20 Best Careers After Being A Stay-at-home Mom

If you’re looking for what the best career is, after being a stay-at-home mom, then you’ve come to the right place. At some point in your life, you will want to go back to work after being a stay-at-home mom. 

Maybe your kids are now in grade school and the cost of child-care is no longer an issue. Maybe you’ve just grown tired of your role as SAHM and need a change in your life. 

Whatever your reasoning for wanting to go back to the workforce, you will need to find a career that suits you in this new stage of life. 

In this article, I will break down what type of career would fit you best as someone who has spent years taking care of your kids and family as a stay-at-home mom.

Before we talk about some possible careers, let’s discuss some skills you should add to your resume today after being a stay-at-home mom.

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Stay-at-home mom skills you should add to your resume

As a stay-at-home mom, you’ve acquired a huge number of transferable skills that you can use in any job out there. These skills can be added to your resume as you begin the job search. 

Let’s take a look at some of them.

Time management

One of the things I learned to do as a mom was to manage my time better. I had to learn to juggle activities for my kids with appointments, while also finding time to cook and do chores at home. 

It may not sound like a big deal but it certainly is. People without kids have all the time in the world to relax when they get home from work. Mothers don’t get the luxury of leisure time. Everything we do is planned out to the last second, to make sure we have time for everything.

So go ahead and add “good time management skills” to that resume.

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Multitasking

Who can multitask better than a stay-at-home mom? We wear so many hats, that without multitasking, it would be impossible to do it all. We are cooks, cleaners, chauffeurs, executive assistants, playdate managers, friends, financial managers, etc. 

There is never enough time in the day to do it all. You’ve mastered the skill of multitasking as a SAHM, so go ahead and put that in your resume.

Problem-solving

When you have kids, you become a great problem-solver. When your kids are having trouble getting along, you’re there to offer a solution. When they’re afraid to try something new, you’re there. If there’s an issue with the home, you find a way to get through it. Problem-solving is a great skill that can be transferred to any industry. 

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Leadership skills 

A good leader is someone who shows a good example for his/her followers to follow. As a mom, you live the example you want your kids to follow each day. 

You teach them how to respect one another and how to communicate effectively without raising their voice or using their fist. You teach them to be kind, to show empathy, and to stand up for themselves and what’s right. 

There are so many other skills we teach as leaders in our home. All these skills are what companies out there are looking for. 

Creativity

It’s not an easy task to keep children entertained all day. Stay-at-home moms are always looking for ways to mentally stimulate their children aside from watching TV. We do sensory learning activities, teach educational skills, as well as outdoor activities. All these things require a very creative person. This is a skill you can apply to any job out there.

Communication skills

We spend all day dealing with kids and their complex emotions. Being able to communicate effectively helps us understand their emotions, even when they don’t have the right words to express them. Communication involves being able to listen and speak effectively. This is a skill all stay-at-home moms have.

Now that we’ve added some new skills to our resume, let’s take a look at some things we should keep in mind when choosing a new career.

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What to look for when choosing the best career as a mom

Flexible hours or part-time work possible

Chances are one of the reasons you became a SAHM was to spend more time with your kids. If this is important to you, then picking a career that is flexible will be the best option for you. 

You want something that allows you to choose your own hours or be able to work part-time and still earn good money.

A career where you can help others

As stay-at-home moms, we’ve been wired to become helpers and caretakers. This is something that doesn’t go away even when you start working. If you enjoyed your role as your family’s caretaker, then you may want to find a job where you can use that skill as well. A profession where you get to help others will be the right fit.

A career that involves kids, if you loved being with your kids 24/7

If you loved being with your kids 24/7 as a SAHM, then consider doing something similar as a career. I suggest getting a job that involves taking care of children.

Now that we know what to look for in our ideal job, let’s look at some of the best careers after being a stay-at-home mom.

Best career after being a stay-at-home mom

I will break down the list of careers into ones that require a college degree and ones that do not. I also mention some business ideas you can start working on today. 

Best Jobs for stay-at-home moms with no experience

1. Daycare worker or In-home daycare business

This career is perfect for stay-at-home moms who want to work with kids. It’d be an easy transition to caring for other people’s children since you’ve been around kids for so long.

To start an in-home daycare, post flyers around your neighborhood to advertise yourself. Facebook is also a great place to start. Join your local neighborhood Facebook group and post your ad there. 

Make sure to include a reasonable rate and your hours. I know many people who’ve gone this route and are making good money.

If you need help learning the ins and outs of starting a daycare at home check out this online daycare owner certification course from IAP college. They teach you how to start up your business, get clients, and how to operate the daycare day to day.

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2. Your own home cleaning business

Being a stay-at-home mom has taught you how to clean, organize a space and problem-solve. Why not put all those skills to good use and start a home cleaning business? 

I spoke to a woman in my building who has a cleaning business. She joined some local Facebook groups in her community and frequently posted about her desire to clean houses. She was hired by someone in less than 2 weeks of posting. 

That person went on to give her good reviews which made other people hire her too. That’s how she launched her business.

IAP online college also offers a cleaning business owner certificate course that teaches you everything you need to know about running your own cleaning business and getting clients.

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3. Start a bakery business

If you have a passion for baking you can start a small bakery business. Start by making a few of your signature pastries, and taking them to your local coffee and bakery shops. Have them try a sample, and try to convince them to carry your products.

If you want to go all in, you can open up a bakery shop of your own as well. To learn how to start a business from the ground up, I suggest this online bakery owner certification course from IAP college

4. Work in catering or start a catering business

Catering businesses usually have busy and slow seasons. This means your schedule will be flexible. You don’t need a college degree to work in catering. You do need to learn how to run a catering businees from home. I suggest taking the online catering certification course from IAP college. They teach you how to start your business, run it, and get clients.

5. Start a play cafe in your neighborhood 

This is a great business for a stay-at-home mom looking to get back to work. A play cafe combines the concept of a play space for kids, with a coffee shop for adults. Parents bring their kids to play in one half of the store so they can get a break while drinking coffee on the other side.

There are quite a few play cafes in my neighborhood. It’s really a lucrative business.

6. Paid mommy and me playgroup 

If the concept of a play cafe is just too much for you right now, there’s an easier way. A paid mommy and me play group. You can host a playgroup at your local park. Have each parent bring a blanket and some musical instruments. Have a set of conversation starter questions for your session. That’s all you really need.

Moms are always looking for events where they can meet other moms. You get to provide that space for them.

Advertise your group on Facebook to your local community. Make sure you clarify that it’s a paid event. If you get a lot of attendees, then you know you’ve got a business. Just rinse and repeat for next time.

7. Open an online Etsy store 

Selling products online is a great way to make money. Etsy is one of the biggest platforms to do that. You can sell digital and physical products. Digital products include printables like planners and schedule templates. 

I prefer physical products because they sell for more money, especially if they are handmade in the USA. Some examples of items you can sell include bibs, washcloths, and other baby items. You can also make toys to sell. Anything is possible on Etsy

8. Makeup artist (waxing, eyelash, hair, and other extensions)

Beauty is something that will never go out of style. Women will always pay for their nails, hair extensions, eyelash extensions and so much more. 

Why not take advantage of these booming trends and open your own business.

I have a friend who quit teaching to open an eyelash extension beauty bar. She makes just as much money as she did teaching. She sets her own hours and loves the freedom it provides her. She started her business from home.

If you don’t know how to do makeup, hair, nails, or lashes, then you need to go to beauty school. You can also take an online course like the Hair salon owner course or this makeup artist certificate course from IAP college. Once you earn your license, you can work for someone else until you learn the rope of managing a business. After that, you can start your own business from your home or open a store

Best jobs for a stay-at-home mom with no college degree

9. Bus driver

Bus drivers do not need a degree to start working. In some cases, you might need a CDL driver’s license depending on the type of bus. 

If you can get a job as a bus driver for your city, you may have access to a lot of benefits, including a pension. I know that NYC bus drivers get a pension after retirement.

You could also become a school bus driver, although that may not give you as much flexibility.

10. Real estate agent

Real estate is a great field to get into because of its flexibility. All you need is a real estate license.  To learn more about getting your license, head to the department of state’s website. Everything is explained there.

11. Travel agent

 A travel agent helps people plan vacations. They book flights, choose hotels, and plan your itinerary for you during your vacation. Not everyone is tech-savvy, even in 2022. I still use travel agents sometimes when I’m heading to a new country. Check out this site for more info on becoming a travel agent from home

12. Insurance agent

Insurance agents sell life, homeowners, health, and other types of insurance. To become an insurance agent, you need to have a license. To learn all about becoming an insurance agent, check out this site.

13. Customer service rep

Customer service representatives answer phone calls and help customers with whatever complaints they have. 

This is a job that can be done from home. Some positions are chat-only, which means you won’t have to talk on the phone. 

It is also very flexible. To find customer service positions, I suggest heading to Facebook and joining work-from-home job groups there. Group members regularly post job openings there.

14. Online ESL teacher

We all know that English is the global language of business. To succeed, people who don’t speak English are looking for someone who does to teach them. A lot of Chinese and Spanish-speaking countries hire Americans to teach them English as a second languag. A quick google search will show you sites that hire for this job. 

15. Sales associate

Sales associates work in department stores. They help customers find items in the store. This could be a good part-time job for a stay-at-home mom looking to add more experience to her resume.

Best careers for stay-at-home moms going back to work (requires an associate degree)

16. Registered Nurse (RN)

Nursing is one of the best careers for moms because of its flexibility. Most nurses work only 3 days a week. This means the rest of your week and weekends can be spent with your kids and family. 

To begin your nursing career, you only need to get an associate degree. As you advance in your career, you will eventually have to get a bachelor’s in nursing. Don’t let that scare you. You can do those years into working.

As a nurse, you get to help others. You can work with kids if you want to, or focus on adults if that’s your preference.

17. Medical billing & coding

Medical billing and coders work with medical professionals to help them, bill patients, appropriately. Your job is to make sure that the medical professional gets compensated fairly for the services they provided to the patients.

This job is usually flexible. Some companies allow their employees to work remotely.

18. Radiologic technologists

Radiologic technologists take X-rays and perform other scans of patients in medical facilities. This job is suitable for a stay-at-home mom who wants to work behind the scenes while also helping others. It is a flexible job in the sense that most places will have part-time options available. You will also get to use your transferable skills of creativity, problem-solving, and communication to get things done.

19. Lab technologist

Lab techs work behind the scene in medical facilities. Their job is to analyze blood and other samples to help the doctor make a proper diagnosis. 

This job will be suitable for you if you want minimal social interaction with patients. It’s also suitable for stay-at-home moms who only want to spend time with adults all day.

20. Surgical technologist

Surgical technologists assist doctors in medical operations. According to the Bureau of labor statistics, the job involves preparing patients for surgery, sterilizing surgical equipment, and passing surgeons’ instruments during surgery. 

They also count surgical supplies to make sure no foreign object remains in the patient. Nothing says “I’m helping others” than getting them safely through a surgical procedure. 

So if you’re interested in helping others, and putting your mommy skills into action, then this job is for you. As long as you’re not afraid of blood.

Conclusion

No matter the career path you chose, make sure it’s something that will fulfill you. Nothing is worse than working a job you hate, especially if it takes time away from your kids. 

Make sure the career you chose will not be one that requires you to bring your work home with you. As mothers, we need to make sure we prioritize time with our family when we are home. So leave your work at work. 

If you think of any other jobs that I forgot to include on my list, please leave a comment below. I hope I’ve helped you figure out what the best career for you could be, after being a stay-at-home mom.