Despite decades of progress for women in the workplace, in many families, moms are still the ones who handle much of the childcare logistics, scheduling and other issues that require being available quickly to your children.
With cost of living increases, not very many moms have the luxury of staying at home without taking on a job, either. Moms need jobs that are flexible enough to allow them the time to tend to the needs of their children and high-paying enough to make the job worthwhile.
Here, experts explain some jobs that offer working moms the best of both worlds.
Also learn about a stay-at-home-mom who earned $500,000 in two years.
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Bookkeeping and Accounting
Erin O’Reilly is the owner of Balanced Books Business Services and an entrepreneur who loves how her job can be done fully remotely.
“This flexibility has been invaluable as a working mother. I’m not tied to a desk from 9 to 5, which means I can adjust my work schedule around my children’s needs. I have often worked in the evenings or during school hours, allowing me to be present for my kids when they needed me the most.”
She spends about 80% of her time providing freelance services to an accounting firm and the remaining 20% working with other small businesses. “This diversity keeps the work interesting and allows me to leverage different skills and experiences.”
As for the pay, she said “it is also very rewarding. While the average salary for accountant is around $63,000, according to Indeed, that varies widely from state to state.
“You have the ability to determine the amount of work you take on, which directly influences your income. This control over workload is crucial for balancing professional and personal responsibilities effectively.”
Overall, bookkeeping, accounting and tax services offer the perfect blend of good income and flexible scheduling, making it an ideal career for working moms who need to juggle multiple roles efficiently.
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Financial Advisor
Daniel Meursing, CEO and founder of Premier Staff, empathized with the plight of working moms. He said, “I’ve seen firsthand the challenges that working mothers face in balancing their careers and family lives. In today’s fast-paced, demanding business world, it can be difficult for moms to find high-paying jobs that offer the flexibility they need to be present for their children.”
What better realm to be financially secure in than finance itself? He recommended the job of financial advisor.
“As a former loan officer at EZ Fundings Home Loans, I can attest to the flexibility and earning potential of a career in finance. Financial advisors help clients manage their money, invest wisely and plan for the future,” Meursing said. “Many financial advisors have the ability to set their own schedules and work remotely, making it an ideal career for working moms.”
The average salary of this career is around $87,850 per year, he said, though it can be much higher depending on your expertise and region and you can set your own hours if you work independently.
Another advantage of this job, he said, is the ability to build long-term relationships with clients, which is useful for the years when your children are grown.
“As you help them navigate major life events like buying a home, saving for college or planning for retirement, you become a trusted partner in their financial journey. This can lead to a steady stream of referrals and a growing client base, allowing you to increase your earnings over time,” Meursing said.
Marketing Manager
An extremely well-paying job Meursing recommended is a marketing manager, which averages around $135,000 per year, he said.
Moms are often already skilled in organization and communication, both skills that are essential to this job.
“Marketing managers play a crucial role in promoting products, services and brands to target audiences. They develop and execute marketing strategies, oversee campaigns and analyze data to optimize performance,” Meursing said. “With the rise of digital marketing, many marketing managers can work remotely, making it a flexible career option for working moms.”
Human Resources Manager
Human resources managers are responsible for overseeing an organization’s employee relations, recruitment and training programs, Meursing said.
“They play a vital role in creating a positive workplace culture and ensuring that employees have the support and resources they need to thrive,” he said. “Many HR managers have the ability to work remotely, making it a flexible career option for working moms.”
They also make an average salary of over $116,000 per year.
“At Premier Staff, our HR team has been crucial in helping us build a strong, engaged workforce … By investing in our people and creating a culture of growth and empowerment, we’ve been able to attract and retain top talent in a highly competitive industry.”
Project Manager
Project managers are responsible for planning, executing and closing projects across a wide range of industries, Meursing said. “They coordinate teams, manage budgets and ensure that projects are completed on time and within scope.”
The average salary of a project manager, he said, is around $74,000.
While that might not sound like an easy gig, Meursing said that “With the rise of remote work and digital collaboration tools, many project managers can work from home, making it a flexible career option for working moms.”
Virtual Court Reporter
So many jobs shifted to virtual and remote during the pandemic, opening up new realms for moms. One, according to Karen Santucci, director of the country’s largest court reporting program at Plaza College in New York, is court reporting.
“Court reporting is one of the top career options for stay-at-home parents looking for great flexibility and solid pay. The number of available job opportunities is vast, allowing you to pick and choose what work you do, when and from where,” she said.
Court reporting can be done either full-time or freelance and every day is something different, she said. “Take one job in the morning and another in the evening, leaving time to pick up the kids from school in between. You have the ability to create your own schedule and the opportunities are plentiful.”
While the average range of salary is between $60,000 and $80,000 per year, she said that due to an ongoing worker shortage, employers are bending over backwards to fill positions, offering extra appearance fees and lowering requirements to get you in the door as quickly as possible.
“A court reporter captures the definitive record of all court proceedings, creating the official transcripts that play a role in jury deliberations, appeals and more,” she said.
Since the pandemic, much of the pretrial work is now done virtually, which means you can log into a Zoom deposition and capture everything that is said without leaving your home. “And if law isn’t your thing, the same skills can be applied to live events, online course offerings, meetings and any other situation where those with cognitive limitations or hearing issues require equal access under the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Santucci said.
Photo Manager
A highly flexible yet good-paying gig is becoming a photo manager, according to Cathi Nelson, the CEO and founder of The Photo Managers.
“This is a growing field of expertise helping clients manage photo collections and tell their stories by organizing, scanning and converting old media.”
She pointed that with 10,000 Americans turning 65 years old daily (The “Silver Tsunami”), there is a high need for assistance in organizing legacy images as well as sorting and organizing the thousands of digital photos clients of all ages have across multiple devices.
“Photo Managing is a great opportunity for moms as the work is highly flexible since you can work from home at your own pace and schedule. The skill set is easy to learn and there is no shortage of clientele needing help.”
Nelson said that photo managers charge the average hourly service rate of their community, which can range from $50 to $200 an hour or they may charge by the project if it’s a large amount of work. “The average project costs from as low as $750 to $3000 to even $10,000 and beyond.”
Some photo managers she knows have left full-time corporate or white-collar careers to start their own business and are now making six figures.
Virtual Assistant
More and more business people use administrative assistants to manage tasks such as calendar and email management, research, travel arrangements,= and more, according to Tony King a manager at JobSpace.
“Websites like Fiverr allow you to market your specific skills and inform potential employers of your availability. With the shift to remote work, finding a virtual assistant has become increasingly feasible,” King said.
While the average virtual assistant may not be super well paying, virtual executive assistants may be able to command top dollar, especially if you have a variety of strong skills. The average hourly wage is around $24, according to ZipRecruiter, but there are listings for jobs up to $50 per hour.
For working moms, finding a high-paying, flexible job can feel like an impossible dream. But with the right skills, experience and mindset, it’s entirely possible to build a successful career while still being present for your family.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 8 High-Paying and Flexible Jobs That Work For Working Moms