I noticed a lot of digital nomads have to take a pay cut or have money saved up. Is it even possible to be a US citizen and have a remote job with good pay? I say this because if I want to live in a foreign country for say 3-6 months and then return back the US I don’t want to be making only 30k a year.
It is possible, in very specific circumstances. It helps to be an expert in your field, especially more so if it’s in a highly technical international field.
I have a friend (dual US/French citizen) who earns around $200k USD in Paris working for a private American company in aerospace. He has a very specific skill set and was able to negotiate a “low” American salary in exchange for living in France. The company wants more connections with ESA, he gets to live in France with an insanely high salary (by French standards), they get to pay him less than they would an American (their base pay is around $300k)…everybody wins.
You can also consult - but have to be driven.
You can also work for a company that is remote and just not tell them you’re abroad, or work for an international company. My company (international conservation) allows for remote work as we have offices all over the world, so if you want to go anywhere for 3 months of the year and travel we are able to. More than three months though you need to be a “resident” in that country and claim it. I have a colleague I suspect is working illegally in France, but should be in Germany. Who knows how many others are doing it in my company…