15 Isolated Jobs That Pay Over $100K and Attract Few Applicants
Not everyone wants constant meetings and collaboration. Some careers are best suited to solo workers—whether that means working remotely, in physically isolated locations, or simply in roles that require independent focus.
This gallery features 15 jobs that typically pay over $100,000 and also involve a high degree of isolation. Salaries are based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job sites, and industry reports.
👉 Swipe through to explore careers where working alone can still mean earning six figures. Let me know in the comments if I missed any, or if you know someone that does one of these.
Table of Contents
Isolated Jobs No One Wants
Loneliness is already common in the modern workplace. Gallup reports that 25% of fully remote workers experience frequent loneliness, compared to just 16% of on-site employees.
This list is built using salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, industry reports, and job sites like Indeed and Glassdoor.
👉 Swipe through to see which well-paying isolated jobs made the cut.
Isolated Job That Pays Well: Telemedicine Physician / Psychiatrist
Telehealth has reshaped the medical field, allowing doctors to work from isolated settings. Telemedicine physicians typically earn between $200K and $300K, with some specialists exceeding $400K.
These roles provide strong incomes with minimal face-to-face interaction.
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Isolated Job That Pays Well: Polar Research Station Engineer
Engineers stationed at polar research outposts handle critical systems in extreme isolation. Salaries with hazard pay and bonuses typically exceed $100K. Assignments can last months with no outside contact.
Isolated Job That Pays Well: Physician Assistant in Remote Camp
Remote camps for oil, mining, and wilderness projects rely on on-site physician assistants. These roles pay up to $130K, with housing and bonuses often included. PAs in these settings work largely alone, covering a wide range of medical needs.
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Isolated Job That Pays Well: Legal Consultant / Remote Attorney
Many legal professionals have shifted to fully remote work. In fact, 87% of law firms now offer remote options for their attorneys. Legal consultants and remote attorneys earn between $120K and $200K+, often spending hours in deep research and writing.
Isolated Job That Pays Well: SCADA / Senior Engineer (Isolated sites)
Senior engineers managing SCADA systems operate in secure and often remote environments. These professionals ensure critical infrastructure stays online and protected. Salaries range from $90K to $150K, reflecting both the responsibility and isolation of the role.
Isolated Job That Pays Well: Offshore Platform Operator
Operators managing offshore oil or gas platforms work in isolation for weeks at a time. Pay reaches $80K to $120K, plus bonuses. The work is hands-on and highly independent, with long stretches away from mainland life.
Isolated Jobs No One Wants: Machine Learning Engineer
Training artificial intelligence requires deep focus and extended solo work. The sector now employs about 1.6 million people globally, with 219,000 new roles added in the past year. Machine learning engineers typically earn $130K to $180K.
Isolated Job That Pays Well: Remote Business Development / Sales Exec (SaaS)
Business development and SaaS sales executives often operate solo and remote. Top earners bring in $83K to $152K+ through commissions and base pay. Most days involve prospecting, closing deals, and managing clients with little direct human contact.
Isolated Job That Pays Well: Actuary (Remote-capable)
Actuaries analyze risk data, a process best suited to quiet concentration. Many work from home or remote offices with little collaboration required. Actuaries typically earn around $125K annually, with top specialists commanding even higher pay.
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Isolated Job That Pays Well: Remote Data Scientist
Data scientists spend long hours crunching numbers and building models, often in solitude. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 36% job growth by 2033, with 73,100 new positions expected. Average pay now tops $117K, with many earning well over $150K.
Isolated Job That Pays Well: Commercial Saturation Diver
Saturation divers handle deep-sea maintenance and construction, living in pressurized isolation for weeks. Pay can exceed $120K to $160K+ per year. It’s one of the most extreme and isolating high-paying jobs in the world.
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Isolated Job That Pays Well: Cybersecurity Specialist / CISO Consultant
Cybersecurity is a field built on focus and confidentiality. Cybersecurity specialists and CISO consultants earn between $99K and $125K. Much of their work happens in secure, isolated environments, especially when protecting sensitive data.
Isolated Job That Pays Well: Remote Software Engineer / DevOps
Software engineers and DevOps professionals can work entirely remote. Salaries range from $124K to $175K depending on skills and experience. Most spend their days coding and maintaining systems solo, often communicating with teams only online.
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Isolated Job That Pays Well: Helicopter Crew Chief (Civilian, remote camps)
Helicopter crew chiefs supporting remote operations can earn $60K to $110K. These specialists manage maintenance and logistics in extreme and isolated locations. It’s a demanding job that offers significant pay for those who thrive on independence.
Isolated Jobs That Pay Well: Is the Trade-Off Worth It?
Isolation can be a dealbreaker for many, but it’s a paycheck for those who can handle it. These six-figure roles reward independence, focus, and the ability to work without constant human contact.
The money is real, but so is the trade-off. If you’re wired for solitude, this list offers plenty of options to cash in on it.
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