Minimalism is about living with simplicity & intentionality.
However, being a minimalist doesn’t have to stop at applying these principles to our physical possessions or emotional headspace. It can also be applied to our professional lives as well.
That can mean working a job with:
- Flexibility (Work/Life Balance)
- Meaningful Work
- Low Stress
- Making a Comfortable Living
With these different dimensions in mind, what are some of the best jobs for minimalists?
1. Graphic Designer
As visual storytellers, a graphic designer’s job is properly communicating the information and ideas of their customers through the use of various design elements.
Additionally, graphic designers are responsible for making critical design choices. Too much of one element may result in confusion while too little of another element can lead to the message being lost.
As a result, graphic design is perfect for those with a minimalist mindset. This is because minimalists are already programmed to finding the simplest and most effective approach; a critical quality in ensuring that a client’s message is being effectively communicated.
The salary of a graphic designer largely depends on the nature of their work and whether they are in-house, agency or freelance. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for graphic designers are $53,380 a year or $25.66 per hour.
2. Software Developer
Not only can becoming a software developer be a fast way to earn 6 figures without a degree, it is also one of the best jobs for minimalists.
That is because software development closely follows minimalist principles.
As an example, software developers:
- Develop applications through proper UI/UX (too many elements can confuse users)
- Identifying & removing unnecessary code (less code the better)
- There are minimal job requirements (laptop and internet access)
Furthermore, there is strong demand for software developers. This opens the door to lower-stress or remote work opportunities.
According to the BLS, the median salary for software developers are $110,140 a year or $52.95 per hour.
3. Plant Nursery Associate
I’m a little biased on this one because this is what I plan to do upon reaching financial independence 🙂
As a minimalist, there are a lot of benefits to working in a plant nursery including:
- Witnessing the fruits of your labor (literally)
- Spending more time outside and soaking up some sunshine
- Facilitating a healthy lifestyle via low-impact psychical activity
However, I want to emphasize the first bullet point.
As an avid gardener, successfully growing different fruits and vegetables provides a level of satisfaction that is harder to achieve while working an office job.
According to the BLS, the median salary for plant nursery associates are $29,630 a year or $14.25 per hour.
4. Writer / Copywriter / Blogger
Whether you have thought about starting your own blog or becoming a copywriter, being a writer can be one of the best jobs for minimalists.
Much like software developers, writers don’t require much beyond a computer and an internet connection (and a passion to write of course). Additionally, going the freelance route can enable you to have full control over how you manage your time and projects.
Writing also has the potential to be very meaningful work, there’s a reason I keep writing for Time Value Millionaire 🙂
According to the BLS, the median salary for writers are $67,120 a year or $32.27 per hour.
5. Architect
At it’s core, architecture requires designing with a purpose.
This includes ensuring the different design elements interacting with each other as efficiently as possible, a minimalist’s dream!
What’s more interesting is that this core responsibility applies to a wide variety of architecture roles.
It doesn’t matter whether somebody is an industrial architect designing factories for electrical vehicles or a database architect building virtual tables. At the end of the day, there is purpose and efficiency built into both factories and databases.
According to the BLS, the median salary for architects are $82,320 a year or $39.58 per hour.
6. Park Ranger
If working in an office isn’t your cup of tea, one of the best jobs for minimalists is becoming a park ranger.
Not only does one get the advantage of being closer to nature, but there are also a wide variety of responsibilities that can keep your mind active. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the “big 5” responsibilities of a park ranger typically includes:
- Maintenance
- Administration
- Visitor Services
- Protection
- Resource Management
From teaching others about wildlife to conserving natural habitats, becoming a park ranger has the potential to be a very dynamic and satisfying job.
According to the BLS, the median salary for park rangers are $64,010 a year or $30.78 per hour.
7. Photographer / Videographer
Minimalism is ingrained in the DNA of any successful photographer/videographer.
That is because one of the key pieces of the job is eliminating the ‘unnecessary’ in order to have a more polished product in the end. Perfecting that skill can lead to a higher chance of success.
As an example, our wedding photographer took over 5000 pictures. However, it took a little over a month to see the end result of only about ~1000 amazing photographs.
Furthermore, being successful also doesn’t require a lot of gear: a camera, couple lenses, maybe a notebook. You don’t need much to create amazing content, just the right mindset 🙂
According to the BLS, the median salary for photographers are $41,280 a year or $19.85 per hour.
Furthermore, the BLS states the median salary for videographers are $61,900 a year or $29.76 per hour
8. Book Editor
For all the introverted minimalists out there, this is probably the pinnacle of jobs.
Book editors play a large role in the deciding whether or not a book will be published.
In order to do this, they also often read and review manuscripts alone and in silence. This type of work environment is critical in achieving the sharpened focus required to both review and provide adequate feedback to their respective clients.
According to the BLS, the median salary for book editors are $63,400 a year or $30.48 per hour.
Final Thoughts
There are a wide variety of jobs for minimalists.
However, the truth is that we can apply minimalist principles to any job.
Even as a Project Manager, where I manage dozens of projects at a time, I do my best to not make things more complicated than they need to be. This has helped tremendously in managing my stress.
Thank you for reading! 🙂
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