30 Incredible Stay-at-Home Job Options for Parents
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Being a stay-at-home parent can often be the dream for parents, since it allows the kids to be taken care of by the people who love them most, while also giving moms and dads the opportunity to spend their days bonding and playing with their child. But the economy isn't really set up for single income households anymore, and many parents are looking to find stay-at-home jobs that will allow them to earn a bit of extra money while cutting down on the cost of daycare or needing outside help.
There are a lot of jobs out there that are marketed as being perfect for a stay-at-home parent, but Olivia Dreizen Howell, co-founder of Fresh Starts Registry, certified life and business coach, says not all these opportunities will work for every person. "When it comes to finding a flexible job, it's important to look at the skills that the person is already doing on a daily basis and see how those skills are transferable to other jobs," she explains. You should also be realistic about the time you can give, after all, taking care of the kids is a 24/7 job, so a part-time or seasonal job might be the best option for you. It's also good to remember that remote jobs are still in-demand, so a few of the options we included are based on starting your own business and becoming your own boss.
Now, let's get that resume ready.
Photographer
What It Pays: The national average for a user generated image creator is, $60 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: The shutterbug that is always snapping photos, uploading the perfectly edited shots, and tagging all your friends and family.
What It Is: Taking pictures for customers, including family photos and product images that can then be sold as stock photographs on websites like Getty Images.
How to Get It: "There are many ways to sell your photos online for stock photography," Dreizen Howell, explains. Search job sites to find openings, or create a portfolio of the work you've already done and share it with your social circle to get the word out.
Laundry Service
What It Pays: One woman made $5,000 a month partnering with an on-demand laundry service, according to her personal essay for Business Insider, but of, course, it's varies on how many clients you have.
Perfect For: Anyone with a washer, dryer, and who doesn't mind sitting around folding laundry.
What It Is: You'll be tasked with cleaning other people's dirty laundry, by either having them drop their things off at your home or by running out and picking them up when it's time to do a few loads.
How to Get It: On demand laundry services like Poplin partner with people who want to take on this chore for people in their community and then pay them per pound of laundry washed.
Expert On-Demand
What It Pays: Pros working as experts-on demand can make an average of $2,000-$7,000 according to Andrea Toch of Colter Communications.
Perfect For: Anyone with specialized training, education, or knowledge in an in-demand field who is comfortable answering questions and offering insight virtually.
What It Is: Link up with a service like JustAnswer, where people pay a subscription fee to have access to a variety of different pros who can answer questions about everything from pluming emergencies to legal advice.
How to Get It: There is an application process for these jobs, and you'll need to visit their website to see exactly what the requirements are and whether you're qualified to be a processional consultant in your desired field.
Mobile Notary
What It Pays: The national average for a mobile notary signing agent is $64,777 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Anyone with a notary bond or the time and money to get one.
What It Is: Travel to different places (or have clients come to you) so that you can watch them sign legal paperwork like mortgage documents and power of attorney papers, verify their identity, and give their documents your state's official notary seal of approval.
How to Get It: Check your state requirements and complete any mandatory training and bonding requirements. Pay fees, take an oath of office, and then start looking for work on job boards like Indeed.
Public Relations
What It Pays: The national average for someone in public relations is $83,626 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone with enthusiasm, the ability to talk up a person or product they're excited about, and the networking skills needed to get the word out.
What It Is: PR folks are tasked with spreading the word about everything from local events to brand-new products that are just about to hit the shelves. Because most of this is done digitally these days, PR reps can work flexible hours, logging on to send emails during nap time or after the kiddos have gone to bed for the night.
How to Get It: Check with local businesses to see if they need help reaching their target audience, and then start building a portfolio to attract more and more business as your skills grow.
Freelance Fact Checker
What It Pays: The national average for a freelance fact-checker is $17, and hour or $36,000 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone who loves research, has an insatiable sense of curiosity, and a nose for the truth.
What It Is: Work for clients who need help verifying information included in everything from resumes to online content, confirming quotes, double-checking dates, and ensuring the correct spelling of people, places, and things.
How to Get It: Network on sites like LinkedIn to find work from home fact checking jobs that will work with your schedule and skill level.
In-Home Daycare
What It Pays: The national average for in-home daycare providers is in-home daycare providers is $31,992 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: The parent who doesn't mind having all the kids at their house during the day (or overnight) since it gives their kiddos a few extra friends to play with.
What It Is: Offer your time and services as a caregiver during certain days or hours so that other parents know that they'll be leaving their kids in good hands when they go to work.
How to Get It: With the cost of daycare at an all-time high and the availability of open slots in reputable facilities growing smaller every day, there's a huge pool of parents to choose from. Work your own network and offer your services to family and friends, or post in your local Facebook groups or on your church bulletin board. Pro tip: different states and municipalities have different requirements when it comes to insurance and licensing of daycare facilities, so see what you'll need to do in your area before you get started.
Rent Your Space
What It Pays: You can make between $5,000-$10,000 a month by renting out your home's amenities, according to Toch.
Perfect For: Someone with a picturesque pool, sprawling landscapes, or in demand accessories like pickleball courts.
What It Is: People will pay big bucks to rent out the private pools, spas, saunas, and backyards. Think of Airbnb, but for all those great features that made you want to buy your home in the first place.
How to Get It: Simply list what you have to offer on an online marketplace like Swimply (which focuses on pool rentals) and then make yourself scarce during the hours someone has booked your space.
Professional Organizer
What It Pays: The national average for a professional organizer is $55,711 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone who believes that there is a place for everything and that everything should be in its place. If you love a home that runs like a well oiled machine (and know how to make it happen) this may be the job for you.
What It Is: You'll take a look at a client's home and what their goals are (either virtually or in person) and offer them ideas and product recommendations for better organization. Dreizen Howell says that these types of projects can run the gamut and may include everything from physical possessions to digital ones.
How to Get It: Work your social network to start, letting people know about the services you offer, and create a website or social media account where you can show your before and after as part of your portfolio.
Matchmaker
What It Pays: The national average for a matchmaker is between $100,000 to $300,000 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: The person who is always on the lookout for the perfect hookup for her friends.
What It Is: With a bit of training, you can connect with clients from the comfort of your own living room, talking to them and getting to know what they’re looking for in a partner. Then you’re tasked with searching a database for a perfect match (or a few!) and planning a fun first date.
How to Get It: Look on career websites like Indeed, or go through a training program like Global Love Institute's to start your new career.
Transcriber
What It Pays: The national average for a transcriber is $17.50 to $22.75 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Speedy typists with strong grammar and punctuation skills.
What It Is: Make your own schedule by viewing a database of possible audio files to transcribe and choosing ones that work best for you based on the file’s difficulty ranking and due date. You can make your own schedule, which means you can log on when you're able to type a few minutes of audio, giving you a chance to be there for your kids when they need you.
How to Get It: Look on career websites like Indeed, or apply directly with services like Rev or TranscribeMe.
Translator
What It Pays: The national average for a translator is $60,015/year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone who is multilingual and comfortable speaking and writing in different languages.
What It Is: Translate audio files or written documents from one language into another for remote clients. Often assignments are posted with a fixed price which can range anywhere from $15 to $1,000 depending on the languages needed and the difficulty of the assignment.
How to Get It: Look on career websites like Indeed, or find individual jobs on UpWork.
Graphic Designer
What It Pays: The national average for a graphic designer is between $30 to $32/hour or around $62,400 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Creatives with a background in graphic design and a knowledge of design software such as Canva, Photo Shop, and Adobe Illustrator.
What It Is: Pick up individual graphic design assignments and create a roster of clients who keep coming back for more. If you have the background in graphic design and the software to create your brilliant designs with, you’re good to go, and you can get your work done from home at whatever time of day best suits your schedule.
How to Get It: Look on career websites like LinkedIn, Fiverr, and remote.co.
Copy Editor or Proofreader
What It Pays: The national average for a copy editor or proofreader is $60,320/year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Word nerds who know the difference between their, there, and they’re. If you're comfortable using everything from an em dash to a semicolon, then this could be the gig for you.
What It Is: Review documents for big picture issues such context and content, and smaller things such as sentence structure, word choice, and spelling. You can often break into this job by picking up individual assignments and over time can build up a roster of clients who will come back to you with regular work.
How to Get It: Look on career websites like LinkedIn, Indeed, and remote.co.
Event Planner
What It Pays: The national average for an event planner is $30/hour or $62,400 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: A person who’s in the know about trends in design, decoration, and desserts, and loves to see a project through from start to finish. If you're calm under pressure and will have a backup plan for the backup plan when things go south on the day of a big event, this may be the perfect way to get paid for your skills.
What It Is: Planning anything from bar mitzvahs to weddings to afternoon tea parties. Try starting small and creating connections with local vendors and reception spaces. You can be the person who can make someone’s special day stress-free, and most of the work can be done remotely, though you’ll want to show up to make sure everything is running smoothly the day of the event. That being said, you can still structure your day around your own schedule.
How to Get It: Build your own website with a gallery of photos to show the kind of events you’ve produced in the past, and start throwing smaller events for friends and family to gain experience and to build your website’s presence. That Color Run you helped throw for the PTO at your kid's school? Add it to your portfolio! Then, ask local businesses such as flower shops and bakeries if you can hang a flyer in their shop to advertise your services.
Brand Ambassador
What It Pays: The national average for a brand ambassador is $20/hour or $42, 047 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone with marketing experience, a history in sales or retail, and/or someone with a major social media following.
What It Is: You team up with brands to build a client-based business by selling products or services on platforms like Instagram or Twitter. Generally, brands will give you personal goals to reach on a monthly basis, and your schedule is typically flexible as long as you meet your goals. "It's a great option for those with kids because it can be done at home via email or social media," says Melissa Yeagley, Academic Counselor and Assistant Dean for Juniors at Fordham Gabelli School of Business.
How to Get It: Look on employment sites like Indeed, search directly on brand's career portal, or reach out to smaller businesses who are just getting started and may not have any influencers working on their brand yet.
Writer or Editor
What It Pays: The national average is $50,519 a year, according to ZipRecruiter. Some companies might also pay you per article.
Perfect For: Someone who's creative, is an experienced writer, and has internet access.
What It Is: Companies and brands are always looking for people who can write and edit content for them, and this role allows you flexibility in your workload. "They'll likely assign you deadlines, but you can agree to take them on only if it works in your schedule," says Eileen Shagara, career counselor in New York City.
How to Get It: Look for freelance writing or editing listings on employment sites like Indeed, pitch a publication you read personally, or check out websites and job boards designed to connect freelancers with work, such as Writers Work and iHirePublishing. You can also level your social media expertise and follow editors and keep an eye out for when they put out calls for pitches.
Bookkeeper
What It Pays: The national average is $26/hour or $54,329 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone who's extremely organized, pays close attention to details, and has a knack for crunching the numbers.
What It Is: Bookkeeping clerks record financial transactions, update statements, and review financial records for accuracy for clients. Since most of this work is done individually, and you can meet with clients over the phone, it's a great option for stay-at-home parents.
How to Get It: Look on employment sites like Indeed. If you're making the leap from full-time work, you can also see if your clients would be willing to follow you, allowing you to create a more flexible remote schedule at home.
Online Stylist
What It Pays: The national average is $19/hour or $39,190 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Fashionistas who are already keen to keep up on the latest trends, have a passion for shopping, and know exactly what it takes to throw together a stylish outfit.
What It Is: Women submit a picture of their body type, their style, and their goals, and the stylist puts together a look for their clients virtually, says certified career coach at Happy Work Spectacular Life, Jodi Wellman. Whether it's a closet overhaul or picking the perfect getup for a specific event, an online stylist's job is to help their clients achieve look their best.
How to Get It: You can find job listings on employment websites like Cabi or build a website to showcase your portfolio with contact information so that clients can reach out to you directly.
Life Coach
What It Pays: The national average is $20/hour or $41,764 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone who is goal-oriented, motivational, and driven to see other succeed in all that they do.
What It Is: Coaches consult with clients and develop plans to help them reach their goals. "Think about your strengths and specialize in a niche that you're passionate about, like IT, health, or management," says Rachel Hott Ph.D, of NLPTraining.com. Communication tools like Zoom and Google Meet make it easy to set up a coaching career from the comfort of your own home, without ever having to meet with clients in-person.
How to Get It: Though it's not required, you can get trained and certified to become a coach. Other sites like Indeed list jobs for companies looking to hire coaches.
Interior Designer
What It Pays: The national average is $72,849 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone who has a knack for home decor and knows everything there is to know about the latest trends.
What It Is: It starts with clients sending a picture of a room through email with their goals, says Wellman. Then your job to come up with some colors, swatches, and furniture pieces to create a vision board that you then submit to your client. Once they sign off on your ideas, you'll manage and coordinate the projects to completion.
How to Get It: You can build a website featuring your portfolio with your contact information so that clients can reach out to you directly, or show off your skills on sites like TikTok where people can see your transformative work for themselves.
Virtual Administrative Assistant
What It Pays: The national average is $26/hour or $54,329 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone who's super organized, a whiz at making travel arrangements, and a pro when it comes with navigating complex (and sometimes conflicting) schedules.
What It Is: Assisting clients with things like answering emails, scheduling appointments, and booking travel, plus a wide range of other administrative tasks. According to Kayla Lewis, recruiter at Aston Carter, technology like email, webinars, and online conferences have made doing this type of work remotely way more common.
How to Get It: You can find job listings on employment websites like Online VA Team or Virtual Employee.
Content Marketer
What It Pays: The national average is $29/hour or $59,518 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone who is bursting with creativity, is passionate about bringing awareness to their favorite causes or brands, and who knows how to make things go viral.
What It Is: Even though projects will vary dramatically based on each different company's goals, this type of work normally involves creating content — like videos, blogs, social media posts — and then sharing it online for a target audience, says Debra Wheatman C.P.R.W., C.P.C.C., Careers Done Write.
How to Get It: You can find job listings on employment websites like Indeed.
Tutor
What It Pays: The national average is $20/hour or $42,053 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Former teachers or hardcore academics who know their stuff when it comes to math, writing, reading, or a foreign language.
What It Is: You'll be responsible for teaching kids basic skills, help them with their homework, and give them practice problems to prepare them before a test. When you tutor virtually, you may get this job done during nap time or in the evening when you have your partner around to watch your children.
How to Get It: Look for job listings on employment websites like Indeed, reach out to people in your network — such as your kids' teachers and parents of their friends — or post in your local Facebook group.
Inside Sales Representative
What It Pays: The national average is $25/hour or $51,470 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Friendly and well-spoken folks who know all about the art of closing the deal.
What It Is: Inside sales representatives work with a portfolio of clients to build new business opportunities for the company, as well as looking for new leads, which may include doing research, making cold calls, or sending emails. It's their job to generate interest in a company and close deals. "If [you're working in] telemarketing, you'll have a list of people to call and you can make your own schedule," says Wheatman.
How to Get It: You can find job listings on employment websites like Indeed.
Computer Troubleshooting Technician
What It Pays: The national average is $20/hour or $42,053 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: The person who always gets calls from friends and family when their computer crashes.
What It Is: "So many jobs that were reserved for a corporate setting you can now do at home, like IT troubleshooting," Shagara says. In this role you'll use problem-solving skills to diagnose technical problems and walk clients through solutions. If you have extensive knowledge in software development or maintenance, you could even be brought on as a consultant to handle new software or hardware installment and repairs.
How to Get It: You can find job listings for remote computer troubleshooting on employment websites like Indeed.
Seamstress
What It Pays: The national average is $18/hour or $37,437 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Someone who is handy with a needle and thread and is comfortable inviting clients who need alterations into their home.
What It Is: Clients will bring you their garments for mending or repair. You'll give them an idea of when you'll be able to get the clothes back to them, and then you'll have a chance to work on your sewing on your own time after they've left.
How to Get It: Reach out to people in your network and in your local Facebook groups to let them know you're taking clients as a seamstress, then build a website to provide more info for potential clients.
Search Engine Evaluator
What It Pays: The national average is $34/hour or $70,034 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Are you someone you consider to be "very online?" If you have a passion for keeping up with trending content and have seen all those viral videos and stories at the start of their rise to fame, this may be for you.
What It Is: "All this job requires is to search the internet and give your feedback online to the respective company," says cognitive neurologist Dr. Sydney Ceruto of MindLAB Neuroscience. You can work from home, part-time or full-time, and the hours are usually flexible, she says.
How to Get It: You can find job listings on employment websites like Indeed.
Law Enforcement Transcriber
What It Pays: The national average is $20/hour or $41,995 a year, according to ZipRecruiter.
Perfect For: Anyone who possesses strong listening and writing skills and who has an interest in crime and law —the disposition to listen to potentially upsetting content is a must.
What It Is: You be tasked with transcribing some audio recordings from criminal investigations, internal audits, and various law other enforcement agencies' verbal communications. "Clients of mine who have done this tell me they can't get enough of hearing all the varied crime stories and how and what goes on behind the scenes in the law enforcement community," Ceruto says.
How to Get It: You can find job listings on employment websites like Indeed.
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