What a year it's been for remote workers. If you look at most sources online, you would be forgiven for assuming that remote jobs are declining faster than you can apply for them.
But it's not over. Although employers are enforcing return-to-office mandates, there are still some positive signs of growth—although unlike pandemic figures—particularly in the high-paying jobs sectors.
Researchers at Ladders, a job search site that focuses exclusively on jobs that pay $100,000 or more, analyzed over half a million job postings on their platform from April through June of 2024 to compile the Q2 (second quarter) 2024 Ladders High Paying Jobs Report.
Their research revealed that although it plummeted somewhat in Q1, "remote work clawed back some ground, gaining about 7% in Q2. Hybrid roles reclaimed 40%," their report said.
Additionally, "the number of six-figure jobs available jumped 20% last quarter." John Mullinix, director of growth marketing at Ladders, explains: “As the economy rebounds, companies are expanding and investing in new projects, driving the need for higher-paying roles. With inflation on the rise, businesses are adjusting wages to attract and retain top talent, especially in specialized fields like tech, healthcare, and engineering. Industry growth in sectors like tech, finance, and healthcare also plays a big part, as these areas continue to boom. Additionally, increased investments in technology and sustainability are creating demand for skilled professionals, often with higher salaries.”
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Highest Paying Jobs Of Q2 2024
So what are the highest paying jobs of summer 2024?
- Nurse practitioner
- Project manager
- Physician assistant
- Software engineer
- Senior software engineer
- General manager
- Pharmacy manager
- Pharmacist (full or part time)
- Program manager
- Outside sales representative
5 Highest Paying Remote Jobs of Q2 2024
When considering their top 10 list of highest paying jobs for Q2 2024, one might be intrigued to learn which of these roles are remote or can be performed remotely.
From this list, it appears that at least half of them are reasonably popular as remote jobs:
- Project manager
- Software engineer
- Senior software engineer
- General manager
- Program manager
ForbesTop 10 In-Demand Fully Remote Jobs In 2024, From ResearchBy Rachel Wells
There seems to be a clear trend here, with project and operational management, and tech leading the way in the highest paying remote jobs which are hiring right now.
Let's dig into the job projections and expected salary ranges for each of these in-demand remote jobs:
Forbes25 Million Project Managers In Demand As Median Salaries Soar To $120,000By Rachel Wells
1. Remote Project Manager
Project managers have a bright future ahead. Almost every industry, every business, needs a project manager to ensure everything is kept at pace, running according to schedule, and that projects are delivered to client and stakeholder satisfaction. As such, they are indispensable.
Additionally, project management is a skill that is not easily replaced by AI, and at the same time, it is comparatively easy to learn as you do not need to have a degree to be a project manager. Although the training is rigorous and can be tough, especially if you're studying for a PMI certification, it certainly is more advantageous to spend six months studying for your certification than to spend years at university, expending money you cannot afford and drowning in debt. This signals good news for you if you've been laid off due to new technology taking over your job, or would like to explore a lucrative career path.
A word of warning: project managers tend to make the most money in the technology industry, so you may find that average salaries dwindle down a little in other industries, by comparison.
Average salary range: $128,376 to $160,574
2. Remote Software Engineer
Software engineers are in a booming industry; the demand for their jobs is surging at 25% (much faster than average) according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and they were listed by FlexJobs as being in the top 10 in-demand work-from-anywhere jobs too—talk about being a digital nomad!
Average salary range: $72,460 to $188,310
3. Remote Senior Software Engineer
As you progress in your career as a software engineer, there are multiple career paths to choose from, including freelance or contract software engineer, VP of engineering, and senior software engineer.
Becoming a senior software engineer entails some management responsibility, and as such, you will be required to not only be exceptionally proficient with your technical skills, but to also have strong leadership, decision-making, and team management skills.
Average salary range: $113,700 to $135,700
4. Remote General Manager
A general manager (also known as operations manager) runs several operations and departments at once and typically reports to the senior management team. You might also be handling an entire company branch. This role requires deep expertise and confidence in understanding many different business functions, and knowing the technical specifics of the business inside out.
Exceptional project management skills would go a long way in being successful with this role.
Average salary range: $78,356 to $105,170
5. Remote Program Manager
The role of a program manager, another management position, is very similar to that of a project manager in many ways, but in other ways, it can be totally different. This job can be exciting as you get involved in rolling out organizational-wide programs or programs that benefit the community in which you live. You're able to be a catalyst for change and ensure that resources are put to good use, for the benefit of the program's participants.
Demand for program managers, as project management professionals, is up by 6% according to the BLS, which is higher than the average job growth rate in the U.S. According to data from Salary.com, program managers tend to make slightly more money each year than their project manager counterparts.
Average salary range: $129,604 to $172,851
So far, it seems that the best places to look for high-paying remote roles would be within project and operational management and technology.
With six-figure job availability up by 20%, and remote work regaining ground this last quarter by 7%, 2024 is beginning to look more optimistic for workers seeking high-paying remote jobs.
