Best Jobs for Introverts in 2024 [& Tips for a Successful Job Hunt]
Have you ever thought there are no best jobs for introverts out there?
Or maybe felt like you’re just an introvert living in an extroverts’ world?
There’s so much fuss about the benefits of being a social and outgoing employee that it might be easy to believe there’s a shortage of jobs for introverts out there.
Well, that can’t be further from the truth!
There are tons of great jobs for introverts in the market - you just need to find them and pick the one that best suits you.
That’s why we’ve put together a list of the best jobs for introverts of all tastes to help discover new potential jobs and careers!
- Best Careers for Introverts
- Best Jobs for Introverts With No Experience
- Highest-Paying Jobs for Introverts
- Tips For a Job-Searching Introvert
- Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills as An Introvert
21 Best Jobs for Introverts
Being an introvert doesn’t mean that your career options are limited.
It just means that you are likely to experience the world internally, thrive professionally in quiet environments, and require more alone time than extroverts.
There are many jobs and industries that provide that kind of professional environment, so all you have to do is pinpoint the one that best fits your talents and qualifications, and just go for it!
We’ve put together some of the best jobs for introverts to get you started:
Best Careers for Introverts
#1. Editor
Editors review grammatical, styling, and spelling errors, as well as make corrections before a copy is published. Additionally, they fact-check information and make sure content is in line with editorial standards.
Editors make $54,292/year.
#2. IT Manager
This career involves managing the security and operation of a company’s information systems. That includes installing software and hardware updates, managing the IT budget, and managing junior staff.
An IT manager makes an average of $88,888/year.
#3. Social Media Manager
As a social media manager, you plan and deploy social media marketing campaigns, curate content, and monitor the performance of your social media activities.
A healthy - but virtual - interaction with followers and social media connections are required too!
The average social media manager’s salary is $52,239/year.
#4. Mechanic
Mechanics inspect, repair, and perform maintenance on motor vehicles using a variety of tools and technologies. Sometimes, they specialize in specific systems or types of vehicles, but they sure don’t have much to do with people.
Mechanics make $49,836/year.
#5. Accounting manager
Primarily, accounting managers analyze data, develop accounting policies and create financial reports. In terms of social interaction, they mostly need to direct the work of junior accountants.
As an accounting manager, you can make $73,788/year.
#6. Librarian
Librarians help library visitors find and borrow books, as well as catalog books and other library materials. Sometimes, librarians oversee library budgets and supervise younger staff members.
Most of the time, librarians work alone while making $51,057/year.
#7. Technical Writer
A technical writer prepares instruction manuals, articles, how-to guides, and all sorts of other materials with the purpose of turning complex language into user-friendly information.
The average annual salary of technical writers is $61,200.
Best Jobs for Introverts With No Work Experience or Degree
If you don’t have work experience or a degree, you might feel like your options are ever more limited.
“As if jobs for introverts aren’t scarce enough, I also have my lack of experience to limit me further,” you might think.
Well, that’s not actually the case. Here’s a list of the best jobs for introverts without a degree or experience:
#1. Pet sitter
If you don’t like working around people, you probably enjoy the calmness that caring for an animal provides.
More than experience or a degree, you need passion and love for animals to do this job, which pays about $10.60/hour.
#2. Transcriptionist
As a transcriptionist, you need to attentively listen to audio files and transcribe what you hear - possibly, from the comfort of your home.
With more experience, you can specialize in specific technical niches and get a higher salary. As a beginner transcriptionist, though, you’ll make about $16.35/hour.
#3. Survey-taker
You don’t need much more than some basic computer skills to work as a survey-taker.
All you need to do is sign up to as many survey sites as possible (such as Survey Junkie) and look for high-paying surveys to make the most out of the job.
The lowest-paying survey-taking jobs offer around $9/hour, but you can get as much as $20/hour from companies such as Amazon.
Added benefits? It’s just you and your computer screen!
#4. Housekeeper
As a housekeeper, you might get to tend after a house completely alone (when the house owners are at work, for example), or in the company of your employer.
In any case, you need minimal experience (which you probably already have from doing your own chores) and no degree to work as a housekeeper.
The average pay is $11.28/hour, but it can be higher depending on your level of experience.
#5. Courier
Do you enjoy driving around, listening to the radio, and interacting with people no more than what’s needed? Then, a job as a courier is for you!
You don’t really need a degree or any experience, as long as you are responsible.
Couriers make $15.17/hour.
#6. Data-entry
Data-entry works! You might get to work remotely, or in an office space with several others.
As long as you accurately and effectively copy and store data on a computer, you can enjoy your own space and privacy as you wish.
You’ll get paid $14.03/hour doing this.
#7. Truck Driver
All you need is a driving license. All that’s required is to interact with people when you deliver or load products. As for the rest of the time, it’s just you and the road.
If you have some experience driving trucks, you have even higher chances to land this job, which pays around $17.38/hour.
#8. Landscaping/gardening
Mowing lawns, picking grass and fallen leaves from driveways, shoveling snow...doesn’t sound too bad for an introvert’s tastes, especially if you like staying active or being outside.
No degree is needed and you get paid an average of $14.24/hour.
#9. Online support
Online support involves answering calls and clients’ questions, among other things. At times, you might be tasked to offer the company’s goods or services to specific target groups.
Though you will need to interact with people, it will be over the phone. It is also likely that you’re home-based, as many online support jobs offer that opportunity.
Either way, online support requires minimal experience and no particular degree, and it pays an average of $19.42/hour in the United States.
Highest-Paying Jobs for Introverts
Want a job where you get to have a lot of alone time and get paid well?
Well, you’re in luck: a lot of the conventional high-paying jobs are very introvert-friendly, too.
Some of them involve dealing with computers, animels, science, and even nature!
Here’s a list of the highest-paying jobs for introverts you can try:
#1. Software Developer
A software developer, sometimes called a computer programmer, is a person who creates computer software. You can work solo or with a team, but you are definitely not required to exhaust yourself socially.
Software developers make an average of $72,560 annually.
#2. Veterinarian
Usually working in private clinics or animal hospitals, veterinarians care for sick animals in any way required.
With only a 1.7 percent unemployment rate, veterinarians make $91,883/year. The only people they’re required to deal with? Colleagues and the animals’ caretakers.
#3. Biochemist
Biochemists study the chemical principles of all living things, disease, and cell development. They develop new medicines and tests to detect genetic disorders, diseases, and infections.
As such, their job involves spending time in their laboratories, mainly doing research. A biochemist has an average annual salary of $61,838.
#4. Landscape Architect
Landscape architects design residential and public spaces, college campuses, parks, recreational facilities, gardens, etc., that are both attractive and functional.
Landscape architects divide their time between communicating with their clients and staff and making their projects a reality. They make an average of $60,512 annually.
#5. Actuary
An actuary‘s primary responsibility is to quantify risk and financial consequences, using mathematics, statistics, and financial theory.
This career is perfect for those who prefer numbers and math over people and it pays an average of $72,560/year.
Tips For a Job-Searching Introvert
By now, you should have a pretty clear idea about what the best jobs for introverts are.
But knowing what the best jobs are is not enough - now you need to actually apply, ace the interview, and get hired.
If that doesn’t sound like something you’d enjoy, we don’t blame you. Job hunting can be a very tough and time-consuming process.
That said, if you follow these 5 essential job-search tips, you’ll land your dream job in no time!
- Identify the job that suits you. For starters, YOU should know what you’re looking for in a job. If, for example, you feel more productive working in your space, you probably won’t enjoy a company where employees share working spaces.
- Notice the clues at the job listings. Keep in mind that meeting a job’s requirements isn’t a guarantee that you’ll thrive there. If, for example, the ad describes the perfect candidate as “a people’s person” you might want to pass even if you meet the basic requirements.
- Look for jobs that bring out your strengths. Are you detail-oriented in your work? Or, maybe, your creativity shines through when you work with a team, but not with too many people. Look for jobs that seek employees whose strengths match yours.
- Highlight your qualifications and skills. Use your resume and cover letter to emphasize your skills. For example, explain how your introvert-specific qualities have helped you thrive professionally (e.g., your thoughtful nature may help you catch more mistakes at work than those around you).
- Prepare for the interview. As an introvert, the toughest thing you’ll have to do is (probably) the job interview. After all, you’re sitting in a strange room with 2-3 strangers asking you questions and judging you based on your answers… Not the most fun you can have as an introvert. To ace the interview, take advantage of other skills you might be good at, such as active listening or reading body cues, prepare to discuss your strengths and weaknesses and other interview questions in advance.
Ways to Improve Your Communication Skills as An Introvert
As we mentioned above, there’s a lot of noise around what it means to be an introvert.
Just like extroverts, introverts can build and maintain relationships, enjoy a social life, and engage with diverse groups of people.
However, introverts tend to be more quiet, reserved, and thoughtful. Sometimes, social engagements leave them feeling exhausted and they need time alone to “recharge.”
These traits affect the communication skills of introverts, which sometimes stand in stark comparison with extroverts in the workplace.
So, what if you have no other options but to work the opposite of the best job for introverts?
You will at least need to work on your communication skills to ensure that your work performance doesn’t suffer.
Here are our top three ways to improve on your communication skills as an introvert:
#1. Start Offering Feedback
Some experts believe that introvert’s personality traits make them better listeners..
However, active listening is only one part of effective communication in the workplace. What you want to do is engage in conversation with your colleagues and facilitate the flow of information.
Now, we’re not suggesting that you partake in every small talk taking place around the office.
But if, for instance, your colleagues are discussing a work-related issue over the lunch break, practice participating in the conversation by offering some well-thought feedback.
#2. Speak Out Your Thoughts
Has it ever happened that you had just the right answer to a question, or a creative solution to a problem, and missed out on your chance to say it out of hesitation?
Introverts might have more of an issue with this due to their shy nature.
The thing is, not speaking out about what you think doesn’t just keep you from receiving praise, but also constructive criticism. Overall, it hinders your professional growth.
How can you overcome it? Start interacting during work meetings by asking and answering questions, brainstorming, and putting your ideas out there. Remember - there is no harm in making mistakes or saying the wrong thing. Just don’t let that demotivate you!
#3. Invest in a Skill
Identify your weakest communication skill or the one you think would benefit you the most.
It may be public speaking, presentation skills, or confidence.
Take concrete steps to improve it by taking a public speaking class, by asking a friend with great presentation skills to give you some pointers, or by working on your confidence on a daily basis.
The only way to improve is by committing and taking small, but consistent, steps.
Key Takeaways
Phew! That was a lot to take in.
Hopefully, you are now much more optimistic about looking for the best jobs for introverts.
Either way, let’s recap the main points we covered one last time:
- Some of the best careers for introverts include editor, social media manager, accounting manager, librarian, and technical writer.
- Some job options for introverts without a degree or experience are pet-sitting, data entry, landscaping, and package delivery.
- Some of the highest-paying jobs for introverts are software development, landscape architecture, and biochemistry.
- Improve your communication skills by offering more feedback, speaking out your thoughts, and learning a new skill.