20 Careers that Allow for Extensive Travel

20 Careers that Allow for Extensive Travel

By: Daniel Steingold | June 05, 2016

With a good number of jobs essentially dictating that the furthest you’ll venture on-the-job is between your cubicle and the water cooler, it is no surprise that many relish the opportunity to engage in jobs that allow for travel.

While many of these positions involve business travel, others just inherently involve travel. Some you may have never heard of; others may simply come as a surprise.

Here are 20 careers that allow for extensive travel.

1. Athletic Recruiter

Typically employed by both college and professional programs, athletic recruiters scout and gauge the best talent that’s out there. They are an encyclopedia when it comes to their given sport, and they know the skills a player at any position needs.

While it’s not for everyone— it is imperative you be a sports fan— it can be a rewarding and lucrative career.

2. Construction Manager

Construction managers are responsible for overseeing the construction of buildings, and often relocate for projects. They can stay in areas for many months at a time, and are in high demand.

Image Text

The median pay for a construction manager is a cool $82,790.

3. Auditor

Auditors go across the country auditing businesses’ tax and financial records. While the places they go aren’t always the most exciting of destinations, they typically get to visit them for at least a few days at a time, which allows for some exploration and familiarity.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that auditor positions will grow by 11 percent by 2024.

4. Au Pair

While not a traditional position, being an au pair may be a viable option for many. Au pairs get free room and board and a small amount of pay from a host family for helping them out with household tasks, such as childcare.

Being an au pair can ultimately help you with more intimately getting to know a foreign country.

5. Consultant

Consultants have clients, whether businesses or individuals, who need help with coming up with solutions to complex problems. Expert consultants typically have clients all over the world, which allows them to travel.

It is important to note that even in the age of Skype and Facetime, person-to-person interaction is still valued, enabling consultants to travel. Consultants sometimes have their travel paid for, but it often comes out of their own pocket.

6. Cruise Employee

This is one of the more fabled positions, largely because nearly anyone can do it. Employees of cruise lines get free food and room and board, all while receiving wages on top of it. Regardless if you’re a cook or part of the entertainment crew, there are positions for individuals of all backgrounds to travel the world.

Image Text

The only major downside is that pay is usually substandard, often because positions either require little specialized skill and get a lot of applicants.

7. English Teacher Abroad

Teaching ESL (English as a second language) allows one to make a living overseas while helping students understand the world’s lingua franca. In order to teach English abroad, one must have a bachelor’s degree, along with other specific certifications and training.

The top-paying countries when it comes to being an ESL teacher are usually Middle Eastern and Asian nations.

8. Executive Assistant

Individuals who choose this career play the role of an assistant to a corporate executive, which allows them to travel with their high-ranking boss on business trips. Since client meetings are usually frequent, one will have an abundance of opportunities to see new sights.

Typically, one will have to work their way up the ranks to become an executive assistant, starting by being a secretary or lower-level assistant.

9. Flight Attendant

Like cruise ship employees, becoming a flight attendant is a very popular career choice, if for no other reason than you get to travel with very little in the way of formal requirements. Usually, all that is required is previous customer service experience and a certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. In terms of benefits, you also get free or discounted flights, for both yourself and family members.

Image Text

The downside? The pay isn’t great, you don’t have a stable schedule, and flight passengers can often be a hassle.

10. Foreign Service Worker

Foreign Service workers essentially interact and mediate with foreign governments on behalf of the United States. While the most well-known type of foreign service worker is a diplomat, there are a number of other easier-to-obtain, yet coveted positions that allow for living near one of the U.S.’s 250-plus embassies.

These positions include Foreign Service Officers and Foreign Service Specialists, along with internship and fellowship opportunities.

11. International Aid Worker

Aid workers visit foreign impoverished nations in order to help residents overcome life-or-death dilemmas, such as malnourishment, famine, disease, and natural disasters.

Typically, aid workers are expected to have a background in a health or education field, along with a strong desire to perform social work.

12. Tour Guide

Being a tour guide, whether within the U.S. or overseas, takes knowledge and expertise that can be obtained with a bit of hard work and diligence. Both bigger and smaller tourist sites will always be in need of guides who are friendly and energetic.

Image Text

If working overseas, it’s a big plus if you speak English fluently. If you’re new to the field, consider taking a training program.

13. Railroad Worker

While working for a railroad company may seem antiquated to many, the truth is that railroads still play a major part in the American economy. Furthermore, railroad jobs can be found nationwide, allowing for even more frequent travel and relocation.

If you’re a veteran, you should definitely apply to work for a railroad: since 2012, tens of thousands of former veterans have been hired as railroad workers.

14. Retail Purchasers

While many of the duties of a retail purchaser, such as monitoring inventory, don’t inherently involve travel, a number of others do. Retail purchasers typically travel extensively to identify industry and consumer trends, attending trade exhibitions, meetings, and fashion shows along the way.

The ultimate goal for retail purchasers is to determine what items a retail store should carry. While retail purchasers are stereotypically used for clothing stores, they can also be employed at retailers in broader industries.

Image Text

15. Sales Representative

The travel of a sales rep is typically limited to a specific region, but usually a rep gets to know that region pretty intimately. There are an abundance of open positions in sales; one can find solace in selling anything from beauty products to insurance.

Many sales representative positions pay solely by commission, which can be a blessing or curse. One often only needs a high school diploma to get started in sales, but further education or experience may be required for certain positions.

16. Stagehand

Being a stagehand is a dream job for many, simply because one gets to tour with their favorite act, while getting paid.

While some musical or theater acts are provided with stagehands at any given venue, it is no guarantee, which is why acts often provide their own. Whether you work for a band or venue, you are sure to obtain an insider’s perspective and have a great time!

17. Travel Agent

While it’s true that there are projected to be fewer travel agents in the future than there are now, it’s still an enticing opportunity for those who love to travel.

Travel agents can help with providing relatively objective advice to clients that suits their needs. As they need to be familiar with popular destinations, travel agents have to be frequent travelers.

Travel agents can expect to make a fairly modest amount annually, perhaps around $35,000.

18. Travel Writer

Travel writing can manifest in many forms: blogs, books, articles, guides, etc.

While most travel writer positions are freelance, some full-time positions can be found— or created. Many prominent travel experts have gone on to start their own blog or website detailing their adventures.

Either way, a deep passion for travel, the ability to write well and engage readers, and a fresh perspective are needed to be an effective travel writer.

19. Truck Driver

This is yet another one of those oft-mentioned careers in which you will travel. What often isn’t mentioned as for benefits for truck drivers: you get a lot of time to yourself (which suits introverts), and you aren’t stuck within a cubicle.

Truck drivers see the landscape and road firsthand, which gives them a wide and personal perspective of different cities. Be aware, however, that truck drivers often live out of their truck, and are expected to drive up to 14 hours a day.

Image Text

In addition, aspiring truck drivers will need to obtain a commercial driver’s license.

20. Field Service Engineers

Field service engineers are individuals who help customers with the installation of different products or services, such as cable or internet, getting paid pretty well for it— some estimates place a salary at above $70,000.

While field service engineers are usually dispatched to nearby areas, they are occasionally sent afar. Either way, you will never be trapped in an office all day!


Find the Perfect Job for You

DreamHire recommends you jobs that fit your
skills, experiences, career goals, and more.