Top 10 Best Jobs for Moms Returning to Work

Deciding When to Return to Work

Research shows that many mothers return to work long before their child turns 5. Much of the reasoning was determined to be higher levels of anxiety for unemployed moms compared to those who work. They worried about money, tended to feel more alone, and thought that the workplace had no place for them. This is a contributing factor to more women returning to work sooner after they’ve given birth.

The decision is a personal one, but one that demands thought. Whether you’ve been on the sidelines for a few years, or you’re a new mom looking to get back to work quickly, there are jobs available for just about any situation. We’ll get to our best jobs for moms returning to work shortly, but first, let’s cover a possible emotional hurdle.

Getting Prepared for Working Mother Life

Once you’ve decided to re-enter the workforce and begin looking for the best jobs for moms returning to work, make sure you’re prepared for a successful employment search. Whether you’re re-entering the professional world where resumes and pedigrees are required or are just looking for a part-time job at the local grocery store, you’ll want to be successful in finding a job you like.

Landing a Job

Here are some tips for getting one of the best jobs for moms returning to work:

• Do some soul-searching and some research
• Know what you want to do and then learn as much as you can about it ahead of time
• Send resumes and/or applications to multiple employers
• Don’t be afraid to contact family and friends about possible employment
• Update your resume and hone your interview skills
• Be persistent, follow up on all interviews and applications
• Know before accepting a position how you will find balance in your new role as a working mother so you and your family are happy

Advantages of Being a Working Mother

Other than the obvious increase in your household income, there are other, less obvious, benefits to returning to work:

• Opportunities to socialize with other adults
• Create your own identity aside from being Mom
• Learn and develop some new skills
• Appreciate time with your family even more

Our 10 Best Jobs for Moms Returning to Work

It’s time to look at some specific opportunities we feel are tailor-made for mothers who are looking to rejoin the workforce. Obviously your prior education and experience will affect your opportunities. We chose to focus mostly on jobs available to women of any ability and education level.

• Library Assistant
• Sales Clerk
• Personal Care Aide
• Call Handler or Telemarketer
• Part-Time Office Assistant
• Cleaner
• Work from Home as a Freelancer
• Join an Apprenticeship
• Hospitality Worker
• Childcare Worker

Library Assistant

This position helps to shelve, organize, and issue books and other materials from local libraries. It’s a varied position that often has responsibilities such as helping to organize kid’s clubs, story times, and other events for children and adults. The responsibilities of this job provide a bit of physical exercise and interacting with library patrons creates a great social outlet. If you love to read, this is one of the best jobs for moms returning to work.

Earning Potential 

This is usually a part-time position with the average pay of between $12 and $20 per hour, depending on the size of the library and your duties.

Sales Clerk

This is a job that allows you to socialize in a relatively stress-free environment. You don’t need an impressive resume or a lot of experience to get this job and it often provides benefits ranging from health insurance and profit-sharing to store discounts.

Earning Potential 

This position usually pays anywhere from minimum wage up to $18 per hour, depending on the employer and job responsibilities.

Personal Care Aide

In this fast-growing job, you’ll visit clients in their homes and spend some time helping with their personal care and household upkeep. Since your clients will require support at all hours, schedule flexibility will probably be required, which can be good or bad. You’ll be working for an individual, so you can communicate your needs and negotiate your salary up front. Also, some states require a license to perform this job, so check with your state’s appropriate agency for details.

Earning Potential 

These positions have an average pay range of $11 to $15 per hour.

Call Handler or Telemarketer

This is an entry-level position that is usually fairly easy to find. Patience and good negotiation skills are needed to thrive in this position—traits many moms possess. One great thing about this position is there are work-from-home and even freelance opportunities available.

Earning Potential 

The pay for these positions varies within a range of $11 to $19 per hour and can be commission-based.

Part-Time Office Assistant

Office jobs can be a great choice for moms because they often allow you to work during school hours. Most offices employ part-time office assistants because it gives them more staffing flexibility. Prior office experience, such as data entry and filing, is often required. Though that’s not always the case, the more skills you have in these areas the more likely it is that you’ll get a job.

Earning Potential 

Depending on job responsibilities and experience, this job pays between $14 and $24 per hour.

Cleaner

Many women turn up their nose at the thought of this job, but it’s actually one of the most plentiful and common part-time jobs available. Businesses need cleaners at all hours so schedule flexibility is built-in. It’s a physical job allowing you to be active and tends to be a little less social than some of our other best jobs for moms returning to work, which might suit some people better than others. There are opportunities for private work or with a cleaning company.

Earning Potential 

The pay scale for this job is in the range of $11 to $17 per hour.

Work from Home as a Freelancer

Most work-from-home jobs for moms are freelance opportunities rather than employee work. There can be less job security, but it is a more sustainable type of employment for moms because it fits into your lifestyle. Writing, proofreading, transcription work, and tutoring are all freelance opportunities among the best jobs for moms returning to work.

Earning Potential 

Because of the nature of freelancing, the pay ranges significantly depending on the type of work you do. A beginning freelance writer might make minimum wage while someone with specialized training might make $25 per hour or more.

Join an Apprenticeship

This can be great for mothers with sizeable gaps in their resume. If you’re looking to find a full-time career that pays well, an apprenticeship could be a good place to start. The Women’s Bureau has a portal called Women Build, Protect and Move America. It enables women to explore a career in transportation, construction or protective services. These are employment areas where women are under-represented, so there are many apprenticeships available all over the country.

Most apprenticeships are full-time as opposed to part-time opportunities, and the starting pay is quite low. It’s something to consider for those looking for a long-term career.

Earning Potential 

The long-term earning potential can be quite high, but the apprenticeship itself usually will start below $15 per hour.

Hospitality Worker

This is a popular option for working mothers because of the schedule flexibility it offers. Whether waiting tables, tending bar, or working at the front desk of a hotel, this tends to be a very social job with plenty of interaction with patrons and travelers. There are many positions available, from entry-level to trained professionals.

Earning Potential 

This is another field where pay varies greatly depending on where and what kind of work you do. A waitress at a small restaurant might make $12 to $14 per hour whereas a bartender at an upscale club might make over $20 per hour.

Childcare Worker

As a mother, this is the one job where you won’t have to worry about not having experience. It’s also likely that you’ll be comfortable with and good at this job.  It’s a great option for those feeling less confident about returning to work. There is always a need for daycare workers, nannies, and teaching assistants so the opportunities will be there.

Earning Potential 

This job is at the lower end compared to most of the jobs on our best jobs for moms returning to work list. It pays between $12 and $16 per hour.