Top 10 Jobs That Let You Work From Home

How would you like to work from home? No hustling out the door 10 minutes late, no fighting your road rage or battling for the last seat on train, no fast food lunch and no noisy co-workers. Sounds like heaven doesn't it?

More than ever, workers are attracted to the 30-second commute, thanks to social and economic trends. Technologies necessary for setting up a home office are widely available, relatively inexpensive and getting easier for people to use. In addition, more workers are seeking flexible schedules to care for children and aging parents.

The number of Americans whose employer allows them to work remotely at least one day per month increased 63 percent, from 7.6 million in 2004 to 12.4 million in 2006, according to a 2007 report issued by WorldatWork. In total, the sum of teleworkers (both employed and self-employed) working remotely at least one day per month has risen 10 percent from 26.1 million in 2005 to 28.7 million in 2006.

Many people associate working from home with starting a home-based business and becoming an entrepreneur, but more and more employers are offering this option to workers in order to attract and retain top employees.

Don't fret; there are jobs that you can find with established employers. Search using terms including “work from home,” “home office” and “telecommute.” In addition, even if the job is advertised as office-based, here are 10 positions are telework-friendly and could be in your future.

Administrative assistant
Administrative assistants and secretaries comprised 4.2 million U.S. jobs in 2006 (according to the latest data from the BLS), one of the country’s largest occupations. Also known as virtual assistants, home-based administrative assistants use office experience and computer skills as support personnel. Many skills easily transition into this position, which offers many part-time and temporary opportunities.

Advertising sales agent
According to eMarketer, the number of dollars spent on advertising is expected to exceed $295 billion in 2008. Advertising sales representatives sell or solicit advertising space in print and online publications, custom-made signs, or TV and radio advertising spots with online advertising is growing rapidly.
Computer software engineer
The BLS projects computer software engineer to be one of the fastest-growing occupations between now and 2016. Duties include design, development, testing and evaluation of computer software, and continual training is suggested for the quickly evolving industry.

Corporate event planner
Employed by a private company rather than a hotel or convention facility, a corporate event planner coordinates staff activities including group meetings, client presentations, special events, conventions and travel. The BLS projects this occupation will add 10,000 new jobs by 2016.

Copy editor
Copy editors mostly review and edit a writer's copy for accuracy, content, grammar and style. This is a competitive field; however, the growth of online publications and services is spurring the demand for writers and editors, especially those with Web experience.

Desktop publisher
Desktop publishers use computer software to format and combine text, images, charts and other visual elements to produce publication-ready material. Duties of this fast-growing profession include writing and editing text, creating graphics, converting photos and drawings into digital images, designing page layouts and developing presentations.

Data entry clerk
Like administrative assistants, job prospects should be best for those with expertise in computer software applications. By typing text, entering data into a computer, and performing other clerical duties, these workers ensure companies keep up with information and technology.

Insurance underwriter
Insurance underwriters serve as the main link between the insurance carrier and the insurance agent. Underwriters analyze insurance applications, calculate the risk of loss from policyholders, decide whether to issue the policy and establish appropriate premium rates.

Market research analyst
Market research analysts, whose job numbers are expected to grow 20 percent by 2016, gather data on competitors and analyze prices, sales, and methods of marketing and distribution. They often design surveys, compile and evaluate the data and make recommendations to their client or employer based upon their findings.

Paralegal
While lawyers assume ultimate responsibility for legal work, they delegate much of their work to paralegals. Paralegals not only assist in preparation for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings, they also perform a number of other vital functions including draft contracts, mortgages, separation agreements, trust instruments and may assist in preparing tax returns and planning estates. With employers reducing costs by replacing duties once tended to by lawyers with paralegals, growth of this profession is expected.

If you want to make the case to a potential employer or your boss to let you work from home, keep a few things in mind. If possible, provide concrete examples of how this arrangement was successful in the past or how it will succeed. Suggest that you ease into it -- spending a few days to a few weeks in the office at the outset, meeting people and getting to know procedures. Then, during the first three to six months on the new job, make frequent visits.

Top 10 Jobs...And How You Can Get One.

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Money and Payscale.com pored through thousands of jobs - analyzing factors such as salary, quality-of-life, and job growth - to come up with their list of America's Best Jobs.

Check out their list of the 10 best jobs in America...Then learn how you can get the training and education you need to join the ranks of “the best.”

Job #1: Systems Engineer
Median Salary: $87,100

The Job: Systems engineers are essentially managers who oversee the engineering aspects of a system or project, often leading a team of lower-level engineers.

Did You Know? No longer confined to just the IT industry, systems engineers work everywhere from NASA to Wall Street and Main Street.

What You Need: As a minimum, you'll need a bachelor's degree in engineering or a related field.

Search for Technology and IT schools now.

Job #2: Physician Assistant
Median Salary: $90,900

The Job: A physician assistant (PA) practices medicine under a doctor's direct supervision, which can include diagnosing diseases, writing prescriptions, and assisting in surgery.

Did You Know? Job opportunities for PAs are growing rapidly in inner cities and rural areas.

What You Need: A bachelor's degree in a health-sciences focused field will get you started, but you'll need a master's degree to advance to the highest income levels. You'll also need to pass a national exam. Many nurses gravitate to this field as a way to advance their health care careers.

Find a top Nursing school near you.

Job #3: College Professor
Median Salary: $70,400

The Job: Teaching, writing scholarly papers and books, and possibly some administrative work. While getting your summers off is great, remember that it will take you a while to get the advanced degree you need to get a top-paying job.

Did You Know? Private universities tend to pay much more than state schools and community colleges.

What You Need: Almost without exception you will need a bachelor's degree. Plan on adding a master's degree and maybe even a PhD in your chosen field.

Search for online Master's degree programs now.

Job #4: Nurse Practitioner
Median Salary: $85,200

The Job: Very similar to a physician assistant (PA), a nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who has usually received a master's degree in nursing.

Did You Know? Unlike PAs, NPs can work independently and don't have to report directly to an MD.

What You Need: There are many avenues to starting a nursing career. Many people will add a bachelor's degree on top of their initial training. Earning your master's is the next step to becoming a full NP.

Search for Nursing schools and programs now.

Job #5: IT Project Manager
Median Salary: $98,700

The Job: An IT project manager plans, manages, and completes projects while also managing the project cost, quality, and expectations.

Did You Know? One perk of the job is that it can lead to very senior-level positions, like chief technology officer (CTO) and chief information officer (CIO).

What You Need: A bachelor's degree in business, computer science, or engineering, though many project managers also have several years of business experience and an MBA.

Find local and online Technology and Computer Science schools.

Job #6: Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Median Salary: $74,200

The Job: Accounting is a year-round profession which involves much more than taxes. Many CPAs work for companies planning and managing their finances as well as handling tax and regulation issues.

Did You Know? Jazz musician Kenny G, novelist John Grisham, and Ultimate Fighting champ Chuck Liddell each have an accounting degree. And Nike founder Phil Knight is a licensed CPA.

What You Need: To nab a top-paying job, you'll want to earn your bachelor's degree in accounting, but many people start with an associate's degree in accounting. You'll need to get certification by taking the CPA exam.

Find online and local Accounting degree programs now.

Job #7: Physical Therapist
Median Salary: $74,300

The Job: Physical therapists treat everyone from newborns and athletes to the elderly. It's a job known for its high-satisfaction rate, as well as the ability to work independently.

Did You Know? A Swiss physical therapist is the smarty pants who discovered that the stability ball, which was first created as a toy, could also help treat lower back pain.

What You Need: A bachelor's degree and then a master's from an accredited physical therapy program, which prepares you for any national or state exams you may need to pass.

Job #8: Computer/Network Security Consultant
Median Salary: $99,700

The Job: These guys and gals are on the frontlines of the newest kind of terrorism: cybercrime. Wireless security and computer forensics are two of the hottest jobs right now.

Did You Know? The total number of known computer viruses, worms and Trojan horses surpassed one million in 2008.

What You Need: Just about any IT course or certificate program can help you get ahead, though a bachelor's in a technology-focused field is a great place to start.

Find Technology and Computer Science degree programs.

Job #9: Intelligence Analyst
Median Salary: $82,500

The Job: Does sitting at a desk analyzing data - some of which may be top-secret - sound exciting? That's what many intelligence analysts do, whether they work for a defense contractor or government agency.

Did You Know? Language skills are a hot commodity in this field. The FBI lists 14 priority languages for potential intelligence analysts.

What You Need: A bachelor's degree. Beyond that, experience is the key, whether you're fluent in several languages, familiar with international policy, or a military veteran.

Search for online and local degree programs now.

Job #10: Sales Director
Median Salary: $140,000

The Job: A sales director oversees a sales staff, sets goals, and helps move product. Do this well, and you can write your own ticket, whether it means moving into senior management or earning performance-based bonuses.

Did You Know? In Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, it is never disclosed what the main character, Willy Loman, actually sells.

What You Need: Leadership skills and a bachelor's degree. Studying marketing or business will give you a strong background and earning an MBA will give you management skills and boost you into the upper levels of earning potential.

Find online Business schools now.

All salary information is from Payscale.com. Median salaries are based on at least two to seven years of experience on the job.