effective salary — a $100,000 remote salary in Texas = ~$130,000 in San Francisco purchasing power

Top 15 Remote-Friendly Careers by Salary

$141,000
median salary

Cloud architects design and oversee an organization's cloud computing strategy, including cloud adoption plans, architecture design, and cloud management and monitoring.

Entry Level
$98,000
Senior Level
$195,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+23%
$140,000
median salary

Technical product managers define product strategy and roadmap for technology products, bridging engineering and business.

Entry Level
$88,000
Senior Level
$205,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+10%
$133,000
median salary

Machine learning engineers design and implement ML systems, train models, and deploy AI solutions that enable automation and intelligent decision-making at scale.

Entry Level
$88,000
Senior Level
$192,000
Education
Master's degree
Growth
+40%
$126,800
median salary

DevOps engineers bridge the gap between development and operations, automating infrastructure, managing deployments, and ensuring system reliability at scale.

Entry Level
$82,000
Senior Level
$178,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+22%
$124,200
median salary

Software engineers design, develop, test, and maintain software applications and systems. They apply engineering principles and programming languages to build solutions that meet user needs.

Entry Level
$78,000
Senior Level
$185,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+25%
$121,000
median salary

Product managers define the vision and strategy for products, working with engineering, design, and marketing teams to deliver solutions that meet market needs and business goals.

Entry Level
$75,000
Senior Level
$175,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+10%
$120,000
median salary

iOS developers design and build applications for Apple devices using Swift and SwiftUI.

Entry Level
$75,000
Senior Level
$175,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+22%
$118,000
median salary

Android developers create mobile applications for Android devices using Kotlin and the Android SDK.

Entry Level
$73,000
Senior Level
$172,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+21%
$112,000
median salary

Full stack developers work on both front-end and back-end web technologies to build complete web applications.

Entry Level
$68,000
Senior Level
$165,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+20%
$112,000
median salary

Cybersecurity analysts protect organizations from digital threats by monitoring networks, investigating breaches, and implementing security measures to safeguard data and systems.

Entry Level
$68,000
Senior Level
$160,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+32%
$108,020
median salary

Data scientists analyze large datasets to extract insights, build predictive models, and drive data-informed business decisions using statistical methods and machine learning.

Entry Level
$72,000
Senior Level
$165,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+35%
$105,000
median salary

Scrum masters facilitate agile development processes, remove impediments, and coach teams on Scrum methodology.

Entry Level
$70,000
Senior Level
$150,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+13%
$101,000
median salary

Database administrators manage and maintain databases, ensuring data availability, performance, integrity, and security for organizations of all sizes.

Entry Level
$62,000
Senior Level
$145,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+8%
$93,000
median salary

Business analysts bridge IT and business, gathering requirements and recommending technology solutions.

Entry Level
$60,000
Senior Level
$140,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+10%
$83,000
median salary

UX designers research user behaviors and needs to design intuitive, accessible digital products. They create wireframes, prototypes, and design systems that enhance user satisfaction.

Entry Level
$55,000
Senior Level
$130,000
Education
Bachelor's degree
Growth
+16%

Best States for Remote Workers

If you work remotely, your state choice directly impacts your take-home pay. Here are the best states for remote workers based on no/low income tax and low cost of living:

No Income Tax States
Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Nevada, Washington, Wyoming, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Alaska
Low COL + Low Tax
Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and Nevada combine no income tax with below-average cost of living

Use our state comparison tool to see exactly how your salary stacks up in different states after adjusting for cost of living.

Find Remote Positions Now

Browse remote job openings for these high-paying careers on top job boards.

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