If you’re considering a work-from-home job in the UK, explore careers that lend themselves to remote work. Explore 12 possibilities, including the average salary in each role and tips for working from home.
Jobs working from home, once a rare occurrence, have now become part of the mainstream employment landscape worldwide. The World Economic Forum predicts a global availability of more than 90 million work-from-home jobs by 2030 [1]. What’s more, data from WFH Research’s latest Global Survey of Working Arrangements reveals that the United Kingdom leads Europe in its remote work opportunities [2].
Given this type of work's inherent flexibility, it's becoming more popular amongst professionals in many industries. Home-based jobs sometimes may allow you to work in your pyjamas, but they also require hard work and discipline to build a career in a nontraditional way.
Explore various remote jobs and get some tips on how to get a work-from-home position and navigate the challenges it may pose.
Work from home, also known as remote work, telecommuting, and telework, is a way of earning an income without having to commute or travel to a central place of work. Whilst freelancing and telecommuting are similar, telecommuting is different because you are not an independent contractor—you are traditionally employed with a company and have more flexible work arrangements. In some remote work agreements, you may need to spend time in a company office or a work location. However, the defining factor of telework is that you can bring your work with you and complete it at home or wherever you choose.
Once you land your remote job, setting yourself up for success takes a little strategy. For example, it’s essential to establish a routine and a schedule, which will make it easier to maintain clear boundaries between your personal and professional lives. Other helpful tips include creating a dedicated space to work from, taking regular breaks, and remaining connected to the people that matter to you.
Discover 12 work-from-home jobs and the average salary you could expect in each position. Also, explore some of the day-to-day responsibilities you can expect to better understand the possibilities with full-time or part-time work-from-home jobs.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £45,667 [3]
You improve website and application usability as a UX or user experience designer. In this role, you may perform user research, create wireframes and prototypes, test designs with users, and oversee the implementation of their designs.
A UX designer must possess analytical capabilities and an eye for detail. You will need to observe people's behaviour and design their interfaces accordingly. You also need strong problem-solving skills to solve user problems effectively. You may need a bachelor’s degree in computer science, digital design, media technology, or a similar field. Many move into this career from other careers, such as graphic design or software roles.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £28,084 [4]
As a sales representative, you sell products or services by establishing relationships with potential customers and presenting products to them. In your presentation, you’ll explain the features and benefits of the product. You’ll use various sales tactics to understand your customers' needs and explain how your product or service will help them.
As a sales representative, you may work at your company's offices and travel to visit clients. You may also sell goods or services door-to-door or over the phone. In a sales role like this, you would give product demonstrations to potential customers.
Some employers may prefer a degree, often in any subject, depending on the company and the position. In many cases, your personality and job performance are frequently more important than your education level. The most important quality for a salesperson is being able to sell. If you have a proven history of selling, you may excel in a sales job.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £50,996 [5]
As a data scientist, you will turn raw data into actionable data. You will need various technical abilities and an excellent understanding of your industry. Data scientists commonly work in finance, e-commerce, and retail, but data is an important business tool in any industry. Intelligent decision-making is an essential skill in this job, and you will have to spot trends, analyse vast amounts of data, and make recommendations based on your research.
Data scientists use statistical analysis methods to examine data sets to uncover trends and other helpful information. In this role, you may also evaluate data stored in databases or created through digital devices such as smartphones, tablets, GPS units, and web applications.
To become a data scientist, you will require some programming skills (preferably Python) and knowledge of statistics. A bachelor's degree in computer science or mathematics can help you enter this field.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £32,838 [6]
As a social media manager, you will create content to grab your target audience's attention and encourage them to engage with your brand’s social media page. In this job, you must be creative, analytical, and innovative to create content that gets noticed.
This position requires creating and posting content on social media sites like X, TikTok, and Facebook. You may also directly promote your employer's products or services.
To become a social media marketer, you will need knowledge of internet marketing and social media trends. You may need a Level 3 digital marketer apprenticeship, although some employers may prefer a Level 6 degree.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £34,536 [7]
As a data analyst, you will collect and use data to find trends, understand your market, understand your business’s processes or customers, and suggest how your company can act on that data. Data analysts also often have a background in statistics, computer science, or information management, which helps them understand the relationships between different pieces of data. You can also start work as a data analyst with a degree in any field, so long as you can demonstrate the required skills for the position.
This job involves developing, testing, and implementing data to solve problems in your workplace. In addition, you must review data and make recommendations based on this information.
To become a data analyst, you will need to have knowledge of data processing tools like Python, R, and SQL, as well as data modelling, data protection, and statistical methodologies.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £38,219 [8]
As an information security analyst, you will protect confidential data, ensure data security, and ensure that information technology systems comply with established policies, standards, procedures, and controls.
This job protects an organisation's computer systems from harm or unauthorised access. You may be responsible for monitoring networks, looking for suspicious activity, and installing software that protects against malware attacks.
Be aware that employers generally prefer candidates with a computer science, cybersecurity, information systems, or business-related degree. You should also have good analytical skills to understand an organisation's processes and procedures.
To become an information security analyst, you also need knowledge of computer programming languages such as Java or Python and network security.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £31,924 [9]
As a web developer, you will work with a team to create a website. In this role, you can have many different day-to-day responsibilities depending on which part of the development team you work on. You could work as a designer to create the visual components of a website, or you could add functionality to a website on the backend. On some teams, you may complete tasks on both the front and back end. You must understand how various computer languages work to create programs that automate tasks and improve efficiency, amongst other things.
To become a web developer or a software developer, you must know how to code in languages such as HTML, PHP, and JavaScript.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £27,601 [10]
As a technical support specialist, you will provide technical support via phone, live support, or email to clients who need help troubleshooting hardware or software issues with their computers, equipment, smartphones, and tablets.
If you have computer skills, this could be a great job for you. In this position, you will also help clients with software problems, hardware troubleshooting, virus removal, and more. To get started, you'll need extensive knowledge of computers and the ability to fix any problems that may arise. Good communication skills are also essential because you must be able to explain technical issues in a way your clients will understand.
This job is ideal for people with ample experience in IT who enjoy providing customer support.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £49,229 [11]
As a project manager, you must be a responsible, self-motivated person who loves working with people. In this role, you will keep your team on task and ensure the project meets all deadlines on time and within budget. You must excel at multitasking because a project manager typically oversees several projects simultaneously whilst coordinating team members’ efforts.
Familiarity with project management methodologies like Agile and Scrum may also help you become a project manager. In some industries, your field knowledge is more important than your qualifications, but your employer may prefer a degree or a certification.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £22,690 [12]
If you have a pleasant manner, can be polite, patient, and friendly with people on the phone, and enjoy helping others solve problems, then a job as a customer service representative may be for you. Customer service is about providing service to customers. It can occur in person, over the phone, or online. In this role, you will provide customers with information regarding products and services, solve problems, and deal with complaints. The job requires good communication skills, empathic listening skills, and active listening skills to resolve the issues faced by customers.
You’ll likely need at least GCSE results, although some companies may prefer you have a formal education or additional training.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £30,377 [13]
If you enjoy helping people and want to make a lifelong career out of it, consider starting your own business as a virtual assistant. A virtual assistant helps other busy professionals with various tasks, from data entry to managing social media accounts, diary management, or conducting research. Some employers prefer hiring assistants with administrative work experience, whilst others may not require any experience.
This job requires excellent communication and organisational skills and a good internet connection.
Average annual salary in the UK (Indeed): £36,903 [14]
As an accountant, you will keep track of client invoices (by sending them out), organise and file paperwork, create spreadsheets and reports, balance chequebooks, etc. You'll need good computer skills for this job (Excel) and excellent written communication skills.
You could also start your own business as an accounting professional, offering your services to local clients who need an in-house accountant. To start a career as an accountant, you will need an AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) certification. If you wish to become a chartered accountant, you will need an additional certification. Options include the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), AIA (The Association of International Accountants), or CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants).
Jobs working from home offer various benefits, including improving your work-life balance and saving money you would otherwise spend on your commute. Explore them in more detail below.
Balancing your personal and professional lives is often easier when you work from home. You can set a schedule that will help you get work done. You need discipline to establish firm lines between work and leisure. You will have more time for both work and play when you achieve the proper balance.
Working from home allows you to organise your time however you choose. If you have kids at home, for example, you can drop them off at school and begin work within minutes without commuting in rush hour.
New studies emerge each month showing how important it is for workers to take regular breaks throughout the day; working from home makes this possible, too.
Working at home can save you money on petrol, public transportation, and even office attire (if your job requires formal wear regularly). You’ll have lower lunch or dinner costs and potentially less lost productivity from unnecessary office meetings and distractions.
Working from home also allows you to spend less time commuting. No traffic jams. No red lights. No rush hour. No parking. No parking tickets. When you work from home, you can avoid all these things and save yourself a bundle of time and money in the process.
When you work from home, you're no longer tied down to one location and may be able to enjoy the flexibility to travel as much as you want. Location independence means more than just having the flexibility to travel; it also gives you more freedom over where to live. If city life is too expensive or busy, you don’t need to settle; you can just pick up and move elsewhere.
When applying for positions that allow you to work remotely, you must treat it as if you were applying for an office job. You can distinguish yourself from other candidates in various ways, including highlighting a few key things.
1. Previous virtual or remote experience: By demonstrating that you have worked remotely in the past, you can show the potential employer that you have experience with remote work. It will help demonstrate that you can successfully do so with their company.
2. Present yourself as someone who can deliver: Demonstrate to the employer that you are serious about your job and can deliver results. It is vital to be professional in your communication and to act like an employee of the company before they offer you the job.
Attend Zoom meetings promptly
Share documents to support your application
Summarise key points succinctly
Dress to impress
3. Know what companies are looking for: Make sure you understand what a company is looking for in a potential employee when applying for their telecommuting position. Read the job adverts and person specifications and align your cover letter and CV with the role.
Explore these tips to help you be productive when working from home.
Plan your work beforehand to help you avoid stress and self-sabotage, two common problems for people working from home.
Create physical boundaries for yourself, whether a space in your living room that you designate as your office or a spare bedroom. Make sure others living with you know this is your workspace.
Exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet. These habits will aid your productivity and overall health.
If you cannot afford an ergonomic chair, take it easy on yourself. You can constantly adjust your chair to situate yourself so that you are at ease whilst working.
Set a schedule and keep regular work hours. Sticking to a schedule will increase your productivity.
Remember that distractions will happen, whether it's the television in the background or kids running through the house—don’t beat yourself up over them, and don’t try to eliminate them entirely. Accept that distractions are a part of working from home and keep their impact to the minimum.
Establish mental boundaries by alerting your family or anyone you live with about your needs whilst working. Also, set boundaries in your work life to ensure you preserve your personal time.
Working remotely can help you balance your work with your life. Prepare for your desired position by completing a Professional Certificate from top companies like Facebook, Google, and IBM on Coursera in a few months. For instance, you might choose the Google IT Support Professional Certificate to qualify for a technical support specialist role or the Google UX Design Professional Certificate to work from home as a UX designer. Build the master skills you need to stand out to employers, earn more money, and work from home effectively.
World Economic Forum. “Remote digital jobs to rise 25% by 2030, https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2024/01/remote-global-digital-jobs-whitepaper/.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
WFH Research. “Global Survey of Working Arrangements, https://wfhresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/GSWA-2023.pdf.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “User experience designer salaries in the United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/user-experience-designer/salaries.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Sales Representative in the United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/sales-representative/salaries.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Data Scientist Salary in the United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/data-scientist/salaries.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Social Media Manager Salaries, https://uk.indeed.com/career/social-media-manager/salaries.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Data Analyst Salary in the United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/data-analyst/salaries.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Information security analyst salary in United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/information-security-analyst/salaries,” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Web developer salary in United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/web-developer/salaries,” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Technical Support Specialist Salary in the United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/technical-support-specialist/salaries,” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Project Manager Salary in the United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/project-manager/salaries.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Customer Service Representative Salary in the United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/customer-service-representative/salaries.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Virtual Assistant Salary in the United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/virtual-assistant/salaries.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
Indeed. “Accountant Salary in the United Kingdom, https://uk.indeed.com/career/accountant/salaries.” Accessed 18 August 2024.
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