Digital Nomad vs. Remote Worker
What is the difference between a digital nomad and a remote worker? Are either right for your lifestyle?
The lines between traditional office-based employment and remote work have blurred significantly over the last several years. The year 2020 ushered in a new era of untraditional work practices, with remote work becoming the norm for many individuals. Additionally, a subset of remote workers has embraced the lifestyle of a digital nomad, giving rise to questions about the differences between these two workstyles and which one might be the right fit for your lifestyle.
To start, a digital nomad is a remote worker, but a remote worker is not necessarily a digital nomad. However, both are digital – working through the internet – from a remote location.
Remote Worker
Statistics on remote workers reveal that more than 4.7 million people work remotely at least half the time in the United States. (Source: Apollo Technical)
The typical remote worker may be a freelancer, independent business owner, or work on a virtually distributed team. Remote workers tend to be stationary and mostly work from their home offices, co-working spaces, or coffee shops in the locale of their company.
Things people love about the remote working lifestyle:
- More family time
- Productivity increases due to fewer office-related distractions
- Reduced transportation costs, vehicle depreciation, maintenance, and wear and tear on the vehicle
- Career opportunities open up in other areas of the world
Drawbacks of the remote working lifestyle:
- Loneliness can be an issue for those used to having co-workers around
- Communicating with virtual teams can be difficult to manage for some
- Non-work distractions (cleaning house, watching TV, etc.)
Statistics about Remote Workers
- Around 62% of employees aged 22 to 65 say they work remotely at least occasionally.
- While only 7% of employees who’ve worked remotely for under a year earn over $100,000, the percentage jumps to 18% for remote workers who’ve done it for seven years or more.
- 77% of remote workers say they’re more productive when they’re working from home.
- In North America, survey statistics show that about 15% of high-paying job posts were remote jobs
(Source: Novo Resume, Aalpha)
Digital Nomad
A digital nomad is a type of remote worker who travels while doing their jobs remotely. They are not bound to a specific time or location to work. Think of them as a modern-day gypsy.
Things people love about being a Digital Nomad:
- Enjoy the flexibility to work wherever they want in the world
- Work when you want
- Travel freely
- No daily commutes or schedules
Drawbacks of the Digital Nomad lifestyle:
- May miss the comforts of home that remote workers enjoy
- At times, Wi-Fi can be difficult to obtain in some locations
- Traveling to different time zones can present challenges for some clients
- Acquiring new business and networking can also be challenging
Statistics about Digital Nomads
- As we enter into 2024, there are 35 million digital nomads worldwide.
- 16.9 million virtual nomads are from the United States.
- 47% of the digital nomads are in their 30s.
- 58% of the virtual nomads are men.
- 76% of the cybernomads are white.
- 47% of the virtual wanderers are millennials.
- A digital nomad earns between 100K and 250K on average.
- Over two-thirds of cybernomads work for a maximum of 40 hours a week.
- 43% of the virtual wanderers are self-employed as of 2024.
(Source: Demand Sage)
Which Workstyle Fits You?
Both work styles have benefits and drawbacks. It really depends on what’s more important to the individual.
Why NuvoDesk is Perfect for Digital Nomads
By Leslie Radford
**Updated February 2024
