While our culture celebrates the stay-at-home mom, the reality is that most parents of any gender prefer and need to work. According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022 report1, both parents were employed in 65% of married-couple families with children.
Thankfully, today more than ever, there are many work-at-home jobs for moms that allow for a flexible schedule.
(All salary estimates below are from Ziprecruiter.)
If you’re a stay-at-home mom asking yourself: “How can a stay-at-home mom make money?” keep reading for some of the best SAHM jobs:
Best job you can do from home
1. Bookkeeper
Bookkeepers track and organize financial records for a business, including things like income, payroll, and expenses. They can work independently and take on multiple clients or get a bookkeeping job to work exclusively with one company. If you want a lot of flexibility, we recommend starting your own bookkeeping business.
Why it’s a great job for stay-at-home moms: Today’s bookkeepers use online bookkeeping software, so you can likely run your business from home or find a work-from-home job. Bookkeeping typically isn’t a job where you’ll have to take a lot of calls.
Education or training: Entry-level bookkeepers can usually find jobs without a degree. However, taking a training course and having a certificate may lead to more job opportunities and allow you to command more money. Consider taking a bookkeeping course like the one offered by Bookkeeper Launch to learn the skills you need and find out how to land clients. You can start with this FREE masterclass on bookkeeping >>
More in our Bookkeeper Launch review.
Pay: Average $24/hour (Bookkeeper Launch reports its clients earn an average of $60 per hour)
Erin Bardsley was a newly divorced single mom in Vermont when she started bookkeeping as a new career.
Now she works with a bakery, yoga studio, and an arts nonprofit, and she loves getting to support local businesses in her community. Today, she earns $70 per hour and is killing it as a bookkeeper:
More online jobs for stay-at-home moms
These are some jobs stay-at-home moms can do online. Also, check out our list of 11 quick job certifications that pay well.
2. Proofreader
Proofreaders help writers create polished content by searching for and correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes before publishing.
Why it’s a great job for stay-at-home moms: Proofreading jobs — especially freelance opportunities — are highly flexible, allowing you to work around your family’s schedule.
Education or training: A high school diploma and an excellent command of language and grammar are typically the only requirements to become a proofreader. However, having an English degree or certification, like the EF SET, could add value to your resume.
Pay: Average $22/hour
3. Social media manager
Social media managers help businesses, professionals, and influencers manage their social accounts by creating content calendars, scheduling posts, and replying to and moderating comments.
Why it’s a great job for stay-at-home moms: Moms who know how to use popular social media platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok can get started in this career with no formal education and can typically work flexible schedules.
Education or training: While you don’t need a degree for most social media jobs, having one in digital marketing or communications — or a certificate from an online course — can help you land a job or secure your first client. A great way to get practical experience is to volunteer to handle social media for a local business, club, or charity to showcase your skills and build a portfolio.
Pay: Average $31/hour
4. Freelance writer
Freelance writers write news articles, magazine features, blog articles, grants, whitepapers, and other content for clients.
Why it’s a great job for stay-at-home moms: The majority of communications can take place via email or other digital platforms, like Slack or Trello, so stay-at-home moms won’t need to worry about making phone or video calls.
Education or training: No official training or education. However, some freelance writers have marketing, English, or communications degrees.
Pay: Average $29/hour
Most freelance writers are paid per article or by word count. The Editorial Freelancers Association surveyed its members and found that the median pay for freelance writing was $0.21–$0.30/word.
5. Video or photo editor
Video and photo editors add effects or improve the quality of videos or photos using video and photo-editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop.
Why it’s a great job for stay-at-home moms: Editing is purely digital, so there’s no need to visit clients in person. Most editing work is based on deadlines, which can give you some wiggle room in scheduling.
Education or training: Many media editors are self-taught, but the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that training or certification with specific editing software could make it easier to find jobs or clients.
Pay: Average $29/hour for video editors and $19/hour for photo editors
6. Test scorer
Test scorers usually work with testing centers, like Pearson and ETS, to score open-ended exams against a rubric or standards.
Why it’s a great job for stay-at-home moms: These at-home jobs for moms are flexible, allowing test scorers to commit to a specific number of hours a week but work at a schedule they choose.
Education or training: Most testing agencies require scorers to have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Pay: Average $27/hour
7. Virtual assistant
Virtual assistants manage an array of tasks for clients, including sending and responding to emails, scheduling and managing appointments, handling social media accounts, and promoting blog posts.
Why it’s a great job for stay-at-home moms: Moms can find clients without strict scheduling requirements to work during evening hours, weekends, or other times that fit their family’s schedule.
Education or training: VAs don’t need any technical training, but getting certified in different tasks, like content marketing or customer support, could make you more appealing to clients.
Pay: Average $34/hour
8. Email-based or chat-based customer service representative
These support specialists respond to a business’s emails and live chats, declutter inboxes, and reach out to customers to follow up on support requests.
Why it’s great for stay-at-home moms: Since this job is email/chat-based, you won’t have to worry about taking many (if any) calls with noisy kids in the background.
Education or training: Customer service representatives usually need only a high school diploma. Still, the BLS notes that a degree or license may be a requirement for some industries and employers.
Pay: Average $17/hour
9. Event planner
Help people plan weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, family reunions — basically any event where people are gathering.
Why it’s great for stay-at-home moms: Many event planners meet in person with clients to discuss event details and plans, but you can also do a lot of virtual planning, relying on email communications and phone/Zoom calls as needed.
Education or training: While you don’t need a degree to be an event planner, a bachelor’s degree in business or communications can springboard an event-planning career. Although not always required, a certification from the American Association of Certified Wedding Planners (AACWP) or the Events Industry Council could showcase your expertise and skills.
Pay: Average $29/hour (Note that the types of events you plan will determine how much you make — weddings, for example, will be more lucrative than a child’s birthday party.)
10. Medical coder
Medical coders assist health care providers with medical billing by translating procedures into medical billing codes for invoicing.
Why it’s great for stay-at-home moms: Many of these jobs are remote, allowing stay-at-home moms to complete their coding tasks from home. Part-time positions are readily available, as well, which is ideal for moms looking for limited hours each week.
Education or training: Graduates with a high school diploma or GED take a medical training course before sitting for a certification exam.
Pay: Average $22/hour
11. Remote interior designer
Remote interior designers work similarly to event planners, communicating with clients via email, text, or an occasional video meeting.
Why it’s great for stay-at-home moms: Digital planning tools for interior designers make it easy to share creations with a client without meeting in person.
Education or training: A portfolio of previous work is sometimes enough for independent contractors to prove their skills to new clients. However, you’ll likely need a bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject to get a staff job with a design firm.
Pay: Average $32/hour
12. Job recruiter
Job recruiters find the best potential candidates for open positions. They use databases to search for candidates that fit an organization’s needs and then shortlist candidates via screening tools and interviews.
Why it’s great for stay-at-home moms: Some organizations hire work-from-home recruiters to scan and respond to job applicants. However, some phone work during regular business hours is a typical requirement, so this job is best for moms with some child care, a separate office, older children, or children in school.
Education or training: No formal training is necessary for entry-level work, but previous relevant experience or a degree in business or human resources can help you stand out for advanced positions.
Pay: Average $28/hour
Also, check out our list of six-figure jobs (which includes some remote options).
Learn whether it's worth going back to school at 30 or 40.
13. Dog groomer
Families with dogs are looking for trustworthy people to keep their fur babies looking and feeling good. You'll brush, bathe, and trim fur and nails for dogs regularly to avoid matted fur or broken nails.
Why it's great for stay-at-home moms: You can groom dogs at home and create a schedule that works for your family. However, you'll need to check with your city, county or township to make sure your home can be used as a business for this purpose. You'll also have an upfront cost for grooming equipment.
Education or training: No certifications are required, but you'll need to learn the basics of grooming, such as brushing, bathing and trimming nails. You can learn this through an online dog grooming school or through on-the-job training at a local dog-grooming business.
Pay: Average $23/hour
Learn more about becoming a dog groomer to see if it's right for you.
Part-time stay-at-home mom jobs
14. Tutor
Tutors help students learn outside of a typical school day. They might meet with students in person at their homes or meet online through video to assist them with one or multiple subjects.
Why it’s great for stay-at-home moms: As a stay-at-home mom, you can create a part-time tutoring schedule and meeting format that works for your family. Sites like VIPKid and Outschool offer flexible ways for moms to earn money when they have time to meet with students.
Education or training: Tutors typically need teaching credentials or a bachelor’s degree in the subject area they’d like to teach. However, some online tutoring platforms simply require a criminal background check.
Pay: Average $22/hour
15. Transcriptionist
Transcriptionists listen to audio and video files to transcribe spoken words into written transcripts. Many transcription companies also hire proofreaders to review transcripts before they’re returned to clients.
Why it’s great for stay-at-home moms: Well-known transcription companies like Rev let transcriptionists set their own schedules and complete work when they can, which is perfect for busy stay-at-home moms with unpredictable schedules. Investing in a quality noise-canceling headset may help you drown out background noise as you work.
Education or training: Transcription jobs don’t usually require formal education or training, but candidates must have excellent typing skills, including accuracy and speed.
Pay: Average $17/hour
16. Graphic designer
Graphic designers create artwork and visuals for individuals or companies, often using digital tools like Adobe Photoshop. Their work might become a nonprofit’s branding, a company’s marketing materials, or a solopreneur’s T-shirt designs.
Why it’s great for stay-at-home moms: Using marketplaces like Upwork or 99designs, part-time freelance graphic designers can find projects to complete by a deadline rather than on a set schedule.
Education or training: Graphic designers don’t necessarily need formal training or education, but taking a course or building a portfolio of previous work can help land clients.
Pay: Average $27/hour
17. Personal stylist
Traditionally, personal stylists meet with clients in person to put together outfits for specific events or occasions. Today, many stylists are taking their careers online by meeting with clients via video or creating looks digitally with photo-editing software, Pinterest boards, or presentations.
Why it’s great for stay-at-home moms: Some online clothing companies, like Stitch Fix and Amazon, offer jobs to personal stylists who want to work from home curating outfits based on customers’ preferences. These are typically part-time roles that can seamlessly fit into a hectic schedule.
Education or training: Personal stylists don’t need specific education or training, but having a fashion-focused background could make an application stand out.
Pay: Average $20/hour
Side jobs for stay-at-home moms
If you’re only looking to put in a few hours of work a week, check out this list of side gigs for stay-at-home moms:
18. Caregiver
Caregiving for elderly adults or children is one of the best jobs for single moms or stay-at-home moms because it’s an extension of the caregiving they already do each day.
Why it’s a good job for stay-at-home moms: Caregivers can take their children with them to visit and care for an older adult who might need help with cooking or cleaning. Or, they can babysit other children in their homes while they tend to their own kids.
Education or training: Laws and requirements vary for caregivers, depending on your location and the type of caregiving you do. Look for specific requirements in your state. You might also consider getting certified in CPR and First Aid.
Care.com simplifies the process of finding people who need care for kids or seniors. Create a free profile, fill out your information, and begin applying to jobs. Or let others find your profile and hire you.
Check out our Care.com review and find caregiving gigs on Care.com >>
Pay: Average $15/hour
19. Pet sitter
Pet sitters take animals into their homes or care for them at their owners’ homes, usually during the workday or weekend trips away. They’re typically responsible for feeding, giving medicine, playing, pottying, and exercising dogs or cats, but some pet sitters also care for smaller animals, like birds, turtles, or rabbits.
Why it’s a good job for stay-at-home moms: If your kids are old enough to be respectful of animals and you ask owners how their pets behave around children, you may be able to take your child with you on pet-sitting gigs.
Education or training: Pet sitters do not need formal education or training. However, a certification from the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters could make some pet owners more likely to choose you. Care.com is an ideal place to find flexible pet-sitter jobs.
Pay: Average $15/hour
You can also find pet-sitting gigs on TrustedHouseSitters.
20. Data entry clerk
Data entry clerks type data into documents, spreadsheets, and databases. Essentially, you only need a computer and, potentially, software that a company might require for you to complete your job.
Why it’s a good job for stay-at-home moms: Many data entry clerks can work part-time for just a few hours a day, with some companies allowing workers to choose the days and times they work.
Education or training: Data entry clerks can work with a high school diploma or GED. Although no formal education or training is usually required, clerks may need to pass a typing test to prove their skills during the application process.
Pay: Average $28/hour
21. Product tester
Product testers work for brands, manufacturers, or marketing teams to test products before they reach the public. Testers provide helpful feedback to the company — sometimes in multiple rounds — to help the product’s creators improve the products before selling them. Some brands also look for product testers for already-released products to provide feedback through blog, video, or social media posts as promotions for the products.
Why it’s a good job for stay-at-home moms: Stay-at-home moms can look for remote testing opportunities for independent contractors to get flexible hours.
Education or training: Most independent contractor testing opportunities don’t require formal education or training. Roles with manufacturing companies may require a minimum of a technical degree.
Pay: Average $47/hour
Same-day pay jobs: 26 instant payout opportunities for quick cash
Why moms working from home makes sense
When I urge moms to keep one foot in the professional world, I often get a lot of pushback.
I hear that it’s impossible to maintain a career if you work less than 50 hours per week, or that childcare is prohibitively expensive.
I am fortunate that I found a career early on that allows me to work hard while also supporting a family. But I am not so special.
Nearly every industry is moving towards contract and freelance work, while part-time and telecommuting positions are on the rise. There are tons of opportunities out there — and countless ways to make your own opportunities.
Don’t get me wrong; it is always a struggle to do the single-mom juggle. But if you have a grip on your time, the chaos goes down and your quality of life goes up.
Studies find that the majority of professional moms prefer to work — but also identify the ideal work situation to include more family time and a flexible schedule. Where do you find these jobs? The answer surprises many people.
Most people know that customer service and data entry jobs are largely done virtually. But, did you know that if you need to call your pediatrician’s after-hours nurse line, those nurses are most likely working from their own homes? Virtual nurses–it’s true! And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
I’m thrilled when women report they found work at home jobs for single moms.
I want this for you, too, because moms working from home is a good thing.
Here I am speaking to Yahoo! Finance about why work-at-home careers are so great for mothers — and how to get started.
Stay-at-home mom jobs FAQs
What jobs are best for stay-at-home moms?
The best jobs for stay-at home moms are professions that offer flexibility, don’t take a long time to get started, offer excellent pay, and don’t require on-call support — allowing you to work around your family’s schedule and take care of them financially.
A career as a bookkeeper, social media manager, proofreader, medical coder, and virtual assistant are a few examples of jobs that fit the bill.
If you are willing to pursue higher education and enjoy taking care of people, think about becoming a nurse practitioner. With a median hourly rate of $59.51 per hour and an outlook of 40% growth through 2031, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports it’s one of the best paying and fastest growing remote careers.
How can a stay-at-home mom make $2,000 a month?
Yes, a stay-at-home mom can make $2,000 a month. If you pursue a job that pays at least $20 per hour, you only need 100 hours of work per month to hit that goal. That’s just 25 hours per week, which is a typical part-time schedule.
How do you balance working from home as a mom?
Working from home as a mom is possible if you have the right support and schedule in place. If you can, try to work hours when your kids are in school or at daycare, or work before your kids wake up in the morning or at night after they’ve gone to bed.
You can also hire someone to come to your home to take care of your kids while you work, allowing you to take breaks to spend time with them but still get your work done.
Here’s what working moms on Reddit had to say:
What are the best jobs for moms with no degree?
The best jobs for moms with no degree are professions that offer flexible schedules, the ability to work from home, and good pay (at least $20 per hour). Here are some to consider:
- Bookkeeper: As a bookkeeper you can earn more than $70 per hour, work at home or for a business, and learn bookkeeping skills in less than a year
- Proofreader: If you are good at writing and paying attention to details, you can earn an average of $27 per hour as a proofreader with no degree or prior experience
- Programmer: In about six months, you can learn how to program or code and be on your way to earning $27 per hour on average without a degree
- Real estate agent: Real estate agents earn an average of $42 per hour, have flexible schedules and can study for a licensing exam to sell homes and property
- Social media manager: As a social media manager, you can work from home, earn about $31 per hour, and get started with minimal training
To learn more about how to get started in these jobs, read our post: Check out the best 28 jobs for single moms in 2024.
How can I work from home for myself?
Start by researching remote jobs and freelance business ideas to find something that interests you and pays well. Find out:
- What training is necessary to get started
- Any certification or licensing needed
- Startup costs for your new career
- Necessary equipment or technology (such as a computer or internet connection)
It also helps to connect with professional organizations or groups in your chosen field.
To learn more, check out our post: 12 business ideas for moms
Bottom line: If you want or need a job you can do at home, there are plenty of stay-at-home mom jobs that pay
If you’re a stay-at-home mom who wants to make money and have a meaningful career, there are plenty of jobs that can give you the best of both worlds. Flexible work-from-home jobs allow you to work around your family’s schedule without going to a physical office.
You can find a lot of these jobs on sites like Indeed or Flexjobs.com, a site dedicated to helping people find flexible, work-from-home positions.Plus, see why we feel so strongly that you cannot afford to be a SAHM who doesn’t work.
SOURCES
- “Employment Characteristics of Families – 2022,” Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/famee.pdf
The best jobs for stay-at home moms are professions that offer flexibility, don’t take a long time to get started, offer excellent pay, and don’t require on-call support — allowing you to work around your family’s schedule and take care of them financially.
Yes, a stay-at-home mom can make $2,000 a month. If you pursue a job that pays at least $20 per hour, you only need 100 hours of work per month to hit that goal. That’s just 25 hours per week, which is a typical part-time schedule.
Working from home as a mom is possible if you have the right support and schedule in place. If you can, try to work hours when your kids are in school or at daycare, or work before your kids wake up in the morning or at night after they’ve gone to bed.
