Teleworking is making a comeback, gaining 7% ground in the last quarter
What a year for remote workers! If you look at most online sources, you might think that remote jobs are shrinking faster than you can apply for them.
But it’s not over yet. Even as employers impose back-to-office measures, there are still some positive signs of growth – albeit not during the pandemic – particularly in high-paying job sectors.
Researchers at Ladders, a job search site that focuses exclusively on jobs paying $100,000 or more, analyzed more than half a million job postings on their platform from April to June 2024 to compile the Ladders High Paying Jobs report for Q2 2024.
Their research reveals that while remote work fell somewhat in the first quarter, “it recovered, gaining about 7% in the second quarter. Hybrid roles recovered 40%,” their report says.
Additionally, “the number of available six-figure jobs jumped 20% in the last quarter.” John Mullinix, Director of Growth Marketing at Ladders, explains, “As the economy rebounds, companies are expanding and investing in new projects, increasing the need for higher-paying positions. With inflation rising, companies are adjusting salaries to attract and retain top talent, particularly in specialized fields like technology, healthcare, and engineering. Industry growth in sectors like technology, finance, and healthcare also plays a significant role as these fields continue to thrive. Additionally, increased investment in technology and sustainability is creating demand for skilled professionals, often at higher salaries.”
The highest paying jobs in the second quarter of 2024
So what are the highest paying jobs for summer 2024?
- Nurse practitioner
- Project Manager
- Assistant physician
- Software engineer
- Senior Software Engineer
- general manager
- Pharmacy Manager
- Pharmacist (full or part time)
- Program Manager
- External sales representative
The 5 Highest Paying Remote Jobs for Q2 2024
When considering their list of the top 10 highest-paying jobs for Q2 2024, one might be intrigued to know which of these roles are remote or can be done remotely.
From this list, it appears that at least half of them are quite popular as remote jobs:
- Project Manager
- Software engineer
- Senior Software Engineer
- general manager
- Program Manager
There seems to be a clear trend here, with project and operational management and technology leading the way as the highest paying remote jobs hiring right now.
Let’s take a closer look at the employment projections and expected salary ranges for each of these high-demand remote jobs:
1. Remote project manager
Project managers have a bright future ahead of them. Almost every industry, every company, needs a project manager to ensure that everything runs smoothly, on schedule, and that projects are delivered to the satisfaction of clients and stakeholders. As such, they are indispensable.
Additionally, project management is a skill that cannot be easily replaced by AI, and at the same time, it is relatively easy to learn since you do not need a degree to become a project manager. While the training is rigorous and can be difficult, especially if you are studying for a PMI certification, it is certainly more beneficial to spend six months studying for your certification than to spend years in college, spending money you cannot afford, and drowning in debt. This is good news for you if you have been laid off due to your job being taken over by new technology or if you are looking to explore a lucrative career path.
A word of warning: Project managers tend to make the most money in the tech sector, so you may find that average salaries drop a bit in other industries, in comparison.
Average salary scale: $128,376 to $160,574
High-paying jobs, those earning more than $100,000, increased by 20% in the second quarter
2. Remote Software Engineer
Software engineers are in a booming industry; demand for their jobs is growing 25% (much faster than average) according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and they’ve been ranked by FlexJobs as one of the top 10 most in-demand jobs for working from anywhere. Talk about being a digital nomad!
Average salary scale: $72,460 to $188,310
3. Remote Senior Software Engineer
As you progress in your software engineering career, you have several career paths to choose from, including freelance or contract software engineer, VP of Engineering, and senior software engineer.
Becoming a senior software engineer comes with certain management responsibilities, and as such, you will not only need to be exceptionally proficient in your technical skills, but also have strong leadership, decision-making, and team management skills.
Average salary scale: $113,700 to $135,700
4. Remote General Manager
A general manager (also called an operations manager) manages multiple operations and departments at once and typically reports to the management team. You may also manage an entire branch of the company. This role requires deep expertise and confidence in understanding many different business functions and a thorough knowledge of the technical specifics of the company.
Exceptional project management skills would greatly contribute to the success of this position.
Average salary scale: $78,356 to $105,170
5. Remote Program Manager
The role of program manager, another management position, is very similar to that of project manager in many ways, but it can be totally different in others. This job can be exciting because you are involved in the rollout of organization-wide programs or programs that benefit the community in which you live. You are able to be a catalyst for change and ensure that resources are used wisely, for the benefit of program participants.
The demand for program managers, as project management professionals, has increased by 6% according to the BLS, which is higher than the average job growth rate in the United States. According to data from Salary.com, program managers tend to earn slightly more money each year than their project manager counterparts.
Average salary scale: $129,604 to $172,851
The highest paying remote jobs are in technology and project/operations management
So far, it seems like the best places to look for high-paying remote positions would be in project and operations management and technology.
With six-figure job openings up 20% and remote work regaining 7% in the last quarter, 2024 is starting to look more optimistic for workers looking for high-paying remote jobs.