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What's the definition of the perfect commute? From the kitchen table to the couch. Working from home, or telecommuting, is no longer the stuff of cubicle daydreams. With improvements in networking technology and changes in corporate philosophy, the right career -- and income -- might be closer than you think. While "rich" is a relative term, researchers have identified how much money a person needs to be happy. According to researchers at Princeton University, those who earn $75,000 annually are generally satisfied with their lives. To that end, we've uncovered 10 telecommuting careers in which you could earn $75,000 or more. Remember that telecommuting is a benefit of a job, not the job itself. The best way to land a well-paying telecommuting job is to look for jobs that offer telecommuting as an option. If you're qualified for the position, then you might be able to negotiate a part-time or full-time telecommute, even if it's not an option at the time of your interview.
Beginning on the next page, find out which careers made our list. You don't need to be a certified public accountant (CPA) to land a lucrative work-at-home career in accounting. However, you will need a bookkeeping background or an accounting degree to get started, as well as a way to network with potential clients. Accountants help their clients by handling a variety of tasks, from running payroll to preparing corporate taxes. The highest-paid accountants earn $100,000 or more per year, but even an average salary is still between $45,000 and $78,000. All it requires is a typical office setup, including a computer and printer, as well as some specialized accounting software. According to the U.S. However, depending on the job requirements, you may be able to apply for a telecommuting programmer position with an associate's degree or a certificate in a related field. SQL and other Web and software development scripts can easily pick up freelance projects and work from home.
There are even dedicated Web sites, like Programming from Home, that specialize in freelance programming job listings. Do you speak more than one language fluently? Do you have a mind for legal or medical terminology? Transcription or translation might be for you. Of the two, translation jobs offer the best pay. Businesses, book publishers, Web sites -- just about anyone who produces marketing or editorial content -- need the help of experienced translators to push their products into new global markets. Law offices also need fast, accurate typists who can transcribe audio or video recordings of depositions. Public relations specialists, also known as media relations professionals, help corporations and nonprofit organizations implement and measure public perception campaigns. The job may require creating and carrying out public awareness initiatives, drafting news releases, writing speeches for company executives, executing social media strategies and handling the requests of reporters -- and can encompass many other aspects of communication between a client and the public.
Traditionally, public relations professionals have worked in offices, but an increasing number of people who work in the field have launched their own home-based firms or arranged telecommuting options with their employers. And job prospects throughout the industry are encouraging. Get a 1-800 number, an e-mail address and a well-designed Web page, and no one needs to know that your corporate headquarters are in your spare bedroom. Some high-paying careers are increasingly centered at home, such as home-based physicians who review and evaluate patient cases for health care companies. According to the U.S. Even if you don't hold a doctoral degree, there are virtually unlimited options for running a small business out of your home: business consulting, meeting or event planning, Web-based retail, life coaching, personal training, therapy, dog grooming -- the list goes on and on. Most journalistic jobs require a degree in journalism or communications, and it's important to obtain this education -- plus real-world experience as a journalist -- before embarking on a full-time freelance career.
One of the chief indicators of future telecommuting success is networking. As in any career, building relationships with other journalists and editors can help freelancers secure steady work. Many large newspapers and magazines have taken on more freelancers to save money on full-time employees. And Web content is in high demand. For editors, there are opportunities to manage teams of freelancers, help executives write their memoirs or do freelance editing for fiction and nonfiction authors. The highest-earning 10 percent of freelance journalists earned more than $77,000 in 2008, the latest year for which the U.S. Consider a career as a telecommuting virtual assistant. These professionals provide administrative services to businesses, but should also be willing and able to step in when other tasks are requested. You'll either need to have some previous administrative experience or specialized training from organizations like VAClassroom to launch your virtual assistant business. Of course, it also helps if you're a tech-savvy person with stellar organizational and communication skills.
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