Top 10 Jobs for Hermits

Do you cringe when you get to the part of a job listing that says “team players wanted”? Many employers prize collaboration and the ability to play well with others. But not every job seeker wants to spend their workdays in constant contact with their coworkers.

If you’re an introvert, shy, or just someone who prefers to work alone, you’re not doomed to spend your career hiding in a conference room or begging for occasional work-at-home days. There are some jobs where the ability to work alone is an occupational requirement.

10 Job Options for Hermits

Best of all, you can train for many of these jobs in far less time than it would take to get a four-year degree. If you want a career where your hermit tendencies are a bonus, consider these occupations:

Medical Lab Tech

Want to use your love of science to help people … without actually having to interact with that many humans? Medical lab tech might be the career for you. These professionals often work in hospitals and medical labs, analyzing specimens or materials.

Their work is critically important to health care and research, and their profession is growing: While technologists often need a bachelor’s degree to begin their career, technicians can get started with an associate degree. Some states require licensure.

Museum Technician

If you have super-human attention to detail and a passion for art, art history, or archeology, a career as a museum technician might appeal to you. Otherwise known as registrars, museum technicians record objects or artefacts, and prepare them for exhibit. This job requires at least a bachelor’s degree.

Software Developer

You’ll have to talk to humans occasionally in your career as a software developer, in order to understand users’ needs and communicate with the rest of your team. However, a good percentage of your day will likely be spent working alone, developing and testing software applications. You may even be able to work from home. This job typically requires a bachelor’s degree.

Elevator Installer/Repairer

Elevator installers and repairers must be mechanically minded, physically strong – and not afraid of heights or small spaces. While installation jobs may require working with teams, many smaller repairs can be completed solo. This fast-growing job requires an apprenticeship.

Graphic Designer

Graphic designer isn’t the fastest growing job on our list. However, it’s a decent-paying job for a creative person. The BLS also reports that about 1 in 5 graphic designers are self-employed, which is a bonus a bonus for entrepreneurial types who prefer to work alone. Typical entry-level education for this job is a bachelor’s degree, but your portfolio will be even more important than your formal education in this role.

Writer

Writers have perhaps the ultimate job for hermits. Depending on the type of writing you do, and the nature of your employment, it’s entirely possible to do your job without talking to another human for days on end.

Occupational outlook and pay vary for this job. Regardless of where you ply your trade, this job will definitely afford you one fringe benefit: a lot of solitude.

Commercial Diver

Scuba diving isn’t just a recreational activity. Commercial divers use their skills to inspect and repair underwater structures. You can get hired with just a postsecondary non-degree award—and some serious diving and fix-it skills, of course.

Wind Turbine Technician

These technicians install and repair wind turbines, but most of their job involves maintenance – and that means being on site, and often high in the air, using safety harnesses. So, this is not a job for folks who are afraid of heights. But, if you can handle that aspect of the job, you won’t lack for work.

Auto Mechanic

Auto mechanics and service technicians repair and maintain cars, as well as performing state-mandated vehicle inspections. If you’re someone who can fix anything and prefers to work alone—and you’re willing to complete a postsecondary program and obtain certification—you might be a good fit for this career. 

Long-Haul Truck Driver

To excel in this job, you must be someone who doesn’t mind being alone much of the time. You’ll also be away from home a lot, possibly for weeks on end. Most employers require their drivers to earn a high school diploma, and some drivers take training courses. All truck drivers must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).