Free lunches might be in short supply, but getting paid just to move to a new state is still a great way to get something for nothing. Well, depending on how much you love moving, that is.
Anyone looking for a change of pace after a big life change might be interested in picking up their roots and dropping them down in a random growing city somewhere across the country, getting paid a modest sum to make the move and work remotely. If that’s you, these states are here to help.
Some of the offers are for specific cities, while others stick to certain regions within a state. Read on for a quick summary of each deal, which ones are active as of this month, and what pros or cons you may want to consider for each opportunity.
Tulsa, OK – $10,000
Tulsa Remote wants to send you to Oklahoma with $10,000 in your pocket. The process starts with your application, after which you’ll need to complete a 30-minute virtual interview and, if selected, agree to a background check and income verification.
Your grant money will be given to you in different ways, depending on your living situation: Renters will get the $10,000 through monthly disbursements, while home buyers can get it either monthly or as a lump sum, as long as they qualify.
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To qualify for this one, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be authorized to work in the United States
- Have full-time remote employment outside of Oklahoma
- Relocate to Tulsa within 12 months of approval
- Have lived outside of Oklahoma for one full year before applying
Every one of these relocation offers comes with stipulations, but Tulsa’s is among the least restrictive. You can apply here.
West Virginia – $12,000
You’ve heard all about it in the song Take Me Home, Country Roads. Now you can actually make it home, with $10,000 paid out across 12 months for your first year, followed by an additional $2,000 at the end of your second year.
It’s all courtesy of Ascend West Virginia, and they have more than just free money: you’ll get a year’s worth of free outdoor recreation, including free gear rentals and your own outdoorsy welcome trip, all worth over $2,500.
Five different areas of the state are open, as the website puts it. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re “looking for a lively college-town vibe in the Morgantown Area, quaint small-town culture in the gorgeous Greenbrier Valley, historic charm in the Eastern Panhandle, mountain town style in Greater Elkins or epic outdoor adventure in the nation’s newest national park, New River Gorge.”
Qualifications to meet include:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have a full-time remote job
- Have the ability to verify employment details and remote status
If you lose your job during the two-year stint, the grant operators will “review the situation with each participant on a case-by-case basis.”
Alaska – Around $1,312 Per Year
If you’re a fan of peace, quiet, and really, really long nights, you’ll love Alaska. More to the point, you’ll be able to snag a nice stipend to help you settle into your new state: The Alaska Permanent Fund (APF) has been around since all the way back in 1976.
It’s a permanent fund managed by a state-owned corporation that converts a small portion of oil and mining revenues into an annual per-resident stipend. As of 2023, the amount has been whittled down to $1,312.
Granted, this one isn’t for remote workers, but you’ll still get it if you have been working remotely. Plus, there’s no state income tax in Alaska. You can head over to the online portal to figure out if you qualify.
Greater Rochester, NY – Up to $19,000
The Rochester area of New York is pastoral, close to Lake Ontario, and has tough winters. Thanks to Greater ROC Relocate , you can get up to $10,000 in relocation reimbursement for moving to the area, with another $9,000 available in homebuyer incentives to those who want to purchase a home in the region.
You’ll need to:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be eligible to work in the U.S
- Live at least 300 miles from Rochester
- Relocate within 6 months of acceptance
The website has some additional detail, but you’ll have to contact the providers in order to receive a guide that explains the finer points of how it all works.
Evansville, Indiana – $5,000
Evansville is a medium-size city that has big growth plans, and they’ll give you $5,000 in cash to help them out. The metro population is over 350,000 people, with over 75 events and festivals alongside 116
public parks to keep you busy. The average commute is under 20 minutes, too.
You’ll have a few stipulations to meet before they’ll hand you five big ones, though. You’ll need to:
- Be employed full-time and able to relocate while retaining your current position, or are self-employed and able to relocate while retaining your current clients/portfolio
- Earn at least $60,000 annually
- Be 18 years or older
- Currently reside outside of Indiana and the Greater Evansville, IN-KY region (includes Henderson County, KY)
- Relocate primary residence to Vanderburgh County within 6 months
- Be able to provide proof of the above eligibility criteria
You’ll get a bundle of other non-cash perks as well, for a total worth of $7,500. This includes a two-year membership to the Cowork Evansville coworking space, as well as tickets and passes to a range of museums, a pool, a zoo, and more. Head over here to learn about the deal.
If you’re looking to work remotely, watch out for these WFH scams.
Deals That Are Paused or Not Remote
Completely changing your city is a huge move, so you likely need some time to think about it. While you’re dragging your feet, you might as well consider a few incentive programs that aren’t currently running.
Many of the below programs will open back up at some point in the future — setting up a quick Google Alert now could put you at the front of the pack when the time comes to apply.
Hamilton, Ohio
This one’s paused, and also caters to a select crowd: You’ll need to have graduated with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) degree in the last seven years. You can get up to $15,000, parcelled out in $300-400 monthly installments. Check out the site for more.
Shoals, Alabama
Applications are paused for this Alabama-centric deal, but when it opens next, your qualifications will include:
- A minimum annual income of $52,000
- Ablity to move to the Shoals within 6 months
- Full-time remote employment or self-employed outside Colbert and Lauderdale counties
- 18 or older and eligible to work in the US
On one hand, you’ll have to meet a salary threshold that other deals listed in this article don’t include. However, you’ll also be able to take this deal even if you’re self-employed, which opens up the opportunity to more remote workers than those that require an employer.
More information, including the specific areas you’ll need to be willing to move to, is available at the application portal online.
Michigan
Who doesn’t want to live 90 miles away from Chicago? Don’t answer that, just check out this deal.
It’s paused currently, but if opened in the future, applicants can get $10,000 to put towards their Michigan mortgage, which increases to $15,000 if they’re putting at least one child through public school in the area as well. In addition to the typical stipulations, you’ll have to be purchasing or building a home worth a minimum of $200,000. Check out the site for more.
Shawnee County, Topeka, KS
This one isn’t for remote workers who already have jobs: It’s a talent attraction program, aimed at getting people into full-time positions based out of Topeka. Your employer will have to be onboard with the plan, and offer to match the funds you’ll be getting from the grant.
Check out the guidelines and application process here — there’s a range of possible timelines and dollar amount committments, with $15,000 (half of which is a $7,500 employer match) available for those who purchases houses.
Arkansas
The Life Works Here initiative wants to usher you into the Ozarks, and they’ll even throw in a mountain bike alongside $10,000 to seal the deal. Remote tech workers can take advantage of this program, which the group says was “was sparked by the remote work trend and national relocation patterns.”
It’s over now, after 100 recipients survived from over 66,000 applicants – but maybe they’ll commit to a second round at some point in the future.
