Online jobs in California are changing how people work, with 16% of residents now working entirely from home and another 19% in hybrid roles. This move brings major benefits to workers in the state, with annual salaries ranging from $40,000 to $124,000 based on position and industry.
Remote work opportunities in California offer more than just financial benefits. In fact, 92% of remote workers point to better work-life balance as their main reason for choosing this path. California gives remote workers unique advantages since it's home to Silicon Valley and provides many tech sector opportunities where software engineers earn $124,000 on average annually.
Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Diego emerge as promising locations for people looking for online work. The state's strict labor laws have created full-time remote jobs with solid benefit packages. In this piece, we'll look at the best platforms for finding these positions, entry-level roles that need no experience, and specialized opportunities in growing fields like telehealth.
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Key Takeaways
- Remote work is thriving in California, offering flexibility and strong salaries.
- Top platforms include FlexJobs, Remote.co, Upwork, and LinkedIn.
- Entry-level online jobs include data entry, chat support, transcription, and product testing.
- Match your skills and time availability to find the right role.
- Telehealth is a fast-growing sector, with strong opportunities for both professionals and entrepreneurs.
- Watch for scams—avoid listings that ask for money or personal info upfront.
Best platforms to find online jobs in California
The best way to find legitimate online jobs in California is to know the right places to look. Job boards that focus on specific niches tend to work better than general job sites when you're looking for remote opportunities.
Upwork and Fiverr
Upwork is a great place for freelancers to find work - its users earned more than $2 billion in 2019. The platform connects independent professionals with all kinds of businesses, from small startups to big names like Microsoft and Airbnb. My experience shows there are plenty of jobs in website development, creative design, and customer support among the 8,000+ skills categories.
Fiverr works differently as a creative marketplace where businesses can find freelance talent on demand. With more than 400 categories, California residents who excel in graphic design, digital marketing, programming, or video production will find plenty of opportunities.
Rev and CastingWords
Transcription work can be a good option for remote work, though it comes with certain limits. Rev sends payments to transcriptionists weekly through PayPal, and workers make about $245 per month on average. You'll find various projects from lectures and interviews to podcasts. California residents should note that Rev doesn't allow transcriptionists from their state.
CastingWords provides transcription work too, but pays less, usually $1-$5 per hour. They use a unique 1-10 grading system that can triple your base pay if you score high enough.
FlexJobs and Remote.co
FlexJobs makes sure every listing is legitimate by screening them first, which helps protect you from scams. This specialized job board includes:
- Remote jobs with flexible hours and hybrid options
- Freelance, full-time, and part-time positions
- Quality listings without spam or ads
Remote.co, which partners with FlexJobs, calls itself a site for "all things remote work". The platform goes beyond job listings by providing a remote work blog and insights from 146 remote companies about common work-from-home questions.
LinkedIn and Indeed
LinkedIn lists over 28,000 remote jobs in California. The platform's professional environment makes it perfect for career-focused remote positions, and its networking features give you extra advantages.
Indeed claims the title of the world's #1 job site with more than 250 million unique visitors each month. You'll find thousands of remote positions in California, and you can look through companies by industry, check salaries, and let employers find you through your uploaded resume.
The best results often come from specialized platforms rather than general job boards when you're looking for quality online work in California.
Entry-level jobs you can start with no experience
Ready to start your journey in the remote work market with no experience? California has several simple online jobs that are perfect for beginners. You just need some computer skills and a stable internet connection to get started.
Survey taker
Survey work can bring in flexible income with few requirements. Companies often look for California residents who can share their thoughts about everyday products and services. Some surveys can pay up to $25 per completed survey. This makes a great side gig or extra income source. You don't need special experience—just honest opinions and computer literacy.
Data entry assistant
Data entry jobs are always available throughout California. You'll need attention to detail and typing skills. Robert Half lists data entry clerk positions regularly in San Francisco and San Mateo. The work involves entering information into databases, spreadsheets, or company systems. Many jobs let you work from home with good pay, which helps you build valuable administrative experience.
Product tester
Product testing lets you assess items from home and earn money. TaylorMade Golf sometimes hires product testing technicians in Carlsbad. Los Angeles offers In-Home Usage Testing (IHUT) jobs with pay between $25-$45 per hour. Your feedback from testing products helps companies make important decisions.
Online chat support
Chat-based customer service is a growing field for remote workers. FlexJobs shows many chat support positions in California that pay $50,000-$70,000 yearly. The job involves helping customers through chat, solving their problems, and keeping records of conversations. Most roles need good written communication skills and simple technical knowledge.
Captioning and transcription
Transcription work provides flexible hours and steady income. Rev sends payments weekly through PayPal, and transcriptionists earn about $245 monthly. The platform has steady work from market research to news media. New transcriptionists need good English skills, typing accuracy, and attention to detail rather than previous experience.
How to choose the right job for your skills
Finding the right online job takes knowing yourself and making smart choices. Your perfect remote position comes when you line up what you're good at with the right opportunities.
Identify your strengths and interests
The path to a fulfilling career starts with understanding what makes you special. A well-laid-out assessment like CliftonStrengths can show your natural talents. You might also want to look at your past jobs and see which tasks got you excited. Taking personality tests like the Myers-Briggs helps you learn about your work style. Note that we often miss our strong points because of negative thinking—getting honest feedback from trusted coworkers can reveal talents you didn't know you had.
Match your skills to job categories
After you know your core strengths, connect them to the online jobs California has to offer. Virtual assistants make $10-$50 per hour if they're great at organizing, while web developers earn $50,000-$100,000 yearly with their tech skills. Cybersecurity analysts pull in $70,000-$120,000 each year by using their analytical minds. Don't box yourself in—mixing different skills creates unique combinations that make you stand out.
Consider time commitment and pay
Remote work comes with different schedule options. Some jobs need your full attention, while others let you work when you want. Online tutors usually earn $20-$60 hourly based on their expertise and time put in. Digital marketing specialists can make $20-$50 per hour, depending on their experience. Know your available hours before you start applying—this helps you focus on jobs that match your schedule.
Avoiding scams and fake listings
About 36% of online job posts aren't real opportunities. Watch out for these red flags:
- Anyone asking for money during the hiring process
- Jobs offered without any interviews
- Too-good-to-be-true salaries for basic skills
- Early requests for your bank or personal details
Real employers never ask for application fees. Use job boards that check their listings first. Do your homework on companies—look beyond just the job post to verify they're legitimate.
Spotlight on Bask Health and telehealth opportunities
The telehealth industry will reach $550.00 billion by 2027, with a strong 16.5% CAGR. This makes it one of California's most promising sectors for remote work.
What is Bask Health
Bask Health provides everything needed to start a telehealth business in California. Our white-label platform helps entrepreneurs build and grow their digital healthcare brands without technical knowledge. The system has served over 750,761 patients and processed more than 1.3 million orders worth $178.00 million in transactions. We help healthcare entrepreneurs launch their telehealth businesses within days instead of months by removing common barriers.
Benefits of telehealth jobs
California offers flexible telehealth positions throughout the state. Doctors can earn extra income while keeping control of their schedules. Remote nurses, telehealth operations managers, and behavioral health analysts can work from home. The sector has grown rapidly; 46.7% of California adults used telehealth services in 2022, up from just 12.4% in 2018. Many employers skip strict scheduling and let staff work weekdays between 7:00-9:30 am.
How to start a telehealth business
Starting a telehealth business in California means understanding key regulations. Healthcare providers need California licenses but don't have to be physically present. Professional Corporations work best for most telehealth companies to follow the Corporate Practice of Medicine laws. Startup costs range from $80,000 to $100,000, with platform development as the biggest expense. You can cut costs by launching with basic features first.
Telehealth business model and tools
Successful telehealth businesses use three main models:
- B2B: Offering solutions directly to hospitals, clinics, or employer networks
- B2C: Marketing services directly to individual consumers
- Hybrid: Integrating features of both B2B and B2C approaches
Telemedicine leads the digital health market with a 43.12% share. The best opportunities include complete telemedicine platforms, remote patient monitoring services, specialized telehealth solutions, and health e-commerce integration. Every telehealth operation needs HIPAA-compliant systems, secure data storage, and reliable technology to protect patient information.
Conclusion
Remote work has become a big part of California's job market. It gives people more freedom and pays well, too. Job sites that focus on remote work, like FlexJobs and Remote.co, give better results than regular job boards. People new to remote work can start with simple tasks like surveys, data entry, and product testing.
You need to know what works best for you to find the right remote job. Start by looking at what you're good at—maybe through some tests or by asking people who know your work style. Then look for jobs that match your skills and the time you can give. Just watch out for scams. Research companies well and stay away from any job that asks for money or personal details too soon.
The healthcare industry has really taken off in the remote work space. Here at Bask Health, we've seen how digital healthcare is making things better for patients and creating new job options. Our white-label platform helps business owners start their own telehealth companies even if they're not tech experts. The field works great for healthcare pros who want flexible hours or entrepreneurs ready to jump into this growing market.
Remote work keeps getting bigger in California. The mix of tech companies, worker protection laws, and different types of businesses makes it perfect for online workers. You can go freelance, work full-time from home, or start your own business using platforms like ours. Remote jobs in California help you make good money and balance your life better. The right remote job is out there—you just need to go for it.
References
- Forbes. (2024, August 13). 36% of job adverts are fake—how to spot them in 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2024/08/13/36-of-job-adverts-are-fake-how-to-spot-them-in-2024/
- Gallup. (n.d.). CliftonStrengths. https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx
- Fox 4 Kansas City Jobs. (n.d.). Online survey taker. Earn up to $25 per survey. Remote (Irwindale, California). https://jobs.fox4kc.com/jobs/online-survey-taker.-earn-up-to-25-per-survey.-remote-irwindale-california/2227168833-2/
- Rev. (n.d.). Freelance transcription jobs. https://www.rev.com/freelancers/transcription
- ZipRecruiter. (n.d.). Home product testing jobs in California. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/Home-Product-Testing/--in-California
