Want to work remotely and make more money? If you've got the skills and take our advice, you can land one of the best high-paying remote jobs with no experience.

Is it really possible to land a high-paying remote job with no experience?

Most people are skeptical when they hear a resounding “yes!” in response. But it’s not that surprising when you think about the future of remote work.

Fully-remote positions continue to rise, and companies need qualified candidates with very specific skills to fill them. However, remote work experience isn’t always a mandatory requirement, as you’ll learn in today’s guide.

We’ll explain why your lack of virtual work shouldn’t prevent you from swapping your daily corporate grind for a remote role, why you may even bank more, and how to find the best positions. 

With so much on the docket, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page first:

What We Mean By “No Remote Experience,” No Problem

To be clear, we’re not suggesting that you can land a high-paying remote job with no experience at all. Rather, we’re referring to making the switch from an office job to a remote position for the first time.

There’s a big difference here.

Depending on your work history, you may have years of education, certifications, and real-world career experience under your belt. This type of resume and skill set will set you apart from other candidates and prove your value to hiring managers.

On the flip side, anyone can learn how to work remotely, as we witnessed firsthand during coronavirus lockdowns.

Teams can train new employees on the specific remote tools they use and the policies they follow, or send them off to watch tutorials and explainer videos about how these work.

But teams don’t have the time or expertise to teach job-specific skills like coding, web design, persuasive ad copy, etc. That’s why many hiring teams place less value on remote work experience and more weight on accomplishments.

So don’t get discouraged by your lack of virtual work when applying for remote positions. Instead, think about how you can help each potential employer, and convey this in your application.

How to Land a Remote Job with No Experience
We wrote a complete guide on How to Land a Remote Job with No Experience, so we can’t cover all those tips here.

But in a nutshell, conquering this task requires you to:

1. Identify and show off your skills relative to each position
2. Make the connection between your current experience and what the job ad calls for
3. Try to get familiar with the most popular remote tools
4. Work on the skills you lack/need while you apply for remote roles
5. Present your case well

Your resume and application should cover most of these bases, whether you’re applying for an in-house position or remote job. 

So as long as you hit on what the job description mentions, you can certainly make a case for why you can also do so from afar (even if you’ve only worked on-premise your whole career).

But now you may be thinking, Do remote jobs even pay well?

Keep In Mind, Your Annual Salary is Only Part of the Equation

With companies like Facebook saying they may adjust salaries for remote employees living outside the pricey San Francisco area, you may be wondering whether you’ll need to take a pay cut just to work remotely.

And there’s no concrete answer here.

Yes, you will find high-paying, fully remote jobs. But you may also

When you start working remotely, you actually save money on:

• Costly commutes. Gas money, Ubers, and public transportation expenses pile up quickly during the workweek and can all be stashed or invested when you’re remote.
• Professional work attire. While you may need the occasional nice shirt for a Zoom meeting, your work wardrobe budget will decrease significantly.
• Caregiver expenses. You may be able to work remotely and take care of your kids, elders, or pets when you’re home.
• Office lunches. Making your own food at home isn’t only healthier than takeout Monday through Friday, it’s much more economical.

A lower starting salary shouldn’t deter you from applying for a remote position. In reality, these savings and the other benefits of working remotely may all even out.

So now, let’s see what you can expect to earn if you’re considering leaving your in-house role or upping your skills for a remote career change.

see jobs that pay less than what you’re currently making.

If you run into a situation like this, you must consider more than just your base salary.