Being a mom is not always easy. You have to deal with the chaos of kids, cooking, and cleaning 24/7. There are no days off, nor is there enough PTO to cover all the time you want to take for yourself. What’s wild is that America is no longer a single-income country.
Almost all households have to have two incomes in order to make ends meet, especially when kids are factored into the equation. Assuming that you are a normal human being, you’re going to want to work a job that allows you a little flexibility as a mom. Ideally, it’ll let you work at home.
So, what jobs are out there that fit that bill? I did the digging for you.
1. Customer Service Rep
Admittedly, customer service jobs can be hard to get in the United States. More and more companies are outsourcing abroad. However, you can still find quite a few companies looking for home-based CSR agents.
If you have retail employment history or a good gift of gab, you might be able to get a job pretty quickly.
Median Pay: $37, 800 a year, per USNews
2. Remote Sales
Yes, it’s true. Telemarketing isn’t dead and there are plenty of jobs out there who want to find people who have a decent knack for sales. More and more companies are offering remote jobs for qualified sales staff with a track record of success.
In this field, you might need to get your feet wet with commission-only sales. However, something is better than nothing and this can often be the best way to make sure you get paid at the end of the day.
PRO TIP – If you’re good at sales, you might want to consider just starting your own business.
Median Pay: $65,894, per Zippia
3. Writer
Many, many women and men have found their fulltime jobs doing what I do: writing. While AI might have erased a lot of the most common ways to make money in this field, the truth is that writing is still lucrative.
Most people can get their start with a portfolio on Medium or Substack. From there, they can apply to jobs on Upwork and Fiverr. It’s not always the most reliable form of income, but eventually, you can steady things out if you work hard enough on getting clients or running a blog.
Median Pay: Varies greatly, but I’ve seen ranges as low as $28,000 to $74,000 per year for the median pay. I make roughly $50,000 before taxes and expenses are taken out.
4. Graphic Designer
Contrary to popular belief, AI did not get rid of the need for graphic design. If anything, it’s reinforced why we need graphic designers. Graphics are needed for just about every field, but most people find their bread and butter in fields like marketing or book illustrations.
To snag gigs on Fiverr or Upwork, you will need a portfolio that shows how good you are at your work. Putting a portfolio up on a site like DeviantArt can help. You can also start doing your own site and artwork as long as you print it on stuff via sites like Zazzle.
There are a lot of ways to make graphic design a major source of income, including a traditional 9 to 5. This is what makes it such a popular choice for new moms.
Median Pay: $58,910 according to the BLS.
5. Medical Biller
You do not have to have a job in a medical office to be in the medical care world. Every office needs a medical billing department and many of those offices are choosing to outsource that work to remote workers. This could be your new career.
Medical billing does require a certificate in most cases, but it’s often well worth the investment. You can get it in a matter of months and can expect to earn
Median Pay: $48,870 according to Nurse.org.
6. Data Entry
One might expect data entry to be a dying field, but this is not true. Data entry associates are still needed to take orders over the phone, transcribe items, and also just check stuff for accuracy. Data entry jobs are great careers for new moms because they are simple, low-stress, and easy to do.
Oh, and they tend to be fully remote. You don’t need any specific degree for a data entry job. The hard part of this job option is finding a place willing to hire you. If you’re willing to keep at it, you can get a neat paycheck.
Median Pay: $42,015 according to Glassdoor.
7. Tutor
Did you know that China and other countries are in dire need of English tutors and math tutors? If you have a college degree (or better yet, teaching certifications!), you can work as an online tutor for one of many platforms, including Tutor.com.
Private tutors tend to make more than school or university-provided tutors. You can get your own clients through word of mouth or library pamphlets, or you can choose to go online. Tutors with rare skills tend to have a much higher income.
Median Pay: $29 per hour, according to Salary.com
8. Babysitter
Some moms are just moms by nature. They’re hyper-nurturing and love to help kids grow, even when they’re not their own. If you’re one of those natural caretakers, you might want to sign up for a site like Care.com and become a babysitter.
Most moms want a break from their kids. If you’re one of the few, the proud who can’t get enough, this could lead to serious money for you and your family. Some moms even set up their own at-home daycare.
Be forewarned, you will have a lot of people who will try to low-ball you on childcare. Stick to your guns, get childcare insurance, and make sure you pick your clients well.
Median Pay: $23 per hour for one child on average, per UrbanSitter
9. Petsitter
Love pets more than kids? Are you a proud cat mom or dog mom, rather than a traditional mom? Not a problem. Being a petsitter allows you to hang out with furry (or scaly) friends and also get paid for it. Like with babysitting, Care.com tends to be the best bet. You also will need to be insured, assuming that your platform doesn’t take care of it.
Petsitting can require you to have overnight stays with animals. You also might have to deal with larger dogs. It’s important to choose clients carefully. Most of the time, this won’t be a 9-to-5 job, so take that into consideration too.
Median Pay: $48,750 according to Talent.com, roughly $25 per hour.
10. Call Center Rep
While this is often lumped in with customer service, it’s not always the same thing. Call center reps are people who do, in fact, help customers. However, it’s often taking note of what’s going wrong with a product, talking to dispatchers, or giving advice on how to use a product.
Much like other telephone jobs, call center reps are required to have a VoIP setup so you can take calls from home. This also tends to be a rather high-stress job, though it varies from place to place.
Median Pay: $32,214 according to Zety.com
11. Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants are exactly what you think they are. They are the people who are the “glue” that holds executives, companies, and other groups together. They do a little bit of everything: typing, data entry, appointment setting, phone outreach, and even event planning.
A good VA is worth their weight in gold. Needless to say, smart people will notice that and quickly make a point of paying you well. With that said, this is an industry that often tends to pay more for expertise in a niche field, such as event planning or team coordination.
Median Pay: $26.13 per hour according to Indeed.
12. Bookkeeper/Accountant
Every single business, no matter how big or small, needs a bean counter. Bookkeeping is all about keeping track of expenses, payments, accounts receivable and more. It’s a central part of tax compliance and (shockingly) it’s fairly easy to learn.
A certificate in bookkeeping or an accounting degree can give you an excellent career that you can do in the comfort of your own home. Best of all? This industry tends to work via word of mouth. It won’t take too long for you to get so many referrals that you have to turn some away.
Median Pay: $44,379 per year according to Salary.com for bookkeepers. Accountants can earn much, much more.
13. Health Coach/Life Coach
Health coaching and life coaching have both taken off in recent years, with more people than ever before noticing how much they need to focus on their wellbeing. Health coaches and life coaches tend to be the cheerleaders we need to make good life decisions.
Life coaches are generally not required to be certified, though that’s beginning to change. Health coaches can have any (or no) certifications whatsoever. While this field is very difficult to break into, it can become a fairly lucrative business for the right mama.
Median Pay: Varies greatly depending on the particular type of coaching you want to do.
14. Web Developer
Web development is one of those industries where you really have to have the chops for it. If you do, a portfolio of newly-minted websites is all you need to get tons of clients on sites like Upwork. Some marketing companies also will hire developers full-time, provided that you have a degree or certificate.
Being a web developer is a good solo career, especially if you have a penchant for analytical work or tech. However, it can be frustrating. Plugins don’t always work, codes can glitch, and getting responsive layouts can be a pain. It’s all about whether or not it jives with your skillset and interests.
Median Pay: $88,488 according to Zety.
15. Social Media Marketing
It’s true. Social media has become the new hot way to advertise, primarily because it converts well. However, most people do not like being on Facebook and Instagram 24/7. If you love posting on social media, it might be time to make money doing so.
Social media marketing requires you to have a portfolio of your work. Creating hobby pages on sites like Facebook and Instagram can be a good start. Familiarizing yourself with social media posting software, graphics programs like Canva, and more is a must.
If you can get a good portfolio together, you can work as a freelancer or as a W-2 employee. Every major company needs a social media manager. It might as well be you.
Median Pay: $50,000 according to Zety.
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