Remote jobs in healthcare, science, and engineering have less competition in the job market and pay … [+] exceptionally well
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You know how frustrating it is to find a remote job that you like, only to realize it is saturated with hundreds of applicants within just a couple hours? You’ve most likely wondered, How do I find a remote job with lower applicant competition?
The answer: either adapt your job search approach, or change your career goal and industry completely.
When you think of remote jobs, you most likely think of roles in marketing, HR, business development, and project management. Although these industries have a multitude of remote work opportunities, they are flooded with applicants, which makes your job search more frustrating as it’s much harder to stand out or to even be seen.
Thankfully, there is another industry which is booming with work-from-home jobs, although not receiving as much attention in the remote work space: medicine and healthcare.
“Job seekers will face the least competition for high paying remote jobs in healthcare, science, and engineering roles,” Ladders, a job board for high-paying roles paying $100,000 and above, said. “Those in business development, sales and marketing will have a more difficult time securing a high-paying remote role.”
Why Healthcare Remote Jobs?
In the same way that the meaning of “going” to work” has shifted since the pandemic to mean “work from anywhere,” “work from home,” or working in a hybrid remote model, the meaning of “going to see the doctor” has transformed in recent years too. When studying lucrative remote jobs over 2024, analysts at Ladders observed continuous growth in remote and hybrid opportunities, with tech and medical roles dominating the trend.
John Mullinix, director of growth marketing at Ladders explained, “This trend is largely driven by technological advancements, particularly in telehealth, which has enabled healthcare organizations to scale remote service offerings like never before. Mental health, primary care, and even some nurse practitioner roles have seen significant remote expansion, making high-paying medical jobs more accessible outside traditional clinical settings,” he said.
8 Top Remote Jobs That Pay $250,000+ In 2025
To determine what remote job openings have the most competition, Ladders divided the number of high paying jobs by the number of applications within a specific field. The results concluded that these healthcare and medical roles are the highest-paying remote jobs with the least competition in 2025:
- Physician (average salary $234,990)
- Medical director (average salary $332,732)
- Psychiatrist (average salary $269,457)
- Dentist (average salary $197,103)
- Dermatologist (average salary $392,100)
- Gastroenterologist (average salary $429,500)
- Urologist (average salary $428,970)
- Neurologist (average salary $290,600)
The likely reason these jobs have lower competition is that there are higher barriers to entry. Roles in marketing and project management might be relatively easy to land due to not needing a degree or extensive qualifications, however this can drive more job-seekers and eligible candidates into the hiring market, making it harder for you to secure your desired role after all, unless you decided to work as a freelancer.
However, although these healthcare jobs require years of study and practice, the financial payoff can be huge. Most importantly, the impact you’re able to make on lives through delivering healthcare services from the comfort of your home enables you to support those who would otherwise be unable to access critical care and support, making this a highly rewarding career to pursue.
What You Need To Land These High-Paying Remote Jobs
Unsurprisingly, most six-figure jobs require more than five years of experience, with some even demanding up to 10 years of expertise. The more senior your job level, the more years of expertise will be required from you. Additionally, you’ll need to research the specific educational requirements for your chosen medical discipline, and constantly update your knowledge by attending training and conferences.
The emergence of telehealth technology makes it easier to find more remote jobs in the medical field
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A remote job within STEM, such as in medicine and healthcare, can be highly demanding and taxing to study and train for, but in the end, it will be worth it. If this is something you could picture yourself doing for the long term, remember that it’s never too late to launch a new career. Start today to plan for your future and take steps to achieve your career goal so you can work remotely, earn a high salary, and positively impact people’s lives.
