Are There Real Work-From-Home Jobs? Here’s What Pays

<Highlight> Do real work-from-home jobs exist? Each month Indeed removes tens of millions of job listings that don't meet quality guidelines. Job seekers remain skeptical because the remote job scene appears to be a minefield of scams and offers that seem too good to be true. </Highlight>

Legitimate work-from-home jobs exist, and they're growing faster than ever. Upwork's data shows that 22% of Americans will work remotely by 2025. The numbers tell an interesting story - 98% of workers want to work from home at least part of the time. Success comes from learning to distinguish between scams and genuine opportunities.

This piece walks you through spotting warning signs in remote job posts and finding trustworthy work-from-home companies. You'll discover which remote careers pay well. The options range from freelance roles starting at $28-$33 per hour to full-time positions with salaries between $175,000-$250,000 plus benefits. Let's explore what today's remote job market offers.

<Highlight> Sick of scammy remote job ads? We found the truth behind what actually pays—and where to find it. </Highlight>

Key Takeaways

Scams are rampant: Only 1 in 60 work-from-home listings are legit—learn to spot red flags fast.

Warning signs include fake interviews, vague roles, personal email domains, and upfront payment requests.

Skip the shady platforms: Craigslist and unverified job boards are breeding grounds for fraud.

Use vetted sources like FlexJobs, We Work Remotely, Remote.co, and USAJOBS for safe listings.

Top remote jobs that pay include customer support, editing, tech support, tutoring, and telehealth roles.

Companies like Bask Health offer remote-first roles with real salaries, full benefits, and career growth.

Research companies thoroughly using Glassdoor, LinkedIn, and direct employee outreach.

How to tell if a work-from-home job is legit

Looking for legitimate work-from-home jobs requires constant watchfulness. The Federal Trade Commission gets thousands of complaints about business opportunities and work-from-home scams every year. The numbers tell a grim story - only one out of every 60 work-from-home offers turns out to be legitimate.

Common signs of work-from-home scams

Remote work's growing popularity has led to a 118% jump in job scams during 2023. Scammers now use sophisticated methods with realistic websites and advanced tech to look legitimate.

These warning signs should raise red flags:

Too-good-to-be-true offers - Promises of earning thousands monthly with minimal effort

Upfront payment requests - Legitimate employers never ask you to pay for the promise of a job

Immediate job offers - Without proper interviews or screening

Check-cashing schemes - Sending you a check and asking you to forward part of the money

Equipment purchase scams - Requiring you to buy "essential" equipment or software before starting

The Better Business Bureau's report paints a concerning picture - about 14 million people become victims of employment scams each year, losing over $2 billion combined.

Red flags in job descriptions and emails

Job postings and communications can reveal several warning signs:

Bad spelling, grammar, or punctuation in emails should make you suspicious. Professional companies employ people who write well. Job descriptions that leave you guessing about your actual duties often point to a scam.

Recruiters using personal email addresses instead of company domains deserve extra scrutiny. One job seeker's story stands out: "The scammer's email address was jobs@senergy-world.com. The real company email is jobs@senergyworld.com".

On top of that, it pays to watch out for unusual interview requests. Scammers prefer messaging platforms over professional video conferencing tools. Most legitimate companies use platforms like Zoom for remote interviews.

How to verify a company's legitimacy

Take these steps to check if a remote opportunity is real:

Check the company's official website to assess its professionalism. A real business shows detailed information about its services, clear contact details, and a professional design. Note that "great-looking websites can now be created for a nominal price," so you need to look deeper.

Research should be your next step. Google the company name with words like "scam," "review," or "complaint". Employee reviews on Glassdoor or LinkedIn can give you a full picture of the company's culture and legitimacy.

LinkedIn offers another way to verify - try to connect with current employees. They can share their first-hand experience with the company.

Your gut feeling matters a lot. Something feels off during the hiring process, which means you should step back and think. The FTC gives solid advice: "Talk to someone you trust. Describe the offer to them. What do they think? This also helps give you time to think about the offer".

Where to avoid looking for remote jobs

The surge in remote work has flooded job boards with opportunities, both real and fake. A recent study shows that three in ten job board users have become victims of fake job postings. You just need to know which platforms deserve your skepticism.

Why traditional job boards are risky

Job seekers face several challenges with traditional job boards. The sheer number of applications creates a big problem. Recruiters get swamped with resumes, which makes their process time-consuming. Your application might get buried in the pile.

The situation gets worse because general job boards don't screen listings properly. The FTC points out that "Scammers advertise jobs the same way honest employers do — online (in ads, on job sites, and social media), in newspapers, and sometimes on TV and radio". Most general platforms let unverified listings appear next to legitimate ones, unlike specialized remote job boards that screen everything.

These platforms have another weakness. They mostly attract active job seekers. Companies miss out on qualified candidates who aren't looking but could be perfect matches. This creates a perfect environment for scammers to target eager applicants.

Remote positions face even bigger risks. Users report scammers asking for unnecessary personal details (approximately 50% of cases) and giving vague responses to questions (about 40% of cases). About a quarter of scammers try to get financial information or ask for payment.

Examples of scam-prone platforms

Some platforms show higher rates of suspicious listings based on user experiences:

Craigslist – Many Americans fall for fake listings on this platform. The minimal screening makes it easy for scammers.

General job sites – Indeed and ZipRecruiter, despite their popularity, host many questionable posts. Indeed ranks high among sites where users encounter fake jobs.

Social media job postings – The FTC warns about strange interview requests through social media or apps like Telegram Messenger that allow anonymous chats.

Free classified sites – These sites rarely verify posts, which attracts fraudulent remote job listings.

Finding real work-from-home jobs on these platforms feels like "searching for a needle in a haystack". You'll see vague descriptions, unrealistic salaries, and outright scams.

Scammers have taken advantage of the growing remote work trend. One industry expert notes, "Today's remote job market is brimming to overflow with jobs that are not truly remote; with unscrupulous recruiters advertising remote jobs because they think it looks 'trendy'".

Remote job seekers might be more vulnerable because these positions don't require face-to-face meetings - something scammers love to avoid. You should be extra careful with remote listings on traditional job boards.

Sara Sutton, who founded a specialized remote job board, shares that she created her platform because she was "discouraged by how many bogus job sites there were in this niche". This shows why you should know which platforms deserve your trust and how to spot potential scams.

Legitimate places to find real work-from-home jobs

The next significant step is finding genuine remote opportunities after learning what to avoid. The online world has many scams, but several trusted platforms connect remote workers with legitimate employers.

Remote-specific job boards that are safe

Specialized remote job boards screen listings more carefully than general job sites before publishing them. FlexJobs is one of the most reliable platforms, and their team checks every job posting to confirm its legitimacy. They spend over 200 hours daily verifying each chance and removing scams and fake businesses.

Here are other trustworthy remote-specific job boards:

We Work Remotely - Fills 90% of its listings with an 80% customer return rate month-over-month

Remote.co - A FlexJobs partner that gives employers dedicated pages to showcase their remote work culture

JustRemote - Gives access to exclusive "hidden" job listings and lets you filter by country and time zone overlap

These platforms might charge subscription fees, but save you countless hours by filtering out scams. To cite an instance, FlexJobs has plans starting from $6.95 weekly with a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

Freelance platforms with buyer protection

Several freelance marketplaces offer built-in safeguards for project-based work seekers. Most reputable platforms use escrow systems to protect both parties in transactions.

Upwork's Payment Protection shields freelancers and clients from non-payment issues. People Per Hour lets freelancers create profiles, set hourly rates, and raise invoices from their dashboards after completing projects.

Codeable reviews WordPress developers through coding assessments and interviews for specialized skills. They match clients with qualified developers based on skills rather than competitive bidding.

Top-rated freelance websites use strong security measures, including two-factor authentication, SSL encryption, and PCI-DSS compliance for financial transactions. These protections create safer spaces for legitimate remote work.

Government and nonprofit job portals

Government and nonprofit sectors provide some of the most reliable sources for legitimate remote positions. USAJOBS.gov, the U.S. federal government's official employment site, has a dedicated section for remote positions. You can filter opportunities by hiring path, pay grade, department, and job series.

Idealist.org lists over 400 remote jobs with nonprofit organizations for those interested in mission-driven work. These roles range from development directors and program administrators to technical positions like full-stack engineers, and most listings include transparent salary information.

LinkedIn features thousands of nonprofit remote opportunities in the United States. These positions come with competitive compensation and meaningful work.

Government and nonprofit portals offer more than just legitimacy. They provide transparent salary information, clear responsibilities, and 10+ year-old organizational structures. They also cut out middlemen who might introduce scams into hiring.

Finding legitimate work-from-home jobs comes down to using the right platforms. Your chances of landing genuine remote work increase when you focus your search on specialized remote job boards, protected freelance marketplaces, and official government or nonprofit portals. This approach helps you avoid the scams common on general job boards.

Types of work-from-home jobs that pay

Many high-paying remote jobs are available in industries of all types and skill levels. You can find both entry-level positions and specialized roles that provide competitive pay and flexibility.

Customer service and support roles

Remote customer service jobs typically pay $20-$25 hourly. Outside Interactive pays their Customer Success Representatives $21.63-$24.00 hourly with bonus opportunities. Customer Success Managers can earn $85,000-$115,000 yearly at companies like Foureyes. Bilingual representatives usually get an extra $0.50 per hour.

Freelance writing and editing

Editors enhance written content by reviewing and proofreading before publication. Their work often combines elements of communications, video editing, journalism, and writing. Job boards list these positions under "online editing jobs," "virtual editing jobs," or "telecommuting editing jobs".

Virtual assistance and admin work

Virtual assistants support businesses of all sizes in marketing, administration, and finance. The roles vary from executive assistance to specialized work in HR, marketing, or IT. BELAY, Boldly, and Great Assistant regularly need people for these positions. Data entry clerks, administrative clerks, and bookkeepers are great starting points with good pay.

Tech and IT support

The United States currently has over 9,000 job listings for remote tech support positions. Companies need IT Support Specialists, Help Desk Technicians, and Help Desk Analysts. South Africa has become a trusted hub for outsourced IT work because of its quality education system and favorable exchange rates.

Online teaching and tutoring

Tutor.com connects tutors with students from kindergarten through college and continuing education. The platform lets tutors choose their schedules and work from home. Preply's highest-paying subjects include business ($55/hour), law ($47.50/hour), and programming ($30-$45/hour). Teaching Latin, Hebrew, and Sign Language brings in the most money, with rates between $30-$37.50 per hour.

Healthcare and telehealth jobs

Mayo Clinic now supports remote work for teams that don't need campus resources, a change that started during the pandemic. Telehealth jobs include roles for psychologists, counselors, neurohospitalist physicians, registered dietitians, therapists, and community care navigators. These positions come with flexible arrangements, including full-time, part-time, and freelance options.

Bask Health and other legitimate work-from-home companies

<Highlight> Moving past job listings, looking at specific companies gives you real insight into legitimate remote opportunities. Let's get into Bask Health and other trustworthy employers that are changing the work-from-home world. </Highlight>

What makes Bask Health a trusted employer

At Bask Health, we're building an entrepreneurial, product-focused team with a flat(ish) functional structure. We reject the status quo at every turn and experiment, observe, and iterate at blistering speed to make direct-to-consumer telehealth extraordinary. Our "Digital by Design" approach lets team members work wherever they perform best.

The sort of thing I love about us as a legitimate employer:

Competitive, globalized salaries, whatever your location, plus generous option grants on employee-friendly terms

Annual stipends (~USD 1000.00/yr) to support home office ergonomics, continuous learning, wellness, and connectivity

An inclusive health package that covers dental and vision benefits for employees and their families

Other vetted companies hiring remotely

Many established organizations rank among the top remote employers consistently. Brightside Health offers flexible schedules, unlimited PTO, detailed insurance, and competitive compensation for telehealth positions. Companies like NVIDIA provide benefits such as health insurance, parental leave, student loan repayment programs, and tuition reimbursement.

FlexJobs ranked Working Solutions #1 on its Top 100 Companies for Remote Jobs in 2025 list based on job posting volume. Robert Half (#6), Prime Therapeutics (#7), and Amplify (#10) are other reliable remote employers.

How to research company reviews and benefits

Start by checking company profiles on Glassdoor that offer crowdsourced information about salary and company culture. Reviews' posting dates matter since company cultures change over time. Look for patterns—multiple people mentioning similar issues or benefits across different timeframes often point to core cultural elements.

Filter reviews by location and job function to find relevant information. Smaller companies with fewer reviews need extra research through other channels. The "Interviews" section on Glassdoor shows candidates' experiences and actual interview questions.

Research needs dedicated time—you can break it into 20-minute blocks if needed. Company websites, Q&A sections on employer pages, and social media channels provide authentic insights.

Conclusion

Remote work comes with real opportunities and potential pitfalls. In this piece, we've seen that genuine work-from-home jobs exist in many industries. These jobs offer competitive salaries and benefits that match traditional office positions.

You need watchfulness and careful research to find legitimate remote work. Watch out for red flags like upfront payment requests, vague job descriptions, and promises that seem too good to be true. Job seekers should stay away from scam-prone platforms like Craigslist and unverified social media posts.

Specialized remote job boards like FlexJobs, We Work Remotely, and Remote.co are a great way to get carefully checked opportunities. Freelance platforms with built-in protections give you safer options for project-based work. Government and nonprofit portals stand out as trusted sources for remote positions.

Legitimate remote careers span many fields and skill levels. Customer service roles pay $20-25 per hour. Freelance writing and editing positions, virtual assistance work, tech support jobs, online teaching, and telehealth opportunities pave the way to remote work success.

Bask Health believes remote work shouldn't mean compromise. Our Digital by Design approach lets team members work where they perform best. We offer competitive, global salaries, whatever your location. We break traditional constraints by providing annual stipends that support home office setup, continuous learning, and wellness benefits.

The remote job market is growing faster than ever, with projections showing 22% of Americans working remotely by 2025. Scams still exist, but you can guide yourself through this changing digital world with the right knowledge and resources. Note that you should research potential employers, verify company legitimacy, and trust your instincts during the application process. Your perfect remote opportunity awaits – one that gives you the flexibility you want and the compensation you deserve.

References

Beyond Identity. (n.d.). Online job board safety: How and why to avoid a scam. Retrieved from https://www.beyondidentity.com/reports-guides/online-job-board-safety-how-and-why-to-avoid-a-scam

Choose Work – Social Security Administration. (2024, August 28). How to spot a work-from-home scam. Retrieved from https://choosework.ssa.gov/blog/2024-08-28-how-to-spot-a-work-from-home-scam.html

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (2025, June). How to avoid work-from-home job scams. Retrieved from https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/06/how-avoid-work-home-job-scams

FlexJobs. (n.d.). 25 companies with legitimate work-from-home jobs. Retrieved from https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/companies-with-legitimate-work-from-home-jobs

Idealist. (n.d.). Remote jobs. Retrieved from https://www.idealist.org/en/remote-jobs

Indeed. (n.d.). How to identify work-from-home scams. Retrieved from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/work-from-home-scams

LinkedIn. (n.d.). Remote tech support jobs. Retrieved from https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/remote-tech-support-jobs/?currentJobId=4262897801

Real Ways to Earn Money Online. (n.d.). High-paying customer service jobs you can do from home. Retrieved from https://realwaystoearnmoneyonline.com/high-pay-customer-service-jobs/

The Penny Hoarder. (n.d.). 28 companies that hire for work-from-home jobs. Retrieved from https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/make-money/career/work-from-home-companies/