The Top 8 Industries Hiring Remote Workers in 2024

Remote work is now a defining feature of the job market, with many people looking for jobs that are either fully remote or hybrid. This switch has enabled more people to enjoy a digital nomad lifestyle, working remotely abroad to enjoy a new culture while maintaining their career goals.

To follow this trend, more and more industries are offering remote job roles, providing flexible opportunities that cater to a diverse range of skills and interests. This has made remote work no longer a niche option, but instead a mainstream choice.

Using data from Preply and job listing sites, we’ve explored some of the top industries hiring remote workers in the UK. Looking at the types of job roles available and the earning potential, this could provide you with some career inspiration if you’re looking to embrace the remote working lifestyle.

IT and Telecoms is the industry with the most remote job opportunities, with almost a quarter of jobs (23%) being remote. Whilst this still leaves the majority of job postings requiring people to work on-site, with around 22,000 IT and Telecoms jobs posted annually, there’s still a large proportion of remote roles available.

IT and Telecoms roles that can be done remotely will span various specialisations and levels of expertise. This could include software development, cybersecurity, data analysis, network administration, and technical support. There could also be the opportunity to undertake IT-specific roles in sales and marketing, such as a content creator or product manager.

The average salary in the IT and Telecoms industry is £33,768, however, this can range massively depending on your specific role and experience. For example, the average IT wage for an IT Director is £78,494, and the average wage for an IT Project Manager is £47,367.

The Media, Digital and Creative industries had the second-largest proportion of remote job listings, at 18%. This sector had a much smaller pool of jobs overall, at 2,517 listings, which could mean getting a remote role is much more competitive.

Media, Digital, and Creative roles span a range of specialisations and skill sets. Many roles in this sector can be done remotely, including working as a copywriter, graphic designer, video producer and editor, and web designer. Social media management is another popular role in this industry, and often this could include content creation across all disciplines. All roles will require a degree of creativity and experience in the area, such as writing, illustrating, and/or designing.

The average salary for Media, Digital and Creative roles is £34,913. According to other data, media salaries can range between £32,500 and £62,500 – a Content Lead for a London-based company, for example, could earn £50,000, whilst a Social Media Manager for a Birmingham-based company could earn up to £40,000.

The Charity and Voluntary sector had the third-largest remote working offering, at 16.3% out of 1,691 jobs listed.

The Charity and Voluntary sector has a large number of jobs that can be done either fully remotely or on a hybrid basis, with all roles committed to supporting the organisation’s mission through various means. Roles include fundraising-specific responsibilities, such as a Fundraising Manager who organises and oversees campaigns, or a Grant Writer, who would research and write proposals to secure funding. There are also digital marketing roles in fundraising, plus project management, and administrative roles.

The average salary for Charity roles is £31,595, but the earning potential in this sector will vary depending on the role and your experience. For example, a Fundraising Manager for a London-based charity could earn up to £52,000, while a Community Programmes Manager in Lancashire could earn £50,000.

Financial Services had 16% of the 6,745 listed jobs as offering remote working, ranking it fourth out of the top eight.

Many roles in the Financial Services industry would require specific qualifications or experience, such as an Economics or Mathematics degree, or a professional qualification such as a Chartered Financial Analyst or Chartered Accountant.

Roles include financial analysis and advisory, accounting and bookkeeping, compliance and risk management, and trading and portfolio management. You could also find more general roles that require a financial approach, such as Customer Relationship Manager, Content Writer, and Digital Marketing.

The average salary for roles in Financial Services is £26,152, but there is a huge range between the highest and lowest salaries. A Corporate Finance Manager in Bristol, for example, could earn up to £70,000, and an Audit Director in Belfast could earn up to £140,000.

Marketing and PR comes fifth in the top eight industries hiring remote workers, with 15% of jobs listed offering remote work out of an average of 6,503 jobs posted.

There are many roles that would be included in the Marketing and PR industry, including a number that would span different sectors. For example, digital marketing is a marketing-specific role, but could have jobs in many different types of industries. Marketing and PR roles would also include SEO specialists, PPC specialists, content creation, branding and creative management, and analytics and research.

The average salary for roles in Marketing and PR is £34,540. Earning potential can greatly outstrip this though – for example, a Head of Marketing for a Leeds-based company could earn up to £80,000, and a Product Marketing Manager for a Reading-based organisation could earn £55,000.

The Sales sector had 13% of jobs listed that were remote, out of 9,431 jobs posted, ranking it fifth overall.

The Sales industry includes various roles, all of which would benefit from a background in business, marketing, or a related field. These roles include sales management, account management, business development, lead generation, and sales operations. Having specific industry knowledge or technical expertise could help these roles to overlap with other sectors, such as IT or Financial Services.

The average salary for Sales roles is £32,202, but often the base salary for sales roles is enhanced by commission or bonus schemes. Even so, the earning potential for Sales roles can be expanded with experience and seniority – a Business Development Manager in Manchester could earn £60,000, while a Strategic Account Manager for a London-based company could earn £120,000.

Recruitment Consultancy ranks seventh in the top eight industries offering remote work, with 13% of 7,004 jobs posted being remote.

Recruitment Consultancy roles will be primarily focused on talent acquisition, but responsibilities could also extend to managing recruitment processes, managing client relationships, and managing candidates. Roles in Recruitment Consultancy also involve administrative tasks, onboarding new recruits, and supporting HR with document drafting and implementation.

The average salary in Recruitment Consultancy is £28,513. As with any industry, the earning potential ranges depending on experience and specialisation. For example, a Property Recruitment Consultant for an Essex-based company could earn up to £50,000, and a Business Support Recruiter in London could earn £55,000.

General Insurance has 11% of job postings listed as remote, with the industry coming in eighth in our ranking.

Roles in General Insurance include underwriting, claims management, and risk management, plus more general roles such as sale and account management, IT and data analysis, and product development. Technical insurance roles will often require relevant experience and/or a professional qualification such as the Chartered Insurance Institute certification to secure the best roles.

The average salary for General Insurance jobs is £22,400, but there is a big range among the various roles. For example, a Reinsurance Broker for a London-based organisation could earn up to £80,000, and a Senior Casualty Adjuster in Surrey could earn £75,000.

Expatriate Group is an expert in international health insurance. If you’re moving abroad to work remotely, keep yourself safe and protected with our comprehensive international medical insurance for professionals abroad. Get a quote, view our plans, or contact us for more information.