20 top careers where you can work from home or remotely online
Looking for careers where you can work from home? Discover the top online, remote, work from home careers Australia-wide for flexibility & freedom.
Remote careers can pay just as well as office jobs. Here’s how to get your first work-from-home position
Working from your kitchen table used to be the exception, not the rule. Now, it’s become so mainstream that more than one in three employed Australians were working from home as of August 2024, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. This has radically changed how we think about work and what we look for in the ideal career.
And most people are absolutely loving these careers, with remote job searches now being 5.5 times higher than they were before the pandemic. Now more than ever, workers realise they can keep their careers without sacrificing work-life balance or spending all day in a grey cubicle.
So, what careers where you can work from home are actually available? Forget the stereotypes about data entry and customer service. Remote careers in Australia now cover everything from cybersecurity and software development to graphic design and project management. Almost any professional role with an excellent salary and career advancement opportunities can now be performed remotely at least part-time.
This guide breaks down 20 excellent remote work positions you can pursue right now and how to get there as soon as possible. Whether you’re tired of commuting or just want more flexibility in your life, one of these careers should be exactly what you’re looking for.
Why remote careers are growing in Australia
The shift towards remote work in Australia has completely transformed how we think about work. What started as a pandemic necessity has become the preferred way of working for millions of Australians and the data shows that this trend is only getting stronger.
Here’s what's driving this massive growth in remote work across Australia:
Generational preferences are changing everything: Millennials especially love working remotely, with almost 45% of them working remote careers according to a Finder survey. This generation values flexibility over traditional office setups and they’re willing to make it work even if it means there’ll be some trade-offs.
Money talks and remote work pays off: The average Australian worker will take up to 8% less in annual wages just to have some remote work flexibility, according to a study published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization. When you factor in commuting costs, cheaper lunches, the ability to live somewhere more affordable and not having to spend money on business attire, the math works out brilliantly. You can choose to live in regional areas with significantly lower housing costs while still earning big-city salaries.
Companies are scrambling to keep up: Almost 75% of tech companies are seeing massive demand for flexible work options from their employees, according to Remote’s 2024 Global Report. Hybrid job postings across the board have also exploded from just 9% in early 2023 to almost a quarter in early 2025, which shows how both people and companies have grown used to remote work options and aren’t ready to say goodbye to them.
Entire industries have gone digital: Technology, business services, education and health administration have moved to cloud-based systems that make your physical location irrelevant. What once required being in a specific office can now be done from anywhere with decent internet.
20 careers where you can work from home in Australia
The beauty of remote work is the sheer variety of options available. From creative roles to technical positions, there are so many high-paying work from home careers in Australia across almost every industry.
These aren’t just basic data entry gigs, either. We’re talking legitimate, professional roles with excellent earning potential and clear career progression paths.
1. Digital Marketing Specialist
Job description:
Companies need specialists who can grow their online presence through social media campaigns, search engine optimisation, email marketing and website content. You’ll create engaging posts, run targeted ads, analyse performance metrics and help the company get more customers. This role is perfect for people who are creative and analytical, as you’ll have to test different approaches and refine your strategy based on what works.
Why it's remote-friendly: Digital marketing happens entirely online, which makes it perfect for remote work. All the tools you need are cloud-based and accessible from anywhere with internet.
Salary range: $52,000 to $94,000
Try this certificate: The Certificate IV in Marketing and Communications covers all the most important digital marketing skills employees want.
Go to Marketing Communication course
2. Cyber Security Analyst
Job description:
Protecting organisations from digital threats is your main focus as you monitor networks for suspicious activity and respond to security incidents. When there’s a breach, you’ll investigate what happened and implement stronger defences.
Why it's remote-friendly: Most cybersecurity involves monitoring digital systems and responding to online threats, which you can do remotely with secure access to company networks.
Salary range: $62,000 to $125,000
Try this certificate: Our Certificate IV in Business Cyber Security is the perfect way to learn about threat detection and risk management so you can land one of these remote jobs.
3. IT Support Technician
Job description:
Your day revolves around solving technical problems for frustrated users who can’t access their systems or don’t understand their software. Remote desktop tools let you take control of their computers from the comfort of your own home so you can fix their problems.
Why it's remote-friendly: Modern IT support relies heavily on remote desktop tools and cloud-based systems. You don’t have to physically repair someone else’s computer for this job.
Salary range: $46,000 to $78,000
Try this certificate: The Certificate IV in Information Technology will teach you the technical troubleshooting and system administration skills an IT specialist requires.
4. Data Analyst
Job description:
Businesses generate massive amounts of data but need someone to make sense of it all. Your valued role will be to collect information, clean datasets, create visualisations and present any insights you get from that to help executives make informed decisions.
Why it's remote-friendly: Data analysis work is inherently computer-based and relies on cloud databases and analytics platforms that can be accessed securely from anywhere with internet access.
Salary range: $59,000 to $116,000
Try this certificate: A Certificate IV in Business Big Data will teach you everything you need to know to work with large datasets and create the insights businesses need to stay competitive.
5. Graphic Designer
Job description:
If you’re a visual person with an eye for aesthetics, then you can use that to create logos, marketing materials, website graphics and social media content for all kinds of businesses. You can either work full-time for a specific company or become your own boss as you do freelance work and find clients online.
Why it's remote-friendly: Graphic design work is entirely computer-based. All you need is software design software and a reliable internet connection to communicate with your clients.
Salary range: $50,000 to $85,000
Try this certificate: A Diploma of Graphic Design can help you get the skills you need and build a portfolio to land a full-time job or your first freelance gig.
6. Human Resources Officer
Job description:
Managing employee relations is at the heart of HR work as you handle recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews and workplace conflicts. You’ll be busy developing internal policies and creating guidelines that protect both employees and the company.
Why it's remote-friendly: Most HR functions are handled digitally, like hiring new applicants and conducting Zoom interviews.
Salary range: $56,000 to $81,000
Try this certificate: A Certificate IV in Human Resource Management covers employment law, recruitment strategies and employee relations skills that HR professionals need.
7. Virtual Assistant
Job description:
You’ll help executives by managing their calendars, coordinating their meetings, handling correspondence and organising their travel needs. Some VAs also specialise in specific areas like social media or bookkeeping to provide added value.
Why it's remote-friendly: Virtual assistance was designed for remote working, using cloud-based tools to support clients regardless of location.
Salary range: $50,000 to $95,000
Try this certificate: The Certificate IV in Business Administration covers important administrative skills and business software that clients expect from professional VAs.
8. Bookkeeper or Payroll Officer
Job description:
Small businesses need someone reliable to handle their financial paperwork and that’s where you come in. You’ll process invoices, chase up payments and confirm that the books balance at the end of the month. Payroll can get tricky with super contributions and tax calculations, but modern software makes it much more manageable than it used to be.
Why it's remote-friendly: Cloud-based accounting software like Xero and MYOB gives you secure access to financial data from any location.
Salary range: $50,000 to $84,000
Try this certificate: The Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping will give you all the technical skills and regulatory knowledge you need for these roles.
Go to Accounting & Bookkeeping course
9. Online Customer Services Officer
Job description:
If you’re good at diffusing tense situations, then this job is for you. You’ll deal with angry customers, confused customers and even happy customers as you solve their problems, like processing a refund or explaining how to use a product. The goal is to always leave people feeling heard and helped.
Why it's remote-friendly: Customer service platforms and CRM systems are designed for remote access, so you’ll get to assist customers from anywhere in the world with a stable connection.
Salary range: $46,000 to $68,000
Try this certificate: The Certificate IV in Business Administration will help develop your communication skills and business process knowledge for this role.
10. Project Manager
Job description:
A project manager is similar to the conductor of an orchestra, except instead of leading musicians, they’re coordinating teams, budgets and deadlines. This is a great role for someone who enjoys the social aspect of an office, as you’ll work with many different people, spend lots of time in meetings and confirm that projects are running as planned.
Why it's remote-friendly: Project management uses tons of digital collaboration tools like Slack and Monday.com, so you can stay connected with the team even if you’re all physically apart.
Salary range: $70,000 to $175,000
Try this certificate: A Diploma in Project Management will help you learn about planning methodologies and team leadership skills so you can have a successful career.
Go to Project Management course
11. UX/UI Designer
Job description:
Websites and apps that frustrate users don’t last long, which is why companies need User Experience (UX) or User Interface (UI) designers who understand how people interact with digital products. You’ll create wireframes, design interfaces and test different layouts so everything feels intuitive.
Why it's remote-friendly: UX/UI design work, naturally, is done entirely on computers and other devices to test out software and make edits as needed.
Salary range: $59,000 to $120,000
Try this certificate: The Diploma of Graphic Design is the perfect place to start a UX/UI career.
12. Procurement Officer
Job description:
Every business needs to buy stuff and someone needs to make sure they’re getting the best deals without compromising on quality. As a Procurement Officer, you’ll research suppliers, negotiate contracts and manage vendor relationships to keep costs under control. This is an especially important role post-pandemic, as supply chain disruptions mean you’ll also have to manage risks so the supplies you buy actually get to you on time.
Why it's remote-friendly: Supplier communications and purchasing systems are all digital processes that can be managed from anywhere.
Salary range: $55,000 to $94,000
Try this certificate: The Certificate IV in Business Procurement covers everything you’ll need to know, including supplier evaluation and contract negotiation strategies.
Go to Business Procurement course
13. Finance Administrator
Job description:
Numbers need to add up and that will be your job as a finance administrator. To succeed in this job, you’ll need to have incredible attention to detail as you process expense claims and prepare budget reports. You’ll have plenty of work to do as you reconcile accounts to verify that all transactions are recorded correctly and nothing gets missed.
Why it's remote-friendly: Financial management systems and accounting software now offer secure remote access to all the data and tools you’ll need to keep everything in check.
Salary range: $54,000 to $82,000
Try this certificate: Our Certificate IV in Business Finance will teach you all about financial analysis and budgeting so you can succeed as a financial administrator.
14. Email Marketing Coordinator
Job description:
Everyone’s inbox is crowded, so your job is to create emails that people actually want to open and read. This job is perfect for anyone who’s as creative as analytical, as you’ll have to design campaigns and look at data like CTR (click-through rates) to see what’s resonating with your target audience (and what isn’t!).
Why it's remote-friendly: You can run a successful marketing campaign from anywhere and you can use digital communication tools like Slack and Zoom to coordinate with the rest of the team.
Salary range: $50,000 to $75,000
Try this certificate: A Certificate IV in Marketing and Communications goes over email marketing strategies, plus many more helpful marketing skills.
Go to Marketing Communication course
15. Copywriter
Job description:
Words sell products and businesses need writers who can create persuasive copy that converts casual browsers into repeat customers. The best part about this job is how versatile it is, as you might write website content one day, social media posts the next, then switch to product descriptions and even the text on a product’s packaging. There’s also some analytics involved, as you’ll need to do A/B testing to learn about what’s working and what’s not.
Why it's remote-friendly: You can write from anywhere in the world as long as you have a computer and some internet and you can use remote collaboration tools for the occasional meeting.
Salary range: $51,000 to $101,000
Try this certificate: A Certificate IV in Marketing and Communications will teach you some of the fundamentals, but the best way to learn how to write is to just do it over and over again.
Go to Marketing Communication course
16. Social Media Manager
Job description:
Keeping a brand’s social media presence engaging and on-brand is no small feat when you’re juggling multiple platforms and constant content demands. Creating content schedules, responding to comments and tracking engagement metrics will fill up most of your day. Crisis management skills also come in handy here, as you might have to deal with negative feedback from upset customers here and there.
Why it's remote-friendly: Social media platforms are designed for remote access, so you can work this job from anywhere in the world.
Salary range: $45,000 to $88,000
Try this certificate: A Certificate IV in Marketing and Communications is ideal for a social media manager position.
Go to Marketing Communication course
17. Software Developer
Job description:
Building websites and mobile apps is one of the most in-demand skills in Australia and they just so happen to be remote-friendly. You’ll write code, test applications and fix bugs most of the time while working with designers. You can also use AI tools like Claude Code or Perplexity to speed up your workflow and build incredible apps in just a few hours.
Why it's remote-friendly: You can write code from virtually anywhere in the world and collaboration tools like GitHub allow developers to work together regardless of location or time zone.
Salary range: $59,000 to $116,000
Try this certificate: A Certificate IV in Information Technology can be a good place to start, with foundational IT skills that you can use to prepare you to progress into more advanced, specialised software development courses.
18. Online Tutor
Job description:
Students need extra help with subjects they’re struggling with and online tutoring makes this easy and accessible regardless of geography. You could teach English to students abroad or make use of your expertise in maths or science fields to teach university students. The beauty of online tutoring is that you can choose how many students you want to take and set your own schedule.
Why it's remote-friendly: Video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Google Meet have made online tutoring as effective as in-person sessions and much more convenient for both tutors and students.
Salary range: $43,000 to $107,000
Try this certificate: Consider pursuing TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certifications or other educational qualifications that match your intended tutoring subject.
19. Video Editor
Job description:
Even the best raw footage needs to be edited and a skilled editor can make all the difference. You’ll be cutting clips, adding transitions and effects, syncing audio and colour-correcting footage to create professional videos that capture users’ attention in social media and marketing campaigns.
Why it's remote-friendly: Video editing software runs locally on computers and clients can share their raw video files through cloud-based platforms like Dropbox or WeTransfer.
Salary range: $46,000 to $102,000
Try this certificate: A Diploma of Graphic Design can set you up with the foundational multimedia design skills you’ll need for video animations and other design elements before you progress to more advanced and niche video editing courses.
20. Online Sales Representative
Job description:
Closing deals over video conferences and phone calls can be an extremely lucrative career. However, to get there, you’ll need to do plenty of research and contact countless clients as you guide them through the sales funnel. You’ll use CRM software to track a potential client’s journey and follow up at the ideal time to get them to bite.
Why it's remote-friendly: Most sales activities like prospecting, calling clients and managing pipelines can be done remotely thanks to cloud-based CRM tools like Salesforce.
Salary range: $45,000 to $81,000
Try this certificate: A Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication will teach you persuasive communication skills that you can parlay into a career as an online sales rep.
How to prepare for remote work through online study
Getting qualified for remote work has never been more accessible thanks to online education options that let you study whilst maintaining your current commitments. People with formal qualifications like degrees or diplomas have a massive employment advantage, with 79% of them finding work compared to just 58% without these qualifications.
Getting those credentials online is the best way to acquire the digital skills that remote employers love. Swinburne Open Education leads the way in this space, with industry-relevant courses that you can complete entirely online. These programs are designed for the modern workforce, teaching practical skills through the same digital platforms you’ll use in your future remote role.
Here’s why online study works so well to prepare for work-from-home jobs:
You learn the same tools you’ll use at work: Online courses use the same digital platforms, collaboration software and communication tools that remote workers rely on. This will give you excellent practical experience before you even start job hunting.
You develop self-discipline: Balancing your studies with other commitments teaches you the time management and self-motivation skills that remote employees value most in their team members.
You stay current with industry trends: Online programs update quickly to reflect changing technology and workplace trends. That way, you’re learning skills that will actually be in demand when it’s time to find a job.
You join a growing workforce: 96% of Australian knowledge-based workers are now working hybrid or fully remote, according to a PwC report. There’s no better way to become a remote worker than by joining them.
You build a professional portfolio: Practical course assignments serve as work samples you can show potential employers. You’ll be acing your courses while creating the proof you need to show employers that you can do the job.
You can level up to remote-friendly roles: As of August 2024, 60% of managers and professionals worked from home at least some of the time, compared to 21% for all other occupations, according to ABS. Getting the certifications or leadership skills you need to level up in your current profession could also help you land a remote job.
Where to find remote jobs in Australia
Remote job opportunities are everywhere once you know where to look. The beauty of remote work is that it really doesn’t get much more flexible than that, so you can choose to look for full-time permanent positions or find freelance work that you can scale up or down depending on your needs.
Different platforms cater to different types of remote work, so spread your search across multiple channels to increase your chances of finding the perfect online remote career:
These are the best places to look for a work-from-home career in Australia:
Major job boards with remote filters: Seek, Indeed and LinkedIn are all popular places for finding remote jobs. You can filter for work-from-home positions across different industries and experience levels.
Specialist remote job platforms: Sites like Remote.co, FlexJobs and We Work Remotely focus exclusively on remote working careers.
Company career pages: Many forward-thinking Australian companies now have dedicated remote work sections on their websites, especially in tech and marketing.
Freelance marketplaces: Upwork and Fiverr are great places for finding project-based work that can supplement your income or jumpstart your career as a freelancer.
Industry-specific platforms: Depending on your field, specialised job boards like AngelList for startups or Behance for creatives have excellent remote opportunities.
Networking and referrals: Don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn connections and professional networks! You never know who might be able to recommend you for the remote role of your dreams.
Entry-level remote opportunities: Don’t overlook positions that welcome newcomers. Many high-paying careers which require minimal to no experience are perfect for remote work and will provide all the training you need to get started.
FAQ
What careers let me work from home in Australia?
These niches all have the potential to be online remote careers and are all great career choices for working remotely in Australia.
Software development
Can I train online for remote careers?
You can absolutely train online for remote working careers and remote jobs. Online courses through providers like Swinburne Open Education teach the exact digital tools and skills remote employers want, sometimes in just a few months instead of years of traditional study.
Are remote careers growing in Australia?
Remote jobs are up from pre-pandemic levels in Australia, at 36% in 2024 compared to 32% in 2019. However, the percentage of people who work remotely has been decreasing slightly since 2020, following the pandemic and readjusting to normal life.
Do remote jobs pay as much as in-person jobs in Australia?
Remote wages are 6% lower than in-person wages in Australia, on average. However, remote workers often more than make up for the slightly lower wages in reduced cost of living and commute costs.
What skills do you need for remote work?
Self-discipline, digital communication skills, time management and proficiency with collaboration tools like Zoom, Slack and project management software are incredibly important tools for remote work in Australia.
How do I find legitimate remote jobs in Australia?
Use major job boards with remote filters like Seek, Indeed or LinkedIn to find remote work careers. Specialist platforms like Remote.co or FlexJobs specialise in work-from-home jobs and have plenty of listings in Australia.
What equipment do I need to work from home?
Most employers provide essential equipment like laptops and software access. You’ll also need reliable internet access, a quiet space and basic items like a comfortable chair and good lighting for video calls.
Your work from home career in Australia starts with the right skills
Remote work has evolved far beyond the basic clerical roles that dominated the early days of the internet. These 20 remote careers in Australia prove that you can build a serious, professional life without ever setting foot in a traditional office. Whether you’re drawn to creative roles like graphic design or want something more technical like IT support or cybersecurity, there are plenty of legitimate opportunities across every industry.
And the path to landing one of these roles isn’t as complicated as you might think. Most remote employers care more about your skills and ability to work independently than they do about where you get your qualifications or how many years you’ve been in an office. Online study is the perfect stepping stone, teaching you the digital tools and self-discipline remote workers need to succeed.
Explore Swinburne Open Education’s course catalogue and learn more about the program that matches your career goals. Your future home office is waiting.