jobs that pay you to travel people

It’s time to show you guys that our travelling lifestyle isn’t a pipedream and that it’s totally possible for you too.

We get emails and messages every week from readers who want to work and travel, but don’t know where to start.

One of the most common questions we’re asked is how do we afford to just keep travelling the world.

Find our best tips to save cash for travels before you leave home. And don’t miss our 6 Best Travel Hacks to save you money.

Many of the jobs listed below have been the main source of income to support our travels.

Here are 20 Jobs that PAY YOU to Travel the World

jobs that pay you to travel

1) Trip Leader/Tour Director

Energy, patience, and great organisational skills are some personal attributes you’ll need for this job. A trip leader or tour director accompanies a tour group for the entire itinerary. It’s your job to make the trip run as smoothly as possible and ensure that everyone is having a good time.

Some daily tasks include arranging bookings, leading walking tours in cities, answering passenger questions (often the same one many times each day), speaking about the history, and communicating with other crew members or the coach driver. When things don’t go to plan on the trip, it’s also your job to try and fix it.

This is a job that requires a lot of hard work, especially in the beginning or at least until you are used to the destination that you’re working in. Once you’ve got the hang of it, it gets much easier and more enjoyable. Generally, you’ll be working in one continent for a season (for example, Europe or South America), depending on the company you work for.

If you possess the above qualities and you think a life on the road might be for you, there are hundreds of tour companies always looking for new Trip Leaders and Tour Directors.

Did you know that Marty and I used to work as Trip Leaders in both Europe and Australia? It was seriously the best job we’ve ever had.

One of our favourite Group Tour Companies is Expat Explore. They offer AWESOME tours in Europe and around the world. Get a 5% discount on any trip if you use our promo code VERYHUNGRYNOMADS at checkout.

Some of the tour companies we recommend applying for this job are listed below. Go to the Work with us page on their website and find out how to apply.

To find a range of other tour companies that you may be interested in, see Tourradar, a booking website to find and compare the best group tours around the world.

jobs that pay you to travel tour guide
Marty used to work as a trip leader in Europe (Tallinn, Estonia)

2) Tour Guide

This one is a little different to trip leaders and tour directors, as a tour guide will usually do shorter tours or commonly day tours. This may be a full day or half-day tour and often the guide is an expert in what he/she does. It could be a full-day tour of a city talking about the history or it might be a half-day food adventure in Bangkok. I’ve listed our favourite companies below – check their websites for available positions.

3) Host

Want to earn money by hosting food tours, cooking classes, or creating dining experiences?

Eat With is a platform to share your passion for food with people from all over the world? You just need to sign up as an Eatwith host and earn money from working from any destination around the world.

Viator is one of our favourite sites for booking food tours, day tours, and attraction tickets. It’s so easy to just browse the tours on Viator, pay online, and immediately receive your tour voucher.

4) On-Road Chef

I worked as an On-Road-Chef for Topdeck Travel for many years in Europe. It was honestly the best decision I ever made in my life! It allowed me to travel all over Europe and cook for groups of up to 46 passengers at a time. In between the cooking, I got to see the most incredible parts of such a beautiful continent.

I’ve made some amazing friends with passengers and crew and the best part was that I was getting paid to do so!

This job was seasonal work, so once the Summer season in Europe finished, I’d travel the world for the other six months of the year.

Check out the Topdeck Travel website.

chef jobs that pay you to travel

5) Site Representative

A Site Representative is another option for seasonal work. You would be based in one location for a few weeks or months at a time. You might be helping out in the kitchen preparing food for tour groups passing through, perhaps working in the bar on-site or maybe cleaning rooms.

It’s common to be stationed in a gorgeous location somewhere in the world too. Another bonus is that these random jobs can often include free accommodation.

This job is seasonal, so you could work the Summer season in Europe and then work in a ski chalet or village in the Wintertime. Either way, you’ll have plenty of activities to entertain you when you’re not working.

Check out www.seasonalworkers.com for real-time vacancies for Summer and Winter jobs worldwide.

Some companies I’d recommend contacting directly for these jobs are below.

jobs that pay you to travel girl
Jobs that pay you to travel are the best kinds of jobs to have!

6) Nanny/maintenance worker/ ski chalet host for a European Winter

Interested in working in a beautiful ski resort in France or Austria for the Winter and getting paid for it?

VIP Ski is a good website for available jobs to be a nanny, (looking after children) a chalet host, or a maintenance worker. These jobs are suited to enthusiastic and dedicated individuals, with a good sense of humour and a hard-working attitude.

Whether you’re passionate about food, qualified in childcare, or want to put your handy fix-it skills to good use, this might just be the opportunity for you.

7) Tour Coach Driver/Overland Driver Mechanic

Love to drive? You could be in charge of the wheel, driving through some of the most amazing parts of the world, and getting paid to do it. This job is much easier if you’re already licensed to drive heavy vehicles or trucks.

Depending on what part of the world appeals to you to work in, this job can pay some very good money. There are a few options below for companies that are always looking for good drivers with positive attitudes and personalities.

jobs that pay you to travel driver
Want jobs that pay you to travel around Europe or South America? Be a driver for a travel tour company.

8) Travel Reservation Agent

Thinking about moving to London or Canada and still want to have a 9-5 job in the travel industry? This job is perfect for those of you who like routine and creature comforts, yet you still want the perks you can receive from working in the travel industry.

These companies are often hiring reservation agents in major cities around the world.

9) Bartending Jobs

Bars, restaurants, and clubs are located worldwide and these are some of the easiest jobs to score. If you can pour a beer and wait tables, you can start earning money quickly abroad. My tip is to work in tourist towns or cities during the peak season of whichever country that you’re visiting.

The best way to find this type of work is to wear something smart, then walk around to bars and restaurants and just ask if they have any positions available.

TIP: Apply for work at hostels – You can often pick up bar work in hostels. A bonus to this is that the job will often include staff accommodation. This is a real win, as paying for accommodation is one of the biggest expenses when travelling or living abroad.

Alternatively, read our post about How to Become a House Sitter and Travel the World for Free!

jobs that pay you to travel bartending jobs
Bartenders are a profession required all over the world. These jobs that pay you to travel are relatively easy to get in many countries in Europe, the UK, Canada, and Australia

10) Construction Work

If you’ve already got experience in construction work, you can pick up some decent-paying work in New Zealand and Australia. Check out Backpacker Job Board for details about work in these two countries.

Some other helpful websites to search for are Workaway, HelpX, and WWOOF.

These sites advertise jobs for qualified travellers and also for other work on farms, in hostels, or just about anywhere else. You can pick up work that includes your accommodation and food too.

Need an online account that lets you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally? A Wise account provides these services, and it will save you loads of cash in International fees.

Send your first International transfer for FREE when you sign up here for a Wise account.

11) Seasonal Work/Winter Jobs

Keen snowboarder or love to ski? Want to score a free lift pass for a season to some of the best mountains and powder around the world? These jobs are great, they’re seasonal and they provide some great perks.

Sure, you probably won’t be paid very much, but you’ll have an amazing time; isn’t that what really counts?

Winter jobs are available everywhere – but Canada is where I worked and had a blast. Some of the most popular jobs to apply for are Ski Lift Operator, Ski Instructor, Ski Shop Clerk, Chalet Chef, Ticket office, and so on.

best winter travel jobs

You’ll often find that some mountains work by providing super cheap accommodation in hostels for those who work on the mountain. Check out my suggestions below;

Sunshine Ski Village in Banff, Canada – Find all job vacancies here.

Winter jobs in Whistler, Canada – Find all job vacancies here.

The best range of available ski jobs in Japan, Sweden, France, Switzerland, and anywhere else in the world can be found on Job Monkey.

12) Work at a Backpackers Hostel

Hostels frequently hire travellers to do random jobs on a short-term basis in exchange for free accommodation and sometimes some meals too. Easy jobs that don’t require any skills are common. Jobs like working in the hostel laundry, housekeeping, or washing dishes in the hostel restaurant.

You would typically work for around 3-4 hours each day. The hours are often negotiable so you might do your job at a time you choose and still manage to fit your full-time job in too.

A great way to avoid paying for board and you’ll be able to travel more with all that extra cash you’re saving!

Check out these websites for more information; Worldpackers and Hostel Travel Jobs,

13) Build a Profile on Fiverr

Do you have any skills at all to offer an online marketplace? Maybe you’re a graphic designer, copywriter or social media guru? All you need to do is set up a new profile on the Fiverr website and start selling yourself.

This job is great because you earn anywhere from $5 – $500 selling your services on Fiverr. You can pretty much get hired to do anything, from translation, copywriting, and dictation to design photo editing and social media marketing.

There are so many opportunities to find or create a job on Fiverr.com.

jobs that pay you to travel freelance work

14) Work in Antarctica

If you enjoy a challenge and love the cold weather, there are many jobs available in Antarctica.

Check this website for a large range of jobs available in Antarctica. The British Antarctic Survey & Australian Antarctic Program are good sources of information on vacancies available and also what to expect if you work in this part of the world.

If you’re more interested in working on larger ships that take passengers on expeditions to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falklands, the following companies may have vacancies for a range of jobs onboard. 

Working in Antarctica is high on my list of jobs that pay you to travel. I bet this would be an amazing experience.

15) WWOOFING

WWOOFing (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) has long been a popular website for many backpackers and budget travellers. It’s handy if you’re keen to live in a particular country, perhaps practice the language and immerse yourself into the culture. For many international travellers who come to Australia on a working holiday visa, these are their go-to jobs that pay you to travel.

To put it simply, you work on an organic farm for 20-30 hours each week and you’re provided with free food and accommodation in return.

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16) House sitting

Ok, this one isn’t a job – but it’s a brilliant way to travel around the world and avoid paying for accommodation. This means more savings in the bank for you to continue travelling in between house-sits.

Essentially, you would house-sit for a pre-arranged amount of time, and in return are provided with a whole house, villa, apartment, or another type of residence.

House sitting gigs are fantastic! In addition to receiving free accommodation with a real kitchen, laundry facilities, and often free wifi, you can really immerse yourself in the culture of the country you’re house-sitting in.

Sometimes as part of the deal, you may have to look after some pets, however, I think is a huge bonus, and love looking after a new furry friend.

The best way to get into housesitting around the world is to sign up with TrustedHousesitters. And, if you use this link to sign up now, get 25% off your membership! Create a profile about yourself that tells potential homeowners why you would be the top choice to mind their place and get out there!

If you’re not sure what Housesitting is all about and whether it’s for you, read my post on how and why you should become a housesitter and get free accommodation around the world!

If you’re travelling in Australia and would like free accommodation while you work, check out Aussie House Sitters. At only A$84 to join up, this is a really good deal!

Use our Referral Code VMYBJ5 to join up with Aussie House Sitters and you’ll receive a $10 discount on your membership!

how to become a house sitter brown dog

17) TEFL – Teach English Abroad & Travel the World

For those of you looking to move abroad and stay in the same place for at least 12 months or so, English teaching jobs are one of the best ways to earn some really good money.

This is one of those jobs that allows you to travel from country to country whilst earning enough money to see the best parts of the destination you’re teaching yourself. If you want even more flexibility, you can teach English online. So many options are available with this job.

Being a native English speaker will give you an advantage in scoring a teaching job, but non-native speakers can also get work teaching English.  The best advice I can give you is to take an online TEFL course first.

This will get you accredited, your foot in the door and it will guide you in the right direction to becoming a good teacher and scoring some of the best paying jobs around.

If you’ve ever dreamed of living in Japan, Thailand, or Vietnam – this is the job for you! Enrol now!

18) Brand Ambassador / Party person

Looking to work, party, and travel through Europe? Stoke Travel generally has positions available ranging from logistics and trip planning, event promotions, surf instructing, bartending, kitchen jobs, video producing, and everything in between.

You could sign up to be an intern or festival staff with these guys and be employed for up to 5 weeks at a time. These gigs come with free time between summer festivals to do some of your own travels. As a Stoke ambassador, you can earn commissions, get free accommodation, and get to meet hundreds of like-minded people.

Don’t forget that ambassadors also get three meals per day and as much booze as you can handle. It’s understandable that these jobs that pay you to travel don’t last too long.

If this sounds like your kind of thing, signing up to be an ambassador for Stoke Travel might be perfect for you!

These guys run tours/events in places like Prague, Ibiza, and Budapest, along with many other cities across Europe and beyond. They also need ambassadors to help run awesome festivals around the world such as La Tomatina, Oktoberfest, and Running of the Bulls.

party person travel job

19) Work on a Cruise Ship – Popular jobs that pay you to travel

Travelling the world while working on large cruise ships is an awesome way to see some pretty epic destinations. Accommodation, transportation, food, and insurance are covered too. This is a job where you can save some good cash for future travels.

Depending on what your job is, a typical salary is around USD $2,000+ per month. This is one of the most popular jobs that pay you to travel. Get paid to travel to different regions and continents around the world.

Many cruise jobs also provide plenty of holiday time to travel on your own outside of the busy cruise season. There are different types of positions available. The most common jobs are tour managers, housekeeping, cooks, ship entertainment, engineers, shop assistants, hairdressers, and more.

I’d recommend checking the vacancies available with these companies below;

Uniworld – For jobs available with this boutique river cruise company.

All Cruise Ship Jobs –  A range of over 1500 vacancies available with different cruise liners around the world.

Or apply for jobs with these cruise companies directly – Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruises, and Carnival Cruises.

jobs that pay you to travel

20) Work on Private Yachts

If you love the sun, and the water and you possess great people skills – working on private yachts could be the job for you. Some of these gigs pay good money and depending on which part of the world you may be sailing in, your wage could be entirely tax-free! Yasssss!

I have friends who’ve worked on bigger yachts (superyachts) sailing around the Mediterranean and those who’ve worked for private wealthy families on smaller yachts too.

Types of positions available are ship hands, hosts, mechanics, housekeepers, chefs, and many more. The Caribbean is another popular destination to find these kinds of jobs that pay you to travel.

What is life like living and working on a private yacht?

Working on a yacht provides you with a completely different lifestyle, and sometimes you might get to mix with celebrities. Sure, you’re not living the life of the wealthy guests on board, but you are able to experience the lifestyle.

Many owners will let you have access to the equipment and luxury facilities onboard for your own use when there are no guests. Depending on the itinerary of the yacht, you will also get to explore some of the world’s most beautiful destinations.

I’d recommend these websites below if you’re interested in these jobs that pay you to travel.

I hope this article has inspired you to expand your horizons, leave your comfort zones behind, and dream big. And if you need a little more inspiration, our 100 Best Travel Quotes To Inspire you (with photos) should do the trick!

It’s true what they say…the world is your oyster! Now it’s up to you to get out there and start making your own travel dreams come true.

There are so many jobs that pay you to travel the world. Good luck!

jobs that pay you to travel

After reading about these jobs that pay you to travel, what job could you do next?

If you want more of our best advice and travel tips, head to our Travel Resources Page.

Travel Tips & Inspiration

We love to share our knowledge of travelling, and you may enjoy reading our best-ever travel tips and our ultimate packing list for travellers.

For the food lovers out there, don’t miss our top 10 best countries for foodies! And, if you’re more interested in history, these 30 amazing historical places in the world will fascinate you! 

Perhaps you’re travelling on a budget? These 10 cheapest countries in Europe to visit may be just the tool you need to start planning an epic trip.

But, here are 8 things to know about traveling to Eastern Europe and it’s good to know these 7 misconceptions about Eastern Europe too.

Or, perhaps these 21 Cheapest Countries to Visit Right Now is just the thing you’ve been searching for. 

We’ve got a bunch of tips for how you can save money to travel the world, and even when you’re out there travelling, maybe these 20 jobs that PAY YOU to travel the world will help you travel longer. It worked for us, and we bet it can work for you too.

Finally, these top 6 travel hacks to save you money are great to read when planning your travels.

And, if you’re planning a new trip, whether it’s for a week, a month, or even a few years, consider buying an eSIM to stay connected. This is our favorite travel product, and you can read more about what is in eSIM and why eSIM is so convenient for International Travel.

Check out the travel gear we use on the road, and for the products and websites we use to plan new trips, head to our Travel Resources Page.