11 Best Single Mom Jobs

Managing all your responsibilities as a single mom can feel overwhelming, especially if your job doesn’t fit your schedule or ideal work/life balance. Fortunately, there are a number of jobs you can do around your schedule from a home office (or living room).

This article will cover a few of the top job titles to look for as a single mom. Which jobs are right for you will depend on your education, previous experience and interests. Each of these offer the potential for flexible hours, telecommuting opportunities, and a decent income.

1. Copywriting

Almost every ad involves some copy, and high-quality copy helps businesses achieve sales. The best copywriters are in high demand, and it’s typically an easy job to perform from any location.

Many copywriters work primarily or even exclusively as freelancers. As a freelancer, you’ll have the option to take on contracts that work for your schedule and turn down anything you aren’t interested in or don’t have time for. You can also fine full-time copywriting positions that let you work from home.

The pay scale for copywriting jobs varies widely, but even new writers can demand a high rate. Around $30 per hour, relatively low for copywriting, is enough to earn about $60,000 per year if you work 40 hours a week. You’ll be able to increase your salary as you gain more experience in the field.

2. Translating

Translators are required in a variety of fields to translate virtually all kinds of documents into a variety of languages. As in copywriting, the relatively straightforward nature of translating compared to other positions makes it perfect for workers with unpredictable schedules.

You should be able to find translating jobs as long as you’re fluent in a second language. You may be able to earn more if you have a legal or medical background and can translate technical documents.

Translating is an engaging and sometimes unpredictable job, as you can work on many projects at the same time. This helps you avoid the burnout that comes from performing the same repetitive task for too long, and the freelancing nature makes it easy to move on from jobs you’re no longer interested in.

3. Blogging

Unlike copywriting and translating, blogging is less contractors and more for those who want to  control their career path. It offers the same opportunity to make a living without sticking to a 9-to-5 schedule or show up to an office.

The money you earn as a blogger is highly dependent on interest in your blog, so it’s possible to spend a lot of time developing your blog without getting any return on that investment. If you’re willing to take that risk, you could make far more as a blogger if your blog resonates with a wide audience.

With that in mind, you shouldn’t rely on a new blog to be your primary source of income anytime soon. There are already blogs on almost any topic you can think of, and even successful blogs can take years to build a strong online presence.

If you’re interested in blogging, consider starting a blog while earning money through other flexible work on this list. You can always quit those positions if you make it as a blogger, but you’ll maintain cash flow in the early stages.

4. Child Care

Busy parents are always looking for reliable and affordable childcare options, and this is a natural role for a single mom who’s already taking care of her own child. Some people get into child care by working at another business, but you can also start a home daycare service, especially if you know people who could be your first clients.

Like blogging, managing your own child care business comes with risks that aren’t involved if you work for someone else. There’s always a chance you’ll have trouble finding or keeping clientele.

Your income has a much higher potential to grow if you own your business rather than being paid by another company. Rather than being paid $15 per hour, for example, you could charge $15 per hour for each child in your care, possibly earning$100 or more per hour.

5. Coding

Coding is a rapidly growing field that offers many of the same benefits of other digital jobs, and the best coders can earn a high hourly rate. While you’ll compete with more experienced coders now than five or 10 years ago, demand still outweighs supply in the job market.

Learning how to code might feel unattainable as a single mom, but many resources are available for new coders. In fact, some websites offer free courses on how to code designed for people with little or no experience.

Once you’re confident in your skills, you can apply to full-time remote jobs or freelancing contracts. If you’re still working on your skills, freelancing is a great way to gain some experience and build a project portfolio.

6. Teaching

Teaching typically requires a more conventional schedule than some of the other jobs on this list, but teachers get to spend summers with their children and often come home earlier than those in conventional 9-to-5 jobs. You can get a teaching certificate in a short time if you meet the requirements.

Like child care providers, teachers have the opportunity to work with children and make a real difference in their lives. You can teach different grades depending on your credentials and how well you get along with kids of different ages. A good teacher can have a transformative impact on a child’s future.

If you’re not sure about working full-time as a teacher, you can always start by taking on substitute teaching roles on an as-needed basis. If that goes well, you can start looking for long-term positions at local schools.

7. Real Estate

Real estate is a relatively high-paying industry, and you can make a decent living as either an independent agent or as part of an organization. As with some other top jobs for single moms, each option has its pros and cons, so it’s important to think carefully about this decision.

If you choose to work as an independent real estate agent, you may need to pay for overhead costs such as phones, computers, ads and a workspace. On the other hand, you’ll be able  to make your own schedule, and you’ll receive any profits rather than only earning a set wage and commissions.

If you’re new to real estate, you may prefer to start out as an employee to avoid the responsibilities and risks that come with running your own business. Your maximum earnings are more limited, but you’ll guarantee a decent salary and a higher degree of financial stability.

You’ll need a real estate license before becoming an agent. These are generally accessible and don’t require as much additional education as certain other kinds of certification. You could start making money as a real estate agent after a short period of training and preparation.

8. Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping involves strong attention to detail, and it’s a good field for single moms interested in freelancing or full-time work from home. Bookkeepers are typically responsible for recording and maintaining financial records for things like taxes and financial reports.

Depending on their size, some companies look to hire bookkeepers as in-house employees for more control over the process and direct supervision. Like other full-time positions, this provides the benefit of predictability, but working set hours (typically around 9-to-5) may be difficult for your schedule.

Smaller businesses, on the other hand, often don’t need a full-time bookkeeper. In these cases, you can work on a per-assignment or per-hour basis, often from the comfort of your home. Remote freelancers tend to come with less overhead for businesses than in-house employees.

Accounting education and experience can help you become a more attractive candidate, but they aren’t required to become a bookkeeper.

9. Social Media Management

Social media is a more important marketing channel than ever, and businesses need talented social media managers to craft effective campaigns. As in accounting, there are both full-time and contract positions available within the field of social media management.

Social media managers oversee content creation and customer outreach on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A writing- or marketing-based degree could give you an advantage over other applicants, but there are few barriers to entry for social media management.

Many small business owners are interested in boosting their social media outreach, but they may not know how to reach their marketing goals. Freelance social media managers can earn a high hourly rate once they demonstrate their ability to improve performance.

Social media management is a particularly interesting field for single moms, because you can learn a lot on your own and won’t need to take classes or training programs. Much of your success as a social media manager is simply based on how well you understand what audiences are looking for.

10. Editing

Editors are responsible for turning rough drafts into final copies, but the specifics can vary widely from one project to another. Some clients will simply ask you to proofread for typos and other simple errors, while others will expect help with things like structure or narrative.

Editing is similar to translating in that your experience is highly dependent on the client you’re working with. Editing a children’s book, for example, is very different from closely examining a long book or legal document. This makes it easy to start with manageable tasks before moving on to more complicated projects.

Companies and individuals often hire editors for individual documents, although you can find ongoing contracts with some clients. If you have the relevant experience, you may be able to make more money by focusing on technical documents that the average editor wouldn’t be able to work on.

Editing is almost exclusively done digitally, so it’s one of the most flexible jobs to perform while working from home or on an unpredictable schedule. It’s also easy to start slow with just a few contracts until you get in the habit of managing several clients. There’s constant demand for skilled editors, so you can almost always find new clients if you’re ready to take on more hours.

11. Fitness Instruction

Teaching fitness classes along with things like yoga and pilates is an approachable position for almost any single mom. Classes are taught throughout the day and week, and instructors often trade classes in case someone can’t make a given time.

Fitness instructors typically work in gyms, but you don’t  need to work a full-time schedule. Gyms often hire instructors for part-time and occasional classes, and you can teach a variety of classes to keep things interesting and avoid burnout.

Depending on your fitness experience, you may be able to turn your instructing position into a job as a personal trainer for individual clients. Personal trainers are responsible for closely developing workout and diet plans, and they can earn more money than class instructors. Rates depend on demand in your area.

Flexible Work for Single Moms

You might not feel like you have the time or energy to work a job as a single mom, but there are a number of ways to earn money from home around an unpredictable schedule. These are just some of the best jobs for single moms to consider for either part-time or full-time work.