50 best jobs that allow you to travel the world

Last updated: 8 October 2026

There are many jobs that allow you to travel the world, which are perfect for anyone who loves to travel. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes: some involve moving to another country, some require specific qualifications and some require an adventurous spirit. This article outlines 50 of the best jobs that allow you to travel the world, with typical requirements and useful resources for each.

Which jobs that allow you to travel the world are right for you?

There are many jobs that allow you to travel the world, but that does not mean that all of them are suitable for everyone. Deciding which jobs are best for you can be daunting, so this article is designed to help you to work out which types of travel jobs might suit you, and which might not.

The first thing that you should do is to think about what type of job you want. Do you want a job that involves travelling regularly, like working as Cabin Crew? Or do you want a job that allows you to live in another destination, like working as a Teacher at an international school overseas? Or perhaps you like the idea of staying at home but travelling regularly during your time off? Or maybe you want the freedom to go wherever you want, meaning that some type of digital nomad position would work best for you.

To make it easier, this article is divided into four sections:

• Jobs that allow you to travel frequently (but you might not control where)
• Jobs that allow you to live in another destination
• Jobs that you can undertake while travelling (where ever you want to go)
• Jobs that give you lots of holidays to travel in

If you already know what type of job you are looking for, skip ahead to the relevant section. If not, keep scrolling and see what takes your fancy.

Video: 50 best jobs that allow you to travel the world

Jobs that allow you to travel frequently (but you might not control where)

There are many jobs that allow you to travel frequently as part of the deal. However, it is important to note that whilst these jobs allow you to travel the world, you will not usually be able to choose where or when you go! Here are some of the most common jobs that allow you to travel frequently:

Pilot

Being a Pilot is a great job that allows you to travel!

A pilot is responsible for the safe operation of an aircraft. Pilots plan the flight and communicate with air traffic control to navigate the aircraft safely from one destination to another. Most airline pilots begin as a First Officer and then work towards becoming a Captain.

Training to be a pilot is a barrier for many people, as it typically costs £100,000 or more, and there are no government student loans available for commercial pilot training in the UK. However, a growing number of airlines now offer funded or partly funded cadet schemes, such as British Airways’ Speedbird Pilot Academy, although places are highly competitive.

Requirements- Be a fully qualified pilot with current license to fly

Salary range- Around £30,000-£60,000 for First Officers, rising to well over £100,000 for experienced Captains at major airlines

Useful resource- Aviation Job Search

Cabin Crew

Working as cabin crew is a great way to see the world, and it is a dream job for many. It is a ‘work hard, play hard’ kind of job: night flights, jet lag and demanding passengers can be challenging, but crew on long-haul routes often get time to explore exciting destinations during their layovers. Find out more in this guide on how to become cabin crew.

Cabin Crew, also referred to as Flight Attendants, are responsible for the safety of passengers onboard an aircraft. Cabin crew undertake intensive training on how to deal with accidents and emergencies and will be tested on their knowledge regularly. They are also responsible for providing customer service to passengers and will assist with boarding and disembarkation, serving food and drinks and selling duty-free items.

Some Cabin Crew jobs allow more travel than others. For example, working for a low-cost airline may involve lots of ‘there and back’ flights, meaning that you return home most evenings, whereas long-haul airlines may involve layovers in destinations such as Singapore, Sydney or South Africa, to name just a few examples.

Requirements- Customer service skills and experience; most airlines also have minimum age, height/reach and swimming requirements. See these cabin crew skills and qualities.

Salary range- Around £20,000-£35,000, often with additional flight pay and allowances

Useful resource- All Flying Jobs

Worker at an event/ festival that moves around

Have you ever heard the saying ‘run away with the circus’? Well, you literally can if that’s what you want!

There are many jobs at events and festivals and if you are in search of jobs that allow you to travel the world then you should opt for one that moves around, such as a circus, a music tour or a sporting event such as Formula One. There are many options for employment such as entertainers, hospitality workers (e.g. bar staff or waiters), administration staff and customer service staff (e.g. ticket sales).

Requirements- Depends on the exact job

Useful resource- Circus Talk

Performer

Being a performer for an organisation that goes on tour frequently is a great job that allows you to travel too. You could be a singer, a musician, a dancer or an acrobat, for example. So, if you have a specific skill and you are interested in jobs that allow you to travel, this could be the career for you!

Requirements- Specific skills demonstrated to a high level

Useful resource- Entertainers Worldwide

Cruise ship worker

If you want plenty of choice of jobs that allow you to travel, the cruise industry could be for you. There are a wealth of jobs on cruise ships, from engineers to entertainers to hospitality and customer service roles.

The largest cruise ships carry more than 2,000 crew members, so there are a lot of jobs. For a comprehensive list, see this article outlining 99 exciting jobs in travel and tourism, and read more about the different types of cruise.

Requirements- Depends on the specific role

Useful resource- Tourism Teacher

Travel Writer

Travel writing is an important job in travel and tourism. Whether you are writing a travel-based novel, an informative blog post, an article for a magazine or a guidebook, there is a big demand for travel writing.

Travel writing is highly competitive, and permanent writing jobs are not easy to come by. Many travel writers work on a freelance basis, meaning that they are self-employed and sell their work to magazines, newspapers, websites and brands.

Requirements- Excellent writing skills, experience and qualifications in journalism

Salary range- £15,000- £50,000 per annum

Useful resource- Smart Blogger

Sailor

If you like being at sea then you might want to consider becoming a sailor!

A sailor is any person who assists in the operation of a boat or watercraft. Traditionally sailors would work on a boat with sails, however modern sailors often pilot machine-operated ships, or simply assist in their operation.

Requirements- Mechanical skills, knowledge and experience of sailing

Useful resource- Sea Career

Consultant

A Consultant is a person who will provide expert guidance and advice. Consultants are very knowledgeable in their field and can command high salaries as a result. Tourism Consultants may work for Governments or for specific organisations and will often travel from place to place as part of their work.

Requirements- Expert knowledge in the relevant field

Salary range- £40,000- £100,000 per annum

Useful resource- Acorn Tourism

Lorry Driver

A lorry driver might not be the first job that comes to mind when you think of jobs that allow you to travel, but lorry drivers do travel a lot, particularly on international routes across Europe. It is certainly a slow way to travel, but it allows you to see many different places.

Requirements- Relevant driving licence (in the UK, a Category C or C+E licence and a Driver CPC qualification)

Useful resource- Indeed

Military worker

Joining the armed forces often provides travel opportunities. Travel could be to any number of destinations, but often includes travel to places that may not be safe to visit otherwise, such as countries which are at war.

There are a range of positions in the military and you don’t have to be a soldier! You could join the military as a Nurse, HR Assistant, a musician or as technical support, for example.

Requirements- Meet the military requirements in your particular country

Useful resource- Army.Mod

Deckhand on a cargo ship

When people think of jobs that allow them to travel, they often think of cruise ships, but cargo ships carry around 80% of world trade by volume. While cargo ships are not as luxurious as cruise ships, they offer opportunities to travel the world as part of your job.

A Deckhand on a cargo ship will steer the ship, look out for other ships and make sure the ship is on course. They also help to moor the ship when it arrives in port. They may help load or unload cargo and may keep track of cargo during the ship’s journey.

Requirements- Sailing skills

Useful resource- Maritime Union

Auditor

Auditors come in all shapes and sizes and will often travel to various locations to undertake their work.

An auditor is essentially a person who is authorised to review and verify the accuracy of business records and ensure compliance. Auditors could work for the Government or for a private business.

Requirements- Strong knowledge of what they are auditing

Useful resource- Careers in Audit

Geologist

Working as a Geologist is one of the most unusual jobs that allow you to travel, but also one of the most obvious, if you think about it! Of course, a Geologist has to travel to sites that are of geological interest, and these could be anywhere around the world!

Not sure exactly what a Geologist does? They study the composition, structure and other physical attributes of the earth, locate and advise on the extraction of minerals, petroleum and ground water, and detect, monitor and forecast seismic, magnetic, electrical, thermal and oceanographic activity.

Requirements- Qualifications in geology

Useful resource- Earthworks

Event Planner

An event planner is someone who plans events! They will coordinate all aspects of professional meetings and events, such as weddings, sporting events, concerts, conferences etc. They often choose meeting locations, arrange transportation, and coordinate many other details.

Requirements- Experience in event planning

Salary range- £22,000-£40,000 per annum

Useful resource- Caterer

Jobs that allow you to live in another destination

Some of the most common jobs that allow you to travel require you to live temporarily in another country. This can be a really cool way to travel and see the world. It allows you to fully immerse yourself into life in the new destination as well as giving you a platform to explore areas close-by.

Au Pair

One of the most popular jobs that allows you to travel for younger people is working as an au pair. This is when you travel to a foreign country and live with a host family. You are offered pocket money and free boarding in exchange for doing light chores around the home and taking care of any young children.

Whilst working as an Au Pair most people will learn the local language and they may attend language classes. They will also learn about the local culture and way of life. Their work commitments will not usually be more than around 20 hours each week.

Requirements- Flexible attitude, ability to adapt to different living circumstances

Useful resource- Aupair.com

Nanny

Working overseas as a Nanny is another great job that will allow you to travel. A Nanny is a childcare professional, so unlike working as an Au Pair, you will need some childcare qualifications. However, this also means that working as a Nanny pays more!

When you work as a Nanny you will either live with your host family or travel to their home each day. You will take care of the children and complete household chores.

Requirements- Childcare qualifications

Useful resource- Adventure Nannies

English Teacher abroad

There are many jobs that allow you to travel the world that involve teaching English. To teach English overseas you will usually need a TEFL, CELTA or DELTA qualification and many jobs will require you to have a degree too (this usually depends on the visa requirements of the country that you plan to work in).

It can be relatively easy to get a job as an English Teacher abroad because there are so many positions around the world. Some destinations, like Thailand, are popular because of the tourist attractions, attractive culture and laidback lifestyle- but they do not usually offer the higher salaries available in destinations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and parts of East Asia.

Requirements- English teaching qualification

Useful resource- TEFL.com

International School Teacher

Another one of the best jobs that allow you to travel is working as an International School Teacher. International schools often follow curricula such as the British, American or International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, and many offer attractive packages that can include free accommodation, free medical care, travel allowances and often a competitive tax free salary!

Requirements- Teaching qualification e.g. PGCE

Useful resource- TES

Foreign Service Worker

There are plenty of jobs that allow you to travel in the Foreign Service sector. These jobs typically involve you representing or performing a service for your country overseas. You could work in an embassy or consulate, as a Political Officer, a Diplomatic Officer, Economic Officer or Management Officer, just to name a few examples.

Requirements- Relevant training as per your specific role

Useful resource- FCDO careers

Aid worker

There are also many opportunities to live and work overseas as an aid worker. Aid workers will usually be sent to destinations that require some kind of aid, whether this be the result of poor living conditions, natural disasters, war or some other issue that has negatively impacted the population. There are a range of positions from nursing to relief work to project managers.

Requirements- Experience in the charity or development sector

Useful resource- Charity Job

Translator

If you can speak more than one language fluently, working as a translator or interpreter could be one of the best jobs that allow you to travel. Translators convert written content from one language into another, while interpreters work with spoken language, and both can work from almost anywhere, although AI tools are changing parts of this market.

Requirements- Excellent language skills in multiple languages

Useful resource- Gengo

Hospitality- Bar Worker, Chef, Waiter/Waitress etc

There are many jobs that allow you to travel in the hospitality sector. Whether you work behind the bar in a nightclub in Ibiza or as a chef in a top restaurant in Barcelona, there are plenty of jobs to choose from.

Requirements- Customer service experience

Useful resource- Caterer

Tour Guide

Another one of the best jobs that allow you to travel is working as a Tour Guide. Tour Guides may be employed by a large company or they may work for themselves. Their main job is to take tourists on tours of particular areas or tourist attractions.

Some travel bloggers and influencers have also branched out into running small group tours for their followers.

Requirements- Knowledge of the local area

Useful resource- Indeed

Yoga Instructor

There are jobs as yoga instructors all over the world, particularly at retreats and resorts in destinations such as Bali, India, Thailand, Costa Rica and Portugal. Read more about wellness tourism.

Requirements- An accredited yoga teacher training qualification (often 200 hours) and teaching experience

Useful resource- Yoga Travel Jobs

Nurse

You might not think of working overseas as a Nurse, but actually it is very common! There are plenty of Nurse jobs that allow you to travel, from Dubai to Australia to the Maldives! Many countries actively recruit international nurses, although you will usually need to register with the relevant nursing regulator.

Requirements- Nursing training and qualifications

Useful resource- Continental Nurse

WWOOFer

WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) is a popular way to prolong your travels when you are on a budget. Essentially, you work on a farm and provide labour in exchange for free board. This is especially popular in destinations like Australia and the USA where long term travel can be expensive. Learn more about WWOOFing here.

Requirements- Motivation and ability to work on a farm, join the WWOOFING network

Useful resource- Tourism Teacher

Volunteer

Volunteer tourism is also a very big industry. If you are willing to be a volunteer there are many jobs that allow you to travel from teaching English in Mongolia to sports coaching in Uganda to turtle conservation in Costa Rica. It can be great for your CV too, but it is important to choose ethical projects and avoid harmful practices such as orphanage tourism.

Requirements- Method of funding your travels (because the position will be unpaid)

Useful resource- Tourism Teacher

Camp worker

Summer camps are popular in the USA and many people will travel to work for the camps each summer (and during other major holidays to some extent). There are many different jobs at these camps ranging from sports coaching to entertainment to cleaners and cooks.

Requirements- Depends on the specific role

Useful resource- Camp America

Sports Instructor

If you have a specific sport that you are skilled at and you want to travel the world why not teach people your sport overseas? There are plenty of jobs around the world that offer the opportunity to live and work abroad such as a Ski Instructor, a diving Instructor or a Surf Instructor.

Requirements- Be skilled at your sport with an Instructor qualification

Useful resource- One World 365

Jobs that you can undertake while travelling (where ever you want to go)

If you want to be on the move regularly, you will not want a job that ties you down in one place for too long. The best jobs for you are ones that you can take with you. More than 60 countries now offer digital nomad visas, which allow remote workers to live and work in the country legally for a set period. Here are some of the best jobs that you can do while travelling:

Online English Teacher

There are many jobs for online English teachers, teaching students around the world via video call.

The market has changed in recent years. China, once the biggest market, introduced strict rules in 2021 that stopped many online platforms from hiring foreign teachers to teach Chinese children, but there is still demand from students in other countries and from adult learners. These can be great jobs that allow you to travel because you can often choose your own hours and location, as long as you have a reliable internet connection.

Requirements- English teaching qualification

Useful resource- TEFL.org jobs centre

Virtual Assistant

There are more jobs as Virtual Assistants nowadays than there have ever been before and this is a great example of a digital nomad job. A Virtual Assistant will undertake basic administrative duties for their employer… from the comfort of their laptop.

Requirements- Motivation to work independently

Useful resource- Upwork

Blogger

Working as a Blogger is another one of the best jobs that allow you to travel because you can blog from any place any time! However, don’t think that Bloggers have a luxury life all day every day- building and maintaining a website takes a lot of work and you will spend far more hours on your laptop than you will by the hotel pool.

Requirements- Motivation, writing skills

Useful resource- The Minimalists

Vlogger

Working as a Vlogger is another one of the best jobs that allows you to travel the world because this also can be done from any place any time! However, as with blogging, don’t expect this to be an easy job- you need top notch videography skills and the confidence to share your knowledge and experiences publicly with the world.

Requirements- Videography skills

Useful resource- Shift

Influencer

An Influencer is anyone who has ‘influence’. This could be someone with a large following on social media, a Blogger or a Vlogger or even a celebrity. Influencers will often make money through marketing- they promote a product or service to their followers in exchange for a fee.

Academic research has examined the work of travel influencers, including their pay, working hours and sources of income. You can read more about travel influencers here.

Requirements- Ability to ‘influence’, usually through social media

Useful resource- What is a travel influencer?

Airbnb Host

Being an Airbnb host has become a popular way to earn an income, and it can be done remotely with the help of a local co-host or management company. However, it usually requires significant capital, and many cities now strictly regulate short-term holiday lets, so it is important to check local rules first.

You can learn more about the Airbnb business model here.

Requirements- Start up fund

Useful resource- Nerd Wallet

Website and Graphic Design

If you work in the website or graphic design business then you are laughing when it comes to jobs that allow you to travel! These careers, where you design websites or graphics, are done predominantly from your computer, meaning that you can work from anywhere in the world!

Requirements- Skills in website or graphic design

Useful resource- Techno Jobs

Remote Customer Service Agent

Many companies, including airlines, travel companies and tech firms, employ customer service agents who work remotely, handling enquiries by phone, email or live chat. Some roles allow you to work from anywhere, although many require you to be based in a particular country or time zone.

Requirements- Customer service skills, reliable internet connection

Useful resource- We Work Remotely

Dropshipping

Dropshipping has become popular in recent years. The idea is that you sell products through your online store, and when a customer places an order, a supplier (often using platforms such as AliExpress) ships the product directly to them. It can be run from anywhere, but it is a competitive market and profit margins can be small.

Requirements- Business-minded, marketing skills

Useful resource- Shopify

Photographer

Another one of the best jobs that allows you to travel is working as a Photographer. You could work as a travel photographer or you could photograph something else, but as long as the job involves travelling, you’re on to a winner here!

Requirements- Photography skills

Useful resource- Arts Jobs

Home-Based Travel Agent

Home-based and independent travel agents have grown rapidly in recent years. Many travellers still value expert advice and personal service, particularly for complex trips, and technology now allows travel agents to run their business from home or from almost anywhere in the world. Read more about the different types of travel agents and the reasons you should become an independent travel agent.

Another option is to work as an independent travel agent from home, which can be done from almost anywhere. Read the pros and cons of being a self-employed travel agent.

Requirements- Training in travel sales, good customer service and organisational skills; many independent agents join a host agency for support

Useful resource- How to find clients as a travel agent

Landlord

If you own a property, renting it out can provide an income that allows you to travel, especially if the property is in an area with high rents or if you own multiple properties. However, being a landlord comes with legal responsibilities, and you will usually need a letting agent to manage the property while you are away.

Requirements- Property ownership

Useful resource- Which

Remote Marketing Assistant

A lot of marketing has moved online and thus there are many remote positions in marketing. Whether you are a Social Media Manager or a Marketing Assistant, some roles are 100% online these days, meaning that they can be good jobs for people who want to travel.

Requirements- Marketing qualifications

Useful resource- We Work Remotely

Digital Content Creator

There is a lot of digital content in the world these days- whether you are a Blogger, you write e-books or you develop teaching content online for schools, there is a wealth of opportunities in digital content creation.

Requirements- Digital skills

Useful resource- Digital Marketing Institute

Web/Software Developer

There are so many apps, websites, software etc and someone needs to develop them! These roles are almost entirely online, which make them the perfect jobs that allow you to travel the world!

Requirements- IT skills

Useful resource- Target Jobs

Trader

Some people trade stocks, currencies or cryptocurrencies for a living. Trading can be done from anywhere with an internet connection, but it is very high risk: many people lose money, and it is not a reliable source of income for most people.

Requirements- Expert knowledge of financial markets and a high tolerance for risk

Useful resource- Block Chain Council

Jobs that give you lots of holidays to travel

And last but not least we have the jobs that give you lots of holidays to travel in. This list is a bit smaller than the others, but worth considering nonetheless. So here are the best jobs that allow you to travel in the holidays-

Teacher

Working as a teacher comes with generous school holidays. While teachers often work during some of their holidays, they can choose where they do this, and the long summer break is ideal for travel.

Requirements- Teaching qualifications and license

Useful resource- TES

University Lecturer

Working as a University Lecturer also gives you ample time off to travel. Whilst the holidays probably won’t be as generous as a school teacher, you will usually have several weeks a year to travel. Plus, you may travel abroad for conferences, research and international collaboration too.

Requirements- PhD or higher level degree

Useful resource- Jobs.ac.uk

Resort Representative

A resort representative, also known as a holiday rep, is a great job for people who want to travel. Reps usually live in a holiday destination for the season, and if they work in a seasonal destination they may have part of the year off. Some reps work the summer season and the ski season back to back, while others save up to travel between seasons.

Requirements- Customer service skills

Useful resource- TUI

Jobs that allow you to travel the world: FAQs

Below are answers to some of the most common questions about jobs that allow you to travel the world.

The best jobs that allow you to travel- further reading

If you found this article useful, you may also be interested in these:

• 21 Types of Tourists Around The World
• 99 Exciting jobs in travel and tourism- the ultimate travel job list!
• Where to find a job in travel and tourism
• The most attractive countries offering the digital nomad visa
• 16 Digital nomad jobs perfect for travel-lovers

About the author

Dr Hayley Stainton is a tourism academic, examiner and the founder of Tourism Teacher. She has a PhD in tourism and more than 20 years’ experience teaching travel and tourism at school and university level. Read more about Hayley