Most of us would love to be able to drop everything and travel the world, but unless you have a trust fund, it seems virtually impossible. However, there are a handful of ways to leave your life behind and experience the world at large — and you can even get paid to do them. Below are 14 jobs that theoretically will pay you to travel the world or explore the country, earning money while you step up your life experiences. Each of them offers different benefits and rewards, and some of them you can even do without a degree or training. Check out your options below — and remember, without risk there can be no reward.Flight attendants don’t really get to see much of the world while they’re working, but they do get days off wherever they land.
You can work and teach in dozens of countries across the world if you’re a native English speaker. The jobs come with salaries, flights, housing, and more — plus you get to learn a second language while you’re helping the locals learn your first.
Most popular in the world of yoga, you could actually get paid to teach fitness classes overseas.
To qualify for a Foreign Service Officer position with the U.S. State Department you just have to have to be 20 years old and able to pass the Foreign Service Exam. It’s an extensive interview process, but you then get to spend your entire career traveling the world in different posts.
Think of it as a hotel on the water: Just like hotels need bellhops, maids, concierges, and servers, so too do yachts and cruise ships.
Musicians and performers are always looking for tech savvy people with strong arms to take care of set up, lighting and more. If you manage to get one of these jobs, you go where the band goes.
Amtrak offers a writer’s residency that allows creative minds to board the train for days at a time, traveling the country while working on their craft.
If you’re not good at writing, you could also just drive the train. Becoming a train conductor requires a lot of straining (you are responsible for the locomotive’s safety, after all), but it also provides a comfortable income and a chance to see the country.
If you don’t mind hanging out with kids then this is a great job that you can do anywhere in the world.
Becoming a National Park Ranger is tough, but you can then work at any one of the country’s National Parks — or all of them, if you prefer to move around a lot.
Companies will train and pay you to drive busses for tour groups across the world — not a bad gig, especially for those who love being behind the wheel.
Travel nurses are placed in international hospital assignments for several months at a time. They are moved around the globe, depending on where they are needed. If you’ve got a nursing degree and a sense of adventure, this might be the job for you.
Truck driving is a lonely occupation, but it’s also a way to get onto the open road and see the country. Just make sure to get out and stretch every once in awhile.
Recruiters are expected to travel the country in search of the best new talent. You could also do this abroad, as there are many recruiting companies that find university students to come study in the United States.
