15 States With the Most Telecommuting Jobs

Does it matter where in the world you live if you want to work from home? In many cases, the answer is yes.

That’s according to FlexJobs, an online jobs search site that specializes in helping people find flexible and telecommuting jobs.

FlexJobs says roughly 95 percent of its telecommuting job listings identify a specific location where applicants should reside. For example, some companies look for employees based in a particular country, or region of a country. Other employers want workers based in a specific city or state. FlexJobs explains:

The most common reasons for location requirements on telecommuting jobs, according to employers, are legal, licensing, or tax considerations.

According to FlexJobs, the following states had the most telecommuting job listings in 2016:

1. California
2. Texas
3. New York
4. Florida
5. Illinois
6. Pennsylvania
7. Virginia
8. North Carolina
9. Georgia
10. Arizona
11. Minnesota
12. Massachusetts
13. Colorado
14. New Jersey
15. Ohio

FlexJobs says the top four career fields for remote work last year were medical and health, computer and IT, customer service, and education.

Is telecommuting right for you?

Although telecommuting jobs are often lauded for helping workers achieve a better work-life balance, working from home isn’t for everyone. You need to consider whether you are organized, focused and self-motivated. As I wrote in “How to Know If Working From Home Is Right for You”:

When you telecommute, you don’t have a supervisor checking on you throughout the day (at least not in person). If you are self-motivated, focused, work well on your own and don’t need constant feedback from someone or a person to bounce ideas off, then working from home may be a good option for you.

For more on working from home, check out “10 Work-From-Home Jobs That Pay 6 Figures.”

Have you worked, or do you currently work, in a telecommuting position? Share your experiences — both positive and negative — below or on Facebook.