The Best Careers for Introverts in 2022

Think about your ideal work scenario: does it involve a lot of socializing and people-time, or does the thought of small talk make you sweat? If you tend to thrive in situations where you can work independently and get more done from digging into a project on your own, sales or other extrovert-centric careers aren’t your best bet. Luckily, you don’t have to be the loudest in the room (or on Zoom) to have a successful career — especially in 2022. Now that working independently has become the norm (and is even preferable) for many previously in-person roles, there’s more opportunity than ever for jobs for shy people. If you swing to the more introverted side of the personality spectrum, these are some of the best careers for introverts to consider.

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Voice actor

If you’re an actor with a great voice but performing live or on-camera gives you major anxiety, voice acting could be an opportunity to showcase your craft — without the stress of an audience. Freelance voice actors can find gigs doing commercial voice overs, reading audiobooks or voicing animated characters.

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Composer or sound editor

Not all musicians are performers. If you have an ear for sound and training, but do your best work on your own, composing everything from media soundtracks to commercials to podcast mixing from home (or on a freelance basis) can let your talent come through.

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Copywriter

It’s a common misconception that being an introvert means that you’re a poor communicator. In reality, introverts can be excellent communicators — they just get more energy when they’re on their own. It’s for this reason that copy writing and content creation are great jobs for introverts: writing allows introverts to communicate on paper (or on the screen). While freelance writing (whether it’s articles, technical writing or blog content) is a classic route for writers, many companies hire content writers in their marketing departments. In 2022, this type of writing job may allow for more work-from-home situations.

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Accountant

Prefer working with numbers to working with people? Pursuing a career in the accounting field (whether as a CPA, staff accountant or even a bookkeeper) means that you can find a job where the majority of your energy is dedicated to crunching numbers (and not to small talk). Another bonus? Jobs in accounting are among those with the best starting salaries in Canada — so it can be a financially lucrative choice, too.

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Plant stylist

Plant styling is a fairly new career, but it’s actually the perfect job for an introvert with green thumbs. From helping people select the best plants for their spaces to actually arranging them and caring for them in the home, plant stylists get paid to work with plants — not people.

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Copy editor

People who are on the more introverted side may come across as shy and quiet, but that shyness can translate to being quiet observers with a good eye for detail — perfect traits for copy editors and proofreaders looking to work with print or digital copy.

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Translator

Bilingual? Trilingual? If you’re fluent in French and English (or more languages), translation may come naturally to you, and it can be a rewarding job for shy people. As long as you have the right equipment (like a computer and translation software), a lot of document translation work can be done from home.

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Truck driver

If you love the open road way more than you love making small talk, becoming a truck driver can be a good fit. You’ll need some special licensing and training, but if you love solitude, driving professionally can deliver.

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Paralegal

No arguments here: legal problems will always exist, which means law firms will always have plenty of business. If you love the law but don’t want the level of client interaction that a lawyer contends with, working as a paralegal or legal researcher lets you spend time working with documents.

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Visual artist

Creative expression can be incredibly fulfilling, and a career as a visual artist — whether your medium is paint, clay or other materials — allows introverts to spend their energy working with their hands without a lot of chit-chat. If you’ve got the interest and the talent, it’s a viable path, especially with today’s opportunities to sell your creations online.

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Dog walker

More of a pet person than a people person? If you love spending your day with animals, being a veterinarian (which involves a lot of talking to animal owners) isn’t your only career option. Dog walkers spend the majority of their workday caring for people’s furry BFFs.

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Product photographer

Do you have an eye for images? While introverts may want to avoid event and wedding photography (where successful photographers tend to be very “on” and social) shooting products and commercial photography can make a career out of the art.

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Coder

Coding is a language in itself, and coding and web development are some of the best careers for introverts. If you know what you’re doing (coding is tricky, but you can learn coding skills through courses online or through formal education), digging in to code websites and programs can be financially lucrative, and requires total focus (AKA no small talk).

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Graphic designer

Whether you create digital prints to sell online, you design print ads for clients or you layout email marketing templates, there are endless possibilities when it comes to digital design. While you may work with clients on briefs, the design process itself is a solo activity, which can be recharging work for an introvert personality type.

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Baker

Are you a morning person, an introvert and a lover of all things bread? If you’ve got this trifecta under your belt, a career as a professional baker could be on the rise in your future. Bakers start their work-days incredibly early in the morning, but they spend a lot of time quietly working with their hands. It’s not easy work, but the rewards can be tasty for an early rising introvert.

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Plumber

Can you go with the flow? A mostly solo trade like plumbing is a smart career option for a problem-solving introvert who isn’t afraid to get a little dirty. Bonus points if you can land a job at a company that takes calls from clients and then sends you on assignment — which can mean high pay, minimal chatting, and lots of satisfying solo workdays.

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Engineer

Would you rather spend your day in your own head coming up with innovative solutions than trying to win people over with words? Engineering jobs require a lot of education, but they lead to work that allows introverts to embrace their alone time as they solve problems.

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Social media manager

For some introverts with anxiety, it can be a struggle to raise their voice — but they have plenty to say virtually. If you’re great at social media (but hate in-person socializing) and are adept at the art of going viral, social media management can be a lucrative gig that lets you flex your wordplay and customer service skills — without the stress of speaking out.

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Video editor

Can you take a jumble of raw footage and cut it into a masterpiece? Video editing is a job that requires a lot of focus on the screen and tuning out the rest of the world — which makes it an ideal job for shy people.

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Novelist

Have a story to tell? Introverts are often amazing storytellers — even if they don’t love engaging in real-life conversations. Getting a book published by a traditional publisher isn’t always easy, but with e-books gaining popularity, writing stories as a career is more possible than ever.