Places that will pay you to move there
It’s widely understood that the place we call home affects our happiness and health, and contributes to our sense of wellbeing. When we’re young, we have little choice in regards to geographic location, but that all changes once you enter the workforce. Depending on your chosen career, your destination choices open up considerably.
Unfortunately, the freedom to choose where to live is an unattainable dream for many Americans. The costs of moving can be prohibitively expensive for many young professionals, especially in terms of a cross-country or international move. Thanks to modern technology, however, that’s not the end of the story: Remote work opportunities can open up your world even further.
In a post-COVID world, remote work is an essential part of preparing for the future of business, and it will continue to dominate the landscape, fundamentally changing the ways in which we work and live into the foreseeable future. By 2027, it’s likely that remote workers will outnumber onsite employees, in nearly every industry.
Where to Live and Work While Earning Your Keep
In today’s increasingly remote workplace landscape, you can work from virtually anywhere. And, while it sounds too good to be true, some cities will even pay you to do so.
Of course, simply moving to a particular location isn’t necessarily the end of the story when it comes to getting paid to live and work. In many cases, monetary compensation for a move may be offered as part of a fellowship, or on the condition of a certain length of residency.
As far as location is concerned, your options span the U.S., from Alaska to the deep South, all of which hope to attract young, long-term residents. Perhaps you’ll find your new home in one of the following places.
Detroit, Michigan
Boasting a legacy in automotive and industrial innovation, modern Detroit is working to rebuild its former grandeur. Factory closings, suburban sprawl, and segregation helped fuel several turbulent decades in the Motor City.
But despite its complex past, things are looking up for Detroit. In 2018, Michigan became the 10th state to legalize recreational cannabis for adults 21 and over. The move is predicted to help revitalize the state’s economy, and it’s not doing it alone.
Young professionals are increasingly attracted to Michigan’s low cost of living and abundant recreational opportunities, and recruiters have taken notice. On an annual basis, 30 standout college graduates are chosen as paid fellows through the Challenge Detroit program. During the 12-month program, fellows work with local nonprofits and Detroit-based companies while earning a stipend.
Vermont
From Montpelier, its capital city, to the mountains of Burlington and beyond, the entire state of Vermont welcomes new residents with open arms, and plenty of incentives to boot. Applications for the Remote Worker Grant Program opened in January 2019. Implemented in an attempt to “encourage professionals interested in moving to Vermont to make the leap,” the incentive program offers $10,000 to remote workers willing to make the move. While the program was closed in early 2020, their website states that more funds to reopen the program are being considered.
To qualify for the funds, the interested individual must be working full time for an out-of-state employer, as well as legally defined as an employee. Independent contractors and freelance workers are therefore ineligible. Further, the remote worker must perform the majority of their job duties from a physical location in the state of Vermont.
Topeka, Kansas
As Vermont seeks to attract America’s increasingly remote workforce, the capital city of Kansas emphasizes community in its relocation incentive program. Choose Topeka, sponsored by the Greater Topeka Partnership, offers a $15,000 incentive for new residents who meet certain guidelines: For starters, you must take on a full time employment position within the community, rather than via a remote employer elsewhere. In addition, you must purchase or rent a Shawnee County home within a year of your move.
Topeka’s generous incentive funds are especially enticing when you consider the city’s high quality of life attributes. It also helps that your salary will go further in Topeka than in other cities of similar size. Topeka ranks 22 on Niche’s list of American cities with the lowest cost of living. No other city in Kansas appears on the list.
Savannah, Georgia
Young professionals also enjoy a low cost of living in historic Savannah, Georgia, which offers plenty of Southern charm at a modern pace. Savannah’s employers are especially interested in recruiting and retaining workers with a rich background in various tech fields. In fact, three years of experience is a requirement for those hoping to receive the Technology Workforce Incentive.
Sponsored by the Savannah Economic Development Authority (SEDA), the program pays out $2,000 in financial incentives to tech workers who relocate to the city. According to legal professionals, SEDA funds are to be put towards the new worker’s moving expenses. Young professionals and information specialists with a strong background in tech support, who have lived in Chatham County for at least 30 days, are welcome to apply for the program.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Technology also helps fuel the economy in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Since 2015, the second-largest city in Oklahoma has experienced a tech boom of sorts, one that has helped the city evolve into a dynamic metropolis. Once a quiet farming town in America’s heartland, Tulsa is now a thriving city looking to attract hundreds of remote workers, and investors are willing to pay handsomely.
Through the Tulsa Remote program, remote workers at least 18 years of age are paid $10,000 and provided free desk space in exchange for moving to Tulsa. You must be able to make the move within six months of Tulsa remote program acceptance, a reasonable request for such a generous payout.
Alaska
As we face an uncertain future post-COVID, it may be the perfect time to risk everything in the name of wellbeing. Young professionals longing for adventure should consider the perks of moving to the great state of Alaska. No matter your chosen career, relocating to Alaska may prove to be lucrative in the long run, with help from the Alaska Permanent Fund.
More of an investment into the state’s resources than an incentive program, the Alaska Permanent Fund was established in 1980. Through the fund, oil royalties are paid out to every state resident, in the form of an annual dividend. The specific calculations determining each resident’s exact payment are complex and can vary significantly year by year. However, the dividend in 2018 amounted to $1,600 per person. Long-term Alaska residents can expect a significant return over the course of their life, in exchange for simply living and working in America’s Last Frontier.
Home: Where Career and Happiness Converge
Life is short, and COVID-19 has deftly illustrated the ways in which life can change drastically in an instant. Now, more than ever, we should prioritize our wellbeing, both psychosocial and mental, alongside our ability to make a living. And, as we have seen, geographic location is directly connected to our overall happiness and quality of life. So, why not opt for a home base that pays you to simply live your life, in a city that sparks excitement in your soul?
