Clearly, being a parent is a full-time job in itself. And if you’re a single parent, it’s like working overtime, 24/7. Of course, no matter how busy you are with your kids, bills still need to be paid, which is where the best jobs for moms with no degree come in! Keep reading to learn more.
Table of contents
- Not having a college degree is not a deal breaker
- It’s possible to juggle work with childcare
- 15 best jobs for moms with no degree
- Finding flexibility in your career as a single mom
- Expert tip: Look for job opportunities that require professional credentials vs a college degree
- How do single mothers survive financially?
- What career is best for a single mom?
- What job has the most flexible hours?
- Articles related to the best jobs for moms
Not having a college degree is not a deal breaker
Working to support your children is a common stress factor for almost all parents. Particularly, if you don’t have a degree, you may worry about what this will mean for your career opportunities, your earning power, and your ability to support your family.
But no matter what you’ve heard, there are plenty of career opportunities that don’t require a college degree. Even if you’re a mom without a degree, you can still make a good living to support your family.
It’s possible to juggle work with childcare
Clearly, trying to find a good work-life balance is hard for everyone. Notably, it’s a particular challenge for women since we often take on more childcare responsibilities than men.
In fact, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that women do an extra hour a day of chores and child care than men do!
Unfortunately, this challenge of work-life balance is further compounded if you’re a single mom. But don’t worry, this list includes the best jobs for single moms with no degree!
Above all, it’s important to remember to not put pressure on yourself to be perfect. Instead, remind yourself that you can find a way to make things work for you—even if you have just a high school diploma.
That said, let’s get into these best jobs for moms.
15 best jobs for moms with no degree
College isn’t for everyone—and that’s okay. Whether you haven’t gone yet or never plan on going, there are plenty of ways to make a living without having a college degree.
These are the best jobs for moms with no degree:
1. Childcare provider
Average salary: $30,000/year
A childcare provider takes care of children—and there are many different ways to do this. For example, you can work for an agency, work as a nanny for a specific family, or even turn your own home into a daycare center.
However, bear in mind that doing so may require obtaining specific licenses depending on which state you live in.
Most importantly, childcare providers often have opportunities to receive discounted child care for their own children, which is a huge win.
Requirements:
- Love for taking care of children
- Licenses if opening own daycare center
2. Customer service representative
Average salary: $39,000/year
Above all, a customer service representative acts as the direct point of contact between customers and a company.
Specifically, you are responsible for helping answer all their questions about a product or service via phone, email, or chat.
Requirements:
- If working from home, will need a strong Internet connection
- Ability to multi-task
3. Sales associate
Average salary: $60,000/year
One of the perks of working in sales is that you can work in almost any industry, e.g., insurance, real estate, medical devices, cars, etc. Moreover, the sky really is the limit when it comes to how much you can earn each month.
Many sales associates work on a combination of a wage and a commission, which means that if you’re good at what you do, then you can really bring home the big bucks!
Requirements:
- Strong communication skills
- Some employers may require sales associate certifications
4. Hairstylist
Average salary: $29,000/year
A hairstylist can shampoo, cut, dye, and style hair. Like many jobs that require no degree, there is a lot of variability in a hair stylist’s salary.
For example, while you may start out at a low salary, with experience, you can end up working at very high-end salons where clients pay three or four figures for haircuts and coloring.
Requirements:
- Haircutting and styling skills
- May require a state cosmetology license
5. Fitness Instructor
Average salary: $46,000/year
In general, a fitness instructor is someone who provides physical training, either in a class setting or one-on-one.
More specifically, a fitness instructor can teach yoga, pilates, weight lifting, aerobics, and basically any kind of physical exercise.
Usually, fitness instructors work for gyms or fitness centers, but you can also start your own business and work as a freelancer.
Starting a business offers a lot of options, so any job that allows you to do that is one of the best jobs for moms with no degree.
Requirements:
- Physical fitness skills
- Relevant certifications
6. Interpreter
Average salary: $57,000/year
First, it’s important to understand that an interpreter is different than a translator. A translator usually translates written texts, which then must be notarized if they’re legal documents.
Conversely, an interpreter translates information out loud in real time. In addition to other places, you may work at a hospital or in a government or education facility.
Requirements:
- Fluency in language(s) other than English
- May require a certification
7. Social media manager
Average salary: $71,000/year
A social media manager must plan, develop, and execute a marketing strategy across different social media platforms. You can work for an agency, just one company, or for yourself as a freelancer. With our go-go-go society and the fast-growing number of social media users, knowing how to use social media effectively is a skill that’s in high demand.
As a freelancer, you can work with almost anyone, including local small businesses and individuals.
Requirements:
- Tech and pop culture savvy
- Familiarity with different social media platforms
8. Graphic designer
Average salary: $49,000/year
Graphic designers combine art and technology to create visuals. Once you start thinking about it, you’ll see the work of graphic designers everywhere!
For example, graphic designers create brochures, logos, advertisements, social media graphics, eBook and book covers, etc. Like many creative jobs that don’t require a degree, you can work for an agency, a company, or for yourself as a freelancer, making this one of the best jobs for moms.
Requirements:
- Technology and design skills
- Special (and often expensive) design software, e.g., Photoshop, InDesign, etc.
9. Writer
Average salary: $59,000/year
If it’s something you’ve read on the Internet, chances are, a writer wrote it. Just think of all those blogs, articles, newsletters, ebooks, and other written content that you see every day… someone has to write it!
Best of all, as a professional writer, you can work with companies to produce content in almost any category, from lifestyle to cooking, fashion, health, tech, etc.
Requirements:
- Writing savvy
- Research skills
- Grammar know-how
10. Photographer
Average salary: $76,000/year
Traditionally, people imagine photographers being hired to work at weddings or take family portraits. But today, the opportunities for photographers are near limitless!
For example, you can work with bloggers, journalists, event planners, fashion designers, and many others. Usually, photographers work as freelancers, so this is also a great side hustle to consider alongside your day job.
And any job that’s a side hustle is among the best jobs for moms with no degree because of how easy it is to make money and have a flexible schedule.
Requirements:
- Photography equipment
- Editing software
- Photography skills
11. Bookkeeper
Average salary: $44,000/year
Basically, a bookkeeper is responsible for monitoring a company’s cash flow. For example, this can mean keeping track of transactions, preserving copies of receipts, etc. As a bookkeeper, you can work directly for a company or start your own business as a freelancer.
Here’s a tip: When it comes to being a freelancer, think local! All businesses need a bookkeeper—and that includes your local, small, mom-and-pop shops.
Requirements:
- Bookkeeping skills (can learn from online courses)
- Attention to detail
12. Data entry clerk
Average salary: $41,000/year
A data entry clerk adds and updates data information in databases. Additionally, you may also be responsible for other clerical activities, like compiling and sourcing data.
Requirements:
- Fast typing skills
- Attention to detail
- May need certain computer programs, e.g., Microsoft
13. Transcriptionist
Average salary: $49,000/year
A transcriptionist listens to audio recordings and transcribes the information, usually into a word processing program, like Word. These are called transcriptions. It’s worth noting that transcriptionists are most often in demand in the medical industry.
Plus, like many other jobs that don’t require a degree, you can choose to work for an agency, for a specific company, or for yourself as a freelancer.
Requirements:
- Fast typing skills
- Attention to detail
- May need to purchase special transcribing equipment
14. Virtual assistant
Average salary: $51,000/year
The virtual assistant market is experiencing rapid growth—and it’s only expected to continue. For this reason, becoming a virtual assistant is one of the best jobs for organized moms with no degrees.
As a virtual assistant, you provide administrative support. For example, typical duties include phone and email management, note-taking, customer service, data collection, event planning, etc.
Of course, these duties will vary depending on your specific employer and whether you work for an agency, one company, or as a freelancer.
Requirements:
- Strong multi-tasking, organizational, and time-management skills
- Basic computer skills
15. Proofreader
Average salary: $58,000/year
Proofreaders are the last set of eyes on text before it gets published. They make sure that everything is grammatically correct, free from errors, properly formatted, etc.
Proofreading is a great job option for moms who love to read. It can also be a good side hustle for stay-at-home moms who are looking to support their families.
Traditionally, proofreaders work in-housing for publishing companies. But with the rise of self-publishing, there are more opportunities for proofreaders to work as freelancers for independent authors.
Requirements:
- Excellent grammar
- Word processing software
16. Shopper
Average salary: The national average is $18.95/hour, though it varies. (Instacart shopper)
Average salary: $33,000/year (personal shopper)
You can work full-time as a personal shopper, and out of the best jobs for moms with no degree, it’s one of the more fun and versatile careers.
For example, you may work as a personal shopper and help clients choose outfits, shoes, and other items like furniture.
Or you can work with a service like Instacart. Essentially, people place their orders online and you are responsible for going to the store, picking up the items, and delivering them to the client. Usually, these orders are for groceries.
Unfortunately, being a shopper gives you little control over how often you can work, so you can’t predict how much you’ll make in a single day. But if you’re looking for a part-time gig, this could be a great option among the best jobs for moms.
Requirements:
- Reliable transportation
- Driver’s license
Finding flexibility in your career as a single mom
Undoubtedly, work-life balance is a challenge for everyone—but you’re playing on an expert level when you’re a single mom.
In fact, according to Harvard Business Review (HBR), “Single mothers who lived alone with their children were more likely than mothers in multi-adult households to say that their work productivity had decreased as a result of their care responsibilities (57% to 47%).”
If you are a single mom struggling with work-life balance, finding flexibility in your work can help make things more manageable.
Additionally, having the option to decide to work from home makes things a lot easier—especially if you can control your own hours and make your own schedule.
A short list of the best jobs for single moms with no degree
Out of the above job options, these are the best jobs for single moms with no degrees who want a flexible schedule:
- Child care provider
- Customer service representative
- Social media manager
- Graphic designer
- Freelance writer
- Bookkeeper
- Data entry clerk
- Transcriptionist
- Virtual Assistant
Expert tip: Look for job opportunities that require professional credentials vs a college degree
Even if you don’t plan on attending college, it’s still a smart idea to continue your education to increase your earning potential. One way to do this (even if you only have a high school diploma) is by pursuing professional certifications.
For example, if you want to become a social media manager, you can bolster your resume with online credentials, such as the Certificate in Social Media from Georgetown University or the SMM Certificate from Cornell University.
While no certificate can guarantee you a job, it can help improve your resume and open the door to new job opportunities.
How do single mothers survive financially?
Life as a single mom definitely comes with certain struggles—especially dealing with living as a one-income household. For this reason, to survive financially, it’s important for single moms to pay close attention to their income and spending.
Start by creating a single-mom budget. If you’re struggling with tracking your money, try using different budgeting tools, budgeting templates, or budget challenges to help you stay focused on your goals.
What career is best for a single mom?
There’s no one best career for everyone. But as a general rule of thumb, the best careers for single moms are ones that offer a lot of flexibility.
On the other hand, the most flexible jobs are often freelancing careers or independent contracting gigs. While these can be great jobs for moms, they also mean you don’t have a steady paycheck every month—or work-sponsored healthcare.
For this reason, more secure but flexible careers for single moms could include being: a sales associate, a customer service representative, a social media manager, or a bookkeeper.
What job has the most flexible hours?
When you’re a do-it-all working mom, flexibility is important—and that goes for your job, too. Some of the jobs with the most flexible hours include being: a customer service representative, a fitness instructor, a graphic designer, a writer, or a virtual assistant.
Plus, if you decide to start your own business, then you can create your own hours and work when you want.
Articles related to the best jobs for moms
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You don’t need a degree to support your family!
You can certainly find flexible, stable work that will help you support your family—even if you don’t have a degree. There are plenty of resources out there to help you get started in your search for the best jobs for moms.
So start thinking about ways to save money as a mom and be sure to learn how to make a great budget. Finally, check out our list of more jobs that pay well even if you don’t have a degree.