Want to earn $100K, $150K, or even $200K+ working from home? These 15 remote jobs offer six-figure salaries—and most are hiring right now.
I've analyzed thousands of remote job postings and salary data from companies like GitLab, Automattic, Zapier, and more to bring you the real numbers behind the highest-paying remote positions in 2025.
Whether you're just starting out or ready to level up, this guide shows you what these jobs pay, what skills you need, and how to land them.
What You'll Find Here:
Top 10 Highest-Paying Tech Remote Jobs
Tech roles dominate the high-salary remote space. Here are the positions paying $80K-$300K+ for remote work in 2025:
1. Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
Average Salary: $180,000 - $300,000+
Experience Required: 10-15+ years in tech leadership
What You'll Do: Lead technical strategy, build engineering teams, make architecture decisions, align tech with business goals. Report to CEO, manage VPs and directors.
Skills Needed:
- Deep technical expertise (architecture, scalability, security)
- Leadership and team building (hiring, mentoring, culture)
- Business acumen and strategic planning
- Stakeholder communication
- Budget management
Companies Hiring Remote CTOs: Early-stage startups, Series A-C companies, mid-size SaaS businesses
How to Get Started: Progress from senior engineer → engineering manager → director → VP → CTO. Build track record of scaling teams and systems.
2. VP of Engineering
Average Salary: $160,000 - $250,000
Experience Required: 8-12+ years with 3-5 years in management
What You'll Do: Manage engineering managers, set technical direction, improve processes, hire and retain talent, deliver products on time.
Skills Needed:
- Strong coding background (even if not coding daily)
- People management and development
- Process optimization (Agile, SDLC)
- Cross-functional collaboration (product, design, QA)
- Metrics-driven decision making
Companies Hiring: GitLab, Automattic, Toptal, Auth0, Elastic
3. Solutions Architect
Average Salary: $140,000 - $200,000
Experience Required: 6-10 years in software engineering/architecture
What You'll Do: Design complex technical solutions for enterprise clients, bridge business needs with technical implementation, lead pre-sales technical discussions.
Skills Needed:
- Cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- System design and architecture patterns
- Multiple programming languages
- Client-facing communication
- Security and compliance knowledge
Companies Hiring: AWS, Microsoft, Salesforce, MongoDB, Snowflake
4. Machine Learning Engineer
Average Salary: $130,000 - $220,000
Experience Required: 3-8 years in ML/AI
What You'll Do: Build and deploy ML models, work with large datasets, optimize algorithms, productionize AI systems, collaborate with data scientists and engineers.
Skills Needed:
- Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, scikit-learn
- Deep learning and neural networks
- MLOps and model deployment
- Data engineering and ETL
- Math (linear algebra, statistics, calculus)
Companies Hiring: OpenAI, Hugging Face, Scale AI, Anthropic, Google
How to Get Started: Master's degree in CS/ML or bootcamp + portfolio. Build public ML projects on GitHub. Contribute to open-source ML libraries.
5. Senior Software Engineer (Full Stack)
Average Salary: $120,000 - $180,000
Experience Required: 5-8 years of software development
What You'll Do: Build features end-to-end, mentor junior developers, make architectural decisions, lead technical projects, code review.
Skills Needed:
- Frontend: React, Vue, TypeScript, CSS
- Backend: Node.js, Python, Java, or Go
- Databases: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis
- APIs, testing, CI/CD, Git
- System design fundamentals
Companies Hiring: Shopify, GitHub, Stripe, Linear, Vercel
How to Get Started: Build full-stack apps, contribute to open source, get junior role and level up over 3-5 years.
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Start Free Course Now →6. DevOps/Site Reliability Engineer (SRE)
Average Salary: $115,000 - $175,000
Experience Required: 4-7 years in operations/infrastructure
What You'll Do: Automate deployments, manage cloud infrastructure, monitor system reliability, implement CI/CD, handle incidents, optimize performance.
Skills Needed:
- Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform
- AWS/GCP/Azure cloud platforms
- Linux, networking, security
- Scripting (Python, Bash, Go)
- Monitoring tools (Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog)
Companies Hiring: Netflix, Spotify, Cloudflare, HashiCorp, DigitalOcean
7. Security Engineer
Average Salary: $110,000 - $170,000
Experience Required: 3-7 years in cybersecurity
What You'll Do: Identify vulnerabilities, implement security controls, respond to incidents, conduct penetration testing, ensure compliance (SOC 2, ISO 27001).
Skills Needed:
- Security frameworks and best practices
- Penetration testing tools (Burp Suite, Metasploit)
- Network security and encryption
- Cloud security (AWS IAM, security groups)
- Programming (Python, Go, JavaScript)
Certifications That Help: CISSP, CEH, OSCP, Security+
Companies Hiring: Okta, 1Password, Snyk, CrowdStrike, Vanta
8. Product Manager (Senior)
Average Salary: $120,000 - $180,000
Experience Required: 5-8 years in product management
What You'll Do: Define product strategy, prioritize features, work with engineering and design, analyze metrics, talk to customers, launch products.
Skills Needed:
- Product strategy and roadmapping
- User research and data analysis
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Technical understanding (APIs, databases, architecture)
- Communication and stakeholder management
Companies Hiring: Notion, Figma, Miro, Airtable, Webflow
How to Get Started: Start as associate PM, junior PM, or transition from engineering/design. Build side projects showing product thinking.
9. Data Scientist
Average Salary: $110,000 - $165,000
Experience Required: 3-6 years in data analysis/science
What You'll Do: Analyze data to drive business decisions, build predictive models, create dashboards, run A/B tests, present insights to stakeholders.
Skills Needed:
- Python (pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn)
- SQL and database knowledge
- Statistics and experimentation
- Data visualization (Tableau, Looker, Matplotlib)
- Business acumen
Companies Hiring: Airbnb, Uber, Netflix, Spotify, DoorDash
10. Mobile Engineer (iOS/Android)
Average Salary: $105,000 - $160,000
Experience Required: 4-7 years in mobile development
What You'll Do: Build native mobile apps, optimize performance, implement features, work with designers and backend engineers, maintain app store presence.
Skills Needed:
- iOS: Swift, SwiftUI, UIKit, Xcode
- Android: Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, Android Studio
- Mobile UI/UX patterns
- REST APIs and GraphQL
- Testing and debugging
Companies Hiring: Duolingo, Cash App, Discord, Robinhood, Calm
5 High-Paying Non-Tech Remote Jobs
You don't need to code to earn six figures remotely. These non-technical roles offer excellent compensation:
11. Sales Director / VP of Sales
Average Salary: $130,000 - $220,000 (base + commission)
Experience Required: 7-12 years in B2B sales
What You'll Do: Build and lead sales teams, close enterprise deals, create sales processes, hit revenue targets, manage pipelines.
Skills Needed: Enterprise sales, Salesforce, negotiation, team leadership, forecasting
Companies Hiring: HubSpot, Gong, Outreach, ZoomInfo, Salesforce
12. Senior UX/UI Designer
Average Salary: $95,000 - $150,000
Experience Required: 5-8 years in product design
What You'll Do: Design user interfaces, conduct user research, create prototypes, work with product and engineering, establish design systems.
Skills Needed: Figma, user research, prototyping, design systems, interaction design
Companies Hiring: Figma, Webflow, Framer, Abstract, InVision
13. Content Marketing Manager
Average Salary: $85,000 - $135,000
Experience Required: 5-7 years in content marketing
What You'll Do: Develop content strategy, create blog posts and resources, manage content team, drive SEO growth, analyze performance.
Skills Needed: SEO, content strategy, writing, analytics, project management
Companies Hiring: Ahrefs, SEMrush, ConvertKit, Buffer, Zapier
14. Senior Financial Analyst
Average Salary: $90,000 - $140,000
Experience Required: 5-8 years in finance/accounting
What You'll Do: Financial modeling, forecasting, budgeting, variance analysis, board reporting, strategic planning.
Skills Needed: Excel/Google Sheets mastery, financial modeling, SQL, accounting principles, communication
Companies Hiring: Stripe, Square, Brex, Ramp, fintech companies
15. Senior Project Manager
Average Salary: $85,000 - $130,000
Experience Required: 5-8 years in project management
What You'll Do: Lead cross-functional projects, manage timelines and budgets, coordinate teams, mitigate risks, ensure delivery.
Skills Needed: Agile/Scrum, stakeholder management, communication, tools (Jira, Asana, Monday), problem-solving
Certifications: PMP, Scrum Master (CSM)
Companies Hiring: Atlassian, GitLab, Asana, Monday.com, ClickUp
How to Land a High-Paying Remote Job
High salaries don't just fall into your lap. Here's the proven path:
1. Build In-Demand Skills
Companies pay premium salaries for skills in short supply. In 2025, that means:
- Programming: Python, JavaScript/TypeScript, Go, Rust
- Cloud: AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform, serverless
- AI/ML: LLMs, vector databases, prompt engineering
- Security: Zero-trust, compliance, penetration testing
- Data: SQL, Python (pandas), data visualization
2. Get 3-5 Years of Proven Experience
Most high-paying remote jobs require demonstrated expertise. Your path:
- Years 0-2: Entry-level role ($50K-$70K) - Learn foundations, ship projects
- Years 2-4: Mid-level role ($70K-$100K) - Take ownership, mentor others
- Years 4-7: Senior role ($100K-$150K) - Lead projects, make architecture decisions
- Years 7+: Staff/Principal/Director ($150K-$250K+) - Strategic impact, team leadership
3. Build a Strong Portfolio
For high-paying roles, your portfolio proves you can deliver results:
- Open-source contributions (especially to well-known projects)
- Side projects with real users (even 10-100 users counts)
- Technical blog showing expertise
- Case studies of work impact ("Reduced API latency by 40%")
- Certifications (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure for cloud roles)
4. Target Remote-First Companies
Companies built for remote work pay the best remote salaries:
- Fully remote companies: GitLab, Automattic, Zapier, Toptal, Doist
- Remote-friendly tech: Stripe, Shopify, GitHub, Vercel
- Check: Our curated remote job board updated daily
5. Negotiate Your Salary
High earners negotiate. Use these strategies:
- Research salaries on Levels.fyi, Glassdoor, Blind
- Get multiple offers to create leverage
- Ask for 10-20% more than initial offer
- Negotiate equity/stock options for startups
- Don't accept first offer—companies expect negotiation
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Our free 7-day remote job course includes everything you need: ATS-optimized resume templates, portfolio project ideas, interview question banks, and salary negotiation scripts.
Whether you're starting from scratch or ready to make $100K+, this course shows you exactly what to do each day.
Get Free Course Access →Skills That Command Premium Salaries
These skills are worth $20K-$50K more in salary in 2025:
💻 Technical Skills
- Cloud architecture (AWS Solutions Architect)
- Kubernetes and container orchestration
- Machine learning and AI
- System design at scale
- Security and compliance
- Real-time data processing
🧠 Soft Skills
- Async communication (remote work essential)
- Technical writing and documentation
- Stakeholder management
- Project leadership
- Mentoring and coaching
- Cross-timezone collaboration
📊 Business Skills
- Product thinking and strategy
- Data-driven decision making
- ROI and business impact analysis
- Enterprise sales and negotiation
- Budget and resource management
- Industry expertise (fintech, healthtech, etc.)
What Affects Remote Job Salaries in 2025
Not all remote jobs pay the same. Here's what impacts your salary:
1. Location-Based vs. Location-Independent Pay
- Location-independent: GitLab, Zapier, Basecamp pay the same globally
- Location-adjusted: Many companies adjust -20% to -40% for lower cost-of-living areas
- US-only high pay: Some companies pay top dollar but only hire in US
2. Company Size and Stage
- Big Tech (Google, Meta, Apple): $150K-$300K+ but fewer remote roles
- High-growth startups (Series B-D): $120K-$200K + equity
- Remote-first scale-ups: $100K-$160K competitive packages
- Early-stage startups: $80K-$130K + higher equity %
3. Industry
- Highest paying: Fintech, crypto, enterprise SaaS, cybersecurity
- Mid-range: E-commerce, marketing tech, dev tools
- Lower (but growing): Non-profits, education tech, media
4. Role Scarcity
Rare skills = higher pay. In 2025:
- Machine learning engineers (high demand, low supply)
- Senior Rust developers
- Blockchain/Web3 engineers
- Security engineers with compliance expertise
- Solutions architects (AWS, Azure)
FAQ: High-Paying Remote Jobs
What is the highest paying remote job?
The highest paying remote jobs include Chief Technology Officer ($180K-$300K+), VP of Engineering ($160K-$250K), Solutions Architect ($140K-$200K), and Machine Learning Engineer ($130K-$220K). Senior software engineering and executive leadership roles consistently offer the highest remote salaries.
Can you make six figures working remotely?
Yes, many remote jobs pay six figures or more. Software engineers, product managers, data scientists, sales directors, and senior consultants regularly earn $100K-$200K+ working remotely. Entry-level positions in tech often start at $70K-$90K with clear paths to six-figure salaries within 2-3 years.
Do remote jobs pay as much as in-office jobs?
Many companies now offer location-independent salaries, meaning remote workers earn the same as in-office employees. Some companies adjust for cost of living, but top tech companies like GitLab, Zapier, and Automattic pay competitive rates regardless of location. High-demand skills command premium salaries whether remote or in-office.
What skills do I need for high-paying remote jobs?
High-paying remote jobs typically require: technical skills (programming, data analysis, cloud architecture), specialized expertise (security, AI/ML, DevOps), strong communication abilities for async work, proven track record of results, and often 3-5+ years of experience. Many roles also require bachelor's degrees in relevant fields, though skills and portfolio can sometimes substitute.
How do I get a high-paying remote job with no experience?
Start with entry-level remote positions ($40K-$60K) in customer success, junior development, or data analysis. Build skills through bootcamps, certifications, and portfolio projects. Companies like Amazon, Salesforce, and IBM hire remote entry-level talent. Focus on demonstrating skills through projects, contribute to open source, and network in online tech communities. Most high earners started entry-level and gained expertise over 3-5 years.
Which industries pay the most for remote work?
Technology, finance, and consulting industries pay the most for remote work. Software/SaaS companies, fintech, cybersecurity, cloud services, and enterprise software lead in remote compensation. Healthcare tech, legal tech, and data analytics also offer high-paying remote opportunities. B2B companies with complex products tend to pay more than B2C.
🚀 Get the $100K+ Career Roadmap
Step-by-step guide to breaking into six-figure remote work—even if you're starting from scratch
- 📊 15-job salary comparison chart
- 🗺️ Career progression roadmap for each role
- 📚 Skill-building resource list
- ✅ 90-day action plan to $100K+
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Your Path to a High-Paying Remote Career
Here's the truth: high-paying remote jobs exist, and they're hiring.
But they don't go to people who apply randomly or hope for the best. They go to people who:
- Build in-demand skills methodically
- Gain proven experience over 3-7 years
- Position themselves strategically
- Apply to remote-first companies
- Negotiate confidently
Whether you're aiming for your first $80K remote role or ready to break into $150K+ territory, the opportunities are real. Companies like GitLab, Stripe, Shopify, and thousands more are actively hiring remote talent in 2025.
Next steps:
- Browse our remote job board with 300+ fresh positions updated daily
- Check out how to get started with no experience
- Learn about legitimate entry-level remote jobs
- Read our guide on 10 entry-level remote positions
- Take our free 7-day remote job course to build your strategy
The remote work revolution isn't slowing down. Companies are competing for talent by offering higher salaries, better benefits, and full location flexibility.
The question is: are you ready to claim your share?
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