40 Best Jobs Where You Work Alone

Looking for jobs where you work alone? If you’re an introvert or simply want minimal human interaction, here are 40 ideas.

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Last Updated: November 13, 2024

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

Looking for the best jobs where you work alone? If you’re an introvert or simply want minimal human interaction, here are 40 ideas.

With there being so many different types of jobs out there nowadays, more and more people are looking for jobs where they can be by themselves, away from the busy office or customers. They find comfort in jobs where they can do tasks on their own, letting them really concentrate and do well in what they do best.

For me, I have worked mostly alone for over a decade now, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I enjoy the flexibility of working on my own and having less stress.

Jobs that let you work this way are usually appealing to introverted individuals, those who like a calmer setting, or people who just work better with more independence.

Knowing which jobs let you work alone is really important for those who want to find the right mix of being on their own and getting things done well.

Top Jobs Where You Work Alone

There are 40 jobs where you can work alone listed below. If you want to skip the list, here are some jobs that you may want to start learning more about first:

Benefits of Jobs Where You Work Alone

More and more people are looking for jobs where they can work alone, and I get it! I have been working mostly alone for over a decade and I really love it.

After all, a person spends so much of their time working, so you might as well like what you’re doing. If you’re an introvert, or if you like working by yourself, there are jobs where you can do just that.

Some of the positives of working alone include:

  • Less stress if you’re an introvert – If you’re an introvert, then you may feel stress when working with other people, such as coworkers and customers.
  • Getting more stuff done in less time – Working alone may mean that you can complete your tasks faster because there are fewer distractions.
  • Having a more flexible schedule – Some jobs where you work on your own sometimes let you choose when you want to work, as long as you get the work done.

If you’re looking for jobs where you work alone, think about what you’re good at and what you enjoy (and also think about what you don’t like!).

40 Jobs Where You Work Alone

Below are 40 jobs where you can work on your own. The jobs below range from earning a part-time to a full-time income too.

1. Proofreader

Proofreaders check and edit written content for errors and inconsistencies, and this job requires strong attention to detail and excellent grammar skills.

If you’re good at paying close attention to details, then proofreading could be an ideal work-alone job for you.

Authors, website owners, and students often hire proofreaders to improve their work. There’s a high demand for proofreaders, and you can find jobs through many different platforms.

Even the most skilled writers can make mistakes in grammar, punctuation, and spelling. That’s why hiring a proofreader can be very helpful for pretty much anyone and everyone.

If you want to find online proofreading jobs, I recommend joining this free 76-minute workshop focused on proofreading. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to begin your own freelance proofreading business.

Recommended reading: 20 Best Online Proofreading Jobs For Beginners (Earn $40,000+ A Year).

2. Virtual Assistant

One of my first side jobs was as a virtual assistant and it was a fun and flexible way to earn income. While you do have a boss when you are a VA, a lot of the tasks that you do will require you to take charge and complete them by yourself in your own home.

A virtual assistant is someone who helps people with office tasks from a distance. This could be from your home or while you’re traveling. It might include things like replying to emails, setting up appointments, and managing social media accounts.

This job can pay you more than $50,000 each year.

If you want to find part-time or full-time virtual assistant jobs, I recommend joining the free workshop called “5 Steps To Become a Virtual Assistant“.

Recommended reading: Best Ways To Find Virtual Assistant Jobs

3. Bookkeeper

Bookkeepers are people who keep track of all the money-related things for businesses such as writing down sales, keeping a record of expenses, and making financial reports.

This is a job where you can work alone and a typical salary is $40,000+ each year. Plus, you’ll mainly be dealing with numbers and not people.

You can join the free workshop that focuses on finding virtual bookkeeping jobs and how to begin your own freelance bookkeeping business by signing up for free here.

Recommended reading: How To Find Online Bookkeeping Jobs

4. Blogger

Blogging is a great way to make money while working on your own. It’s one of the reasons I really enjoy it, haha! I get to work by myself, for myself, and I can pick the projects I want to work on.

As a blogger, you write content for others to read online. You get to choose what you want to write about as well as how you want to make money blogging because there are so many different options (like affiliate marketing or displaying ads).

You can begin a successful blog about a specific topic like finance, travel, lifestyle, family, and many others.

Blogging is my main source of income, and it has completely transformed my life. I have the freedom to travel whenever I want, set my schedule, and be my boss.

Since I began Making Sense of Cents, I’ve made more than $5,000,000 from my blog. I earned this money by working with companies through sponsored partnerships, affiliate marketing, display ads, and selling online courses.

Learn more at How To Start A Blog FREE Course.

5. Delivery Driver

Delivery drivers pick up and drop off packages. And, they get to work by themself most of the time as they are in the vehicle alone.

A delivery driver may drive a car, truck, or even a bike, depending on the company they work for. They don’t usually have a boss watching them all day nor have to deal with very many customers for long periods.

6. Book Reviewer

Book reviewers read books and share their thoughts in book reviews.

There are websites where you can get paid for sharing your thoughts about books and you may earn money through PayPal or a bank transfer, and sometimes you get to keep the book you reviewed.

They don’t just want positive reviews either, they want to know what you really think! You see, authors and publishers like to send out free copies of their books so that they can get honest opinions. Just like us, they know it’s helpful to read reviews before deciding if a book is worth the time.

Some sites that pay for book reviews include Online Book Club, Kirkus Media, and BookBrowse.

Recommended reading: 7 Best Ways To Get Paid To Read Books

7. Deliver RVs or Cars

You can earn money by traveling across the country and delivering vehicles for people and dealerships. Sometimes you’ll be towing the vehicle, and other times you’ll be driving it.

If you want a job with minimal human interaction, this can be a good one to look into as you are mostly by yourself. You simply pick up the vehicle, drive by yourself, and then drop it off.

For this job, you need to have a clean driving record. Those who do this type of work can earn around $300 to $400 (or much more!) for each vehicle they deliver. It depends on the distance they are traveling and what is being transported.

Recommended reading: 11 Ways To Get Paid To Drive A Car Across The Country

8. Digital or Graphic Designer

A graphic designer is someone who creates designs for others, such as people and businesses.

As a digital designer, you may be making things like images, printables, planners, t-shirt designs, calendars, business card designs, social media graphics, stickers, logos, and more.

Recommended reading: How To Make Money As A Digital Designer

Dogs on bed eating breakfast. Looking for jobs where you work alone? If you're an introvert or simply want minimal human interaction, here are 40 work alone jobs.

9. Pet Sitter and Dog Walker

Pet sitters and dog walkers take care of pets while pet owners are away, such as on vacation or in the hospital. Some of the tasks include feeding, taking dogs for walks, and playing with them.

You might have pets come to your home or you can go to their owner’s place (this is something that is agreed upon beforehand). Dog walkers earn around $20 for every hour walking a dog. Looking after someone’s pet overnight can earn a person around $25-$100+ or even more each day.

I have personally paid a person to watch my dogs overnight in their home $100 a day. She was so wonderful too and my dogs loved her.

Now, with this job, you’re not working entirely alone, because you will be with pets. But, they can be great friends and companions!

Rover is a company you can sign up with and list your dog walking and pet sitting services.

10. House Cleaner

House cleaners make sure homes and businesses are nice and clean. They might work alone or with a small group. They can earn between $25 to $50 an hour for cleaning for others.

You can work for a cleaning company, but you’ll likely make more money if you have your own business.

Starting this kind of business isn’t expensive because you likely already have the cleaning supplies you need. You can advertise your services on Facebook, tell your friends and family, or make an account on Care.com.

11. Transcriptionist

An online transcriptionist’s main task is to listen to video or audio files and then type out everything that is being said, a process known as transcribing. The aim is to accurately write down what is heard, without any mistakes in spelling, grammar, or punctuation.

There are many different types of transcriptionists as well – legal, general, and medical transcriptionists.

This job requires strong typing and listening skills, and you can work from home all by yourself.

Online transcriptionists earn around $15 to $30 per hour on average, with new transcribers on the lower end of that.

A helpful free resource to take is FREE Workshop: Is a Career in Transcription Right for You? You’ll learn how to get started as a transcriptionist, how you can find transcription work, and more.

Recommended reading: 18 Best Online Transcription Jobs For Beginners To Make $2,000 Monthly

12. House Flipper

House flippers buy, renovate, and sell properties for a profit. This job involves managing renovation projects, and you can work alone or with a small crew.

House flipping is when someone buys a property at a lower price, fixes it up (like painting, redoing the kitchen, and improving the outside appearance), and then sells it for more money to make a profit. This is done to make a quick return on the investment.

Recommended reading: 10 Best Books on Flipping Houses To Make Money

13. Grocery Shopper

Grocery shoppers buy groceries for people like you and me, offering a helpful service for those who don’t have the time or can’t shop on their own. You’ll work on your own and talk to clients through an app on your phone.

One service you can easily sign up with to become a grocery shopper is Instacart. This is a popular site for people who want to make extra money by shopping for and delivering groceries.

Instacart shoppers make money from a mix of base pay, tips from customers, and sometimes bonuses or rewards (like for finishing orders during busy times).

You can sign up here to get started as a grocery shopper with Instacart.

Recommended reading: Instacart Shopper Review: How much do Instacart Shoppers earn?

14. Affiliate Marketer

Affiliate marketers share products or services with their followers for a commission. You do this by placing a referral link on your website, blog, or social media (like Instagram). When people use that link to buy something, you then get a commission.

For example, if you share a link to a book on Amazon and someone buys it through your link, you make some money. Companies like Amazon want people like you to help them sell things, so they’re happy to work with you as it helps them.

If you get someone to sign up through your special link, the company gives you a commission for telling others about their product. It’s like a little thank-you for your help!

This is one of my favorite jobs where you work alone from home, and what I do full-time!

Click here to get Affiliate Marketing Tips – Free eBook.

15. Flea Market Flipper

Flea market flippers find underpriced items at flea markets, yard sales, and thrift stores, then resell them for a profit. This job requires a good eye for valuable items and the ability to research market value.

Finding items to resell may be one of the best jobs to work alone on this list because we all have things in our house we could probably sell. Plus, there are always things that you can buy for a low price and possibly resell for a profit.

If you are looking for work-alone jobs, this is a great one to look further into.

I recommend signing up for this great webinar, Turn Your Passion For Visiting Thrift Stores, Yard Sales & Flea Markets Into A Profitable Reselling Business In As Little As 14 Days, that will help you learn how to make money by flipping items as well.

16. Sell Printables on Etsy

Creating and selling digital printables on Etsy is a great way to work independently and earn money.

Making printables can also be a pretty hands-off job since you only have to create one digital file for each product, and you can sell it as many times as you like. It’s quite affordable to start because you only need a laptop or computer and an internet connection.

Printables are digital items that customers can download and print at home. They can include things like bridal shower games, grocery shopping checklists, budget planners, invitations, printable quotes for wall art, and patterns.

I recommend signing up for Free Workshop: How To Earn Money Selling Printables. This free training will give you great ideas on what you can sell, how to get started, the costs, and how to make sales.

17. Mechanic

Mechanics diagnose and repair vehicles, working independently or in small shops. Strong problem-solving skills and knowledge of automotive systems are important.

Being a mechanic is a job where you often work on your own. While they might work in a garage with other mechanics, they often have their own tasks to do. They need to be really careful and pay close attention to make sure everything gets fixed just right.

18. Dog Treat Baker

Do you really like dogs? If you do, here’s a way to work mainly alone and make an extra $500 to $1,000 or even more each month.

You don’t need to know how to bake beforehand, because you can learn this skill. You can make special treats like cupcakes, cookies, cakes, and more, all for dogs.

You can sign up for this free training workshop that shows how to start a dog treat bakery.

You can learn more at How I Make $4,000 Per Month Baking Dog Treats (With Zero Baking Experience!).

19. Amazon Seller

Selling items on Amazon is a job where you work alone (mostly) and don’t have to deal with customers face-to-face.

Even if you’re new to selling on Amazon, you can make money by selling household goods, books, electronics, and more.

If you’re interested in learning about starting an Amazon business, you can join this free training that will teach you how to sell products on Amazon and make around $100 to $500+ each day.

20. Stock Photo Photographer

Stock photo photographers work on their own, and this job can be done without talking to anyone for the most part. Almost all of the tasks can be done with just a camera and then uploading photos on a site.

Stock image sites are some of the most popular ways for photographers to sell their pictures. These are sites where customers can buy pictures for websites, TV shows, books, social media accounts, and more. There are stock photos that I have purchased within this blog post that you can take a look at to see an example.

One great thing about stock photo sites is that they can be a great form of passive income. You can take pictures, upload them, and earn money from an older photo for months or even years in the future. There is no need to talk to anyone as everything is online and mostly automated.

Some stock photo websites include Shutterstock, iStock, DepositPhotos, and Dreamstime.

Recommended reading: 18 Ways You Can Get Paid To Take Pictures

21. Social Media Manager

Social media managers post on social media accounts for businesses and their goal is to bring in new customers and help a business grow.

Social media managers may post a picture or a video of a product or the company, join in a viral trend to get more views (such as on TikTok), answer common questions from customers, and more.

This includes social media platforms such as TikTok, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Salary can vary, and this job can be done part-time or full-time.

22. Landscaper

A landscaper improves and maintains outdoor areas, such as by taking care of the lawn, planting flowers, or even renovating a whole outdoor area (such as to make it more enjoyable to sit outside and have company).

If you’re interested in jobs where you work alone outside, this is one to consider as you will be outdoors and working on your own a lot. Customers may talk to you occasionally, but you are mostly by yourself.

Landscapers work at houses, apartment complexes, businesses, or somewhere else.

23. Data Entry Clerk

Data entry clerks enter, update, and check information in databases or spreadsheets. They type information such as numbers and names into computers to keep things organized and recorded.

This job can sometimes be done remotely and alone, with minimal supervision or interaction with customers.

Data entry jobs typically pay around $15-$20 an hour.

24. Editor

Editors review and improve written content for clients and they usually work on their own as most of their time is spent editing content.

Their job is to read articles, blog posts, advertising, books, and more to make them better. They fix any mistakes in grammar or spelling and help the words flow smoothly.

Editors typically earn anywhere from $40-$60+ an hour.

25. Freelance Writer

Freelance writers write content for clients, such as blog posts, advertising, and more. Freelance writing jobs where you work by yourself are common as you’ll be given a topic to write about from the client, and when you are done you may be given some feedback (such as paragraphs to improve or add to). But, that is usually as much human interaction as you’ll get if you want.

You can find different writing jobs on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, or even find clients on your own.

I was a freelance writer for many years before switching to working full-time writing here on Making Sense of Cents. It is a great career path where you can work from home mostly by yourself.

Recommended reading: 14 Places To Find Freelance Writing Jobs – (Start With No Experience!)

26. Translator

Translators convert written content from one language to another, requiring fluency in at least two languages. Freelance and remote opportunities are available.

If you know another language, you might be able to find a work-from-home job where you can earn money by reading books and translating them. Another option is to get paid for proofreading or editing translated books to ensure they read smoothly and accurately.

There are lots of places you can find translation jobs, such as UpWork, Babelcube, Today Translations, Ulatus, Fiverr, and more.

27. Computer Programmer

Computer programmers write and maintain computer software, often working alone on projects.

They use coding to tell computers what to do and create all sorts of things like apps, games, and websites.

Woman working at desk. Looking for jobs where you work alone? If you're an introvert or simply want minimal human interaction, here are 40 work alone jobs.

28. Canva Template Designer

Creating and selling Canva templates online allows you to work alone.

A Canva template is like a ready-made design that you can use for things like making posters, Pinterest pins, ebooks, or presentations. It’s like having a helpful starting point if you’re not super good at designing things from scratch. Canva templates come with empty spaces where you can put in your own words and pictures and you can also change colors and fonts to make them just how you like. They’re really helpful for people who want their things to look nice without spending a lot of time on it.

Making and selling Canva templates can be a great way to earn extra money as you only need to create them once, and then you can sell them as many times as you like.

Recommended reading: How I Make $2,000+ Monthly Selling Canva Templates

29. Voice Over Actor

A voice-over actor is the person whose voice you hear but don’t see in YouTube videos, radio ads, educational videos, and more.

Voice-over actors many times work right from their own homes!

Voice actors don’t need experience for this job (eventually, it does help, yes). Instead, they need to have a voice that the company is looking for.

Recommended reading: How To Become A Voice Over Actor And Work From Anywhere

30. Truck Driver

Truck drivers are people who move things from one place to another. To do this job, truck drivers need a commercial driver’s license (CDL). This job often involves working by yourself for long hours.

The salary for a truck driver can depend on things like what kind of items they’re moving and the miles they have to drive. Usually, they can make between $45,000 and $75,000 or even more in a year.

31. UPS Driver

UPS drivers deliver packages to people’s homes and businesses. They do this mostly on their own, in their trucks by themselves.

UPS drivers make a good income and they earn about $30-$45 per hour or even more, depending on how many years they have worked at UPS and where they work.

32. Security Guard

Security guards protect property and/or people, and they usually work alone.

A security guard’s salary depends on things like where they work, how long they’ve been doing the job, and what exactly they have to do. Usually, they can make between $25,000 and $35,000 in a year.

33. Self-Storage Facility Owner

Self-storage facilities are where people store their belongings, like boxes of their mementos, vehicles, RVs, and more.

Owning a self-storage business can be a way to make money and run a business with low expenses, plus they typically only have a couple of employees.

Many of the times when I’ve been to a self-storage lot, it’s been just the owner or an employee of theirs working. There are almost no customers either.

Recommended reading: How To Invest In Self-Storage For Beginners

34. Laundromat Owner

Similar to a self-storage business, a laundromat typically does not have very many employees.

Running a laundromat can be a way to make money, with low costs, as most things are automated (the washer and dryer machines do all of the washing).

Recommended reading: Are Laundromats Profitable? How Much Do Laundromats Make?

35. Get Paid To Text

When getting paid to text, you will many times be talking to someone else, but it is all done through text messages.

Some jobs may include:

  • Text Therapy or Coach
  • Answering questions, such as if you are a mechanic, doctor, lawyer, veterinarian, home expert, appraiser, computer expert
  • Customer support

Recommended reading: 28 Ways To Get Paid To Text And Make Money

36. Survey Taker

Taking online surveys and answering questions for focus groups is not a full-time job, but it can be a way to make some extra money.

You share your thoughts and answer straightforward questions, and in return, you can receive cash or rewards such as Amazon gift cards.

The survey companies I recommend signing up for and the best-paying survey sites include:

  1. American Consumer Opinion
  2. Survey Junkie
  3. Swagbucks
  4. InboxDollars
  5. Branded Surveys
  6. Pinecone Research
  7. Prize Rebel
  8. User Interviews – These are the highest paying surveys with the average being around $60.

Recommended reading: 18 Best Paid Survey Sites To Make $100+ Per Month

37. Twitch Streamer

Twitch is a site where you can make money playing video games, talking online in a live stream, and more. A streamer may be able to make money from their own home and all alone. Yes, they do need to be live recording their life, but they are their own boss.

There are many ways to make money on Twitch such as with paid subscriptions, display ads, selling merchandise (like t-shirts and mugs), and more.

Some of the most successful Twitch streamers make hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars each year, but, it’s important to know that most don’t earn much at all.

Recommended reading: How Much Do Twitch Streamers Make?

38. Litter Cleanup Worker

If you own a business, it’s important to keep your place clean and tidy. Nobody likes to see trash lying around, right?

That’s why some business owners are happy to pay for someone to clean up before their business opens for the day. A clean area makes the place look nice and welcoming for customers.

This business can be started all alone and earnings on average are about $30 to $50 for every hour you work. It’s pretty simple too. You’ll just need a broom, a dustpan, and some tools to help you pick up litter easily. It’s almost like taking a stroll while you work! Plus, you can choose when you want to do it, so it can fit nicely into your schedule.

Recommended reading: How I Started A $650,000 Per Year Litter Cleanup Business

39. Google Rater

A Search Engine Evaluator, also known as a Google Rater, is a person who looks at websites and blogs and gives them a score based on how good and helpful they are for Google.

You don’t need to be a tech expert or have a fancy background for this job. Google actually wants regular people, just like you, to rate websites. Plus, you can do this in your own language. Google works in lots of different countries, so you can help out right from where you are.

Recommended reading: How To Become a Search Engine Evaluator

40. Actuary

An actuary is a financial expert who helps businesses figure out and manage their money-related risks, such as for insurance, pensions, and investments.

They use mathematics and statistics to forecast what might happen and help companies make smarter financial decisions.

Actuaries can earn a good salary, and as they get more experience and pass more exams, they can make even more money. Depending on where they work and how experienced they are, actuaries earn average salaries of anywhere between $70,000 to well over $100,000 each year.

Frequently Asked Questions About Jobs Where You Work Alone

Here are answers to common questions about finding jobs where you work alone.

What are jobs with no interaction? What jobs allow me to work by myself?

Yes, there are jobs where you don’t need to talk to people a lot. For example, being a night shift security guard, a transcriptionist, or a stock photo photographer.

How can I work alone from home?

There are jobs where you can work alone at home such as being a blogger, a transcriptionist, or a computer programmer.

What are jobs where you work alone with no degree?

Many jobs don’t require bachelor’s or master’s degrees (a high school diploma will work for many on the list above) and offer the opportunity to work independently. Mowing lawns, painting houses, repairing cars, or walking dogs often don’t require formal education and focus more on skills and experience.

Which part-time jobs are best suited for solitary workers?

Many of the jobs in this blog post can be done part-time, such as any of the freelance jobs, house cleaning, dog walking, and taking surveys. That is one of the joys of many of the jobs above – you can choose your schedule.

What trade jobs can one perform independently?

Trade jobs that you can perform independently include carpentry, welding, or plumbing. These professions usually require specific skills or certifications but may offer opportunities to work alone.

Are there any tech jobs ideal for people who prefer to work alone?

Yes, there are tech jobs that can work well for people who want to work on their own such as web developers, software engineers, or data analysts. These roles usually involve solving problems and working independently, though there might be some instances where collaboration is needed from time to time.

What jobs can be done in isolation with no experience required?

Jobs such as house cleaning, taking surveys, and flea market flipping can be good places to start for entry-level jobs.

How can I find work-alone job opportunities near me?

To find work-alone job opportunities near you, try perusing local job boards, classified ads, or online sites like Indeed or LinkedIn. You can also network with people in your community or join online forums related to your interests to find jobs.

Jobs Where You Work Alone – Summary

I hope you enjoyed this article on jobs where you work alone.

These jobs are like a safe space for people who like being by themselves. It’s a place where you can really concentrate and do your own thing with low social interaction. Jobs where you work alone often appeal to introverts and individuals who require fewer distractions.

Jobs like writing, coding, and freelancing let you work on your own. Not everyone may like working alone, but for those who do, it can be a lot less stressful and overwhelming.

I have been working mostly on my own for years now, and I really love it!

Do you want to find jobs where you work alone?

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Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Author: Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Hey! I’m Michelle Schroeder-Gardner and I am the founder of Making Sense of Cents. I’m passionate about all things personal finance, side hustles, making extra money, and online businesses. I have been featured in major publications such as Forbes, CNBC, Time, and Business Insider. Learn more here.

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