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, the bill still needs to be paid. Read to learn more.
Not having a university degree is not a trade breaker
Working to support your child is a common stressor for almost every parent. Especially if you don’t have a degree, you may be worried about what this means for your career opportunities, your earnings entry, and your ability to support your family.
However, no matter what you hear, there are many career opportunities that do not require a university degree. Even if you are a mom without a degree, you can still live a good life to support your family.
It is possible to work and raise children
Clearly, it’s difficult for everyone to have a good work-life balance. That is a special challenge for women, especially since we often take on more child-rearing responsibilities than men.
In fact, the Sydney Morning Herald reports that women do an hour extra chore and parenting a day than men!
Unfortunately, if you’re a single mother, this work-life balance challenge is even worse. But don’t worry, this list includes the best jobs for single mothers without a degree!
In particular, don’t forget to put pressure on yourself to be perfect. Instead, remember that even if you have a high school diploma, you can still find ways to make things work.
That being said, start these best jobs for moms.
15 best jobs for less than a degree mom
College is not for everyone. That’s fine. Whether you haven’t yet gone or planning on going, there are many ways to make a living without a college degree.
These are the best jobs for less than degree moms:
1. Childcare provider
Average Salary: $30,000 per year
Childcare providers take care of the children. There are many different ways to do this. For example, you could work at an agency, work as a nanny for a particular family, or turn your own home into a daycare center.
However, please note that doing so may require you to obtain a specific license depending on the state in which you live.
Most importantly, childcare workers often have the opportunity to receive discounted childcare for their children. This is a big victory.
Requirements:
- I love to take care of my kids
- License to open your own daycare center
2. Customer Service Representative
Average Salary: $39,000 per year
In particular, customer service representatives act as direct contact between the customer and the company.
Specifically, you are responsible for helping to answer all questions about your product or service via telephone, email, or chat.
Requirements:
- If you are working from home, you need a strong internet connection
- Multitasking ability
3. Sales Associate
Average Salary: $60,000 per year
One of the perks of working in sales is that you can work in almost any industry. For example, you can work in insurance, real estate, medical equipment, automobiles, etc. What’s more, the sky is truly at its limit in that you can earn money every month.
Many salespeople work on a combination of wages and fees. So, if you’re good at what you’re doing, you can really bring a lot of money home!
Requirements:
- Strong communication skills
- Some employers may require sales-related certification
4. Hairstylist
Average Salary: $29,000 per year
Hair stylists can shampoo, cut, dye and style hair. Like many jobs that do not require a degree, there is a lot of variation in the salary of a hairstylist.
For example, you could start with a low paycheck, but you could work in a very high-end salon where clients pay three or four numbers for haircuts and coloring.
Requirements:
5. Fitness instructor
Average Salary: $46,000 per year
A fitness instructor is a person who provides physical training, either in a class setting or in one-on-one format.
More specifically, fitness instructors can teach yoga, pilates, weightlifting, aerobics and essentially any kind of exercise.
Usually, fitness instructors work in gyms and fitness centres, but they can also start their own business and work as freelancers.
There are many options to start a business, so any job that allows you to do it is one of the best jobs for a mom of no degree.
Requirements:
- Physical Skills
- Related certifications
6. interpretation
Average Salary: $57,000 per year
First, it is important to understand that interpreters are different from translators. Translators usually translate written text. This should be notarized if it is a legal document.
Conversely, interpreters will translate information loudly in real time. In addition to other locations, you can work in hospitals or government or educational facilities.
Requirements:
- Fluidity in languages ​​other than English
- Certification may be required
7. Social Media Manager
Average Salary: $71,000 per year
Social media managers need to plan, develop and execute marketing strategies across a variety of social media platforms. You can work for yourself as an agent, just one company, or as a freelancer. Knowing how to effectively use social media with the go-go-go society and the fast-growing social media users is a skill in demand.
As a freelancer, you can work with almost everyone, including local small businesses and individuals.
Requirements:
- I’m familiar with technology and pop culture
- I’m familiar with a variety of social media platforms
8. Graphic Designer
Average Salary: $49,000 per year
Graphic designers combine art and technology to create visuals. Once you start thinking, you’ll see graphic designer work everywhere!
For example, graphic designers create brochures, logos, advertisements, social media graphics, ebooks, book covers, and more, as well as many creative jobs that do not require a degree. You can work for yourself as an agent, company, or as a freelancer, making this one of the best jobs for moms.
Requirements:
- Technology and design skills
- Special (and often expensive) design software, such as Photoshop, InDesign, etc.
9. writer
Average Salary: $59,000 per year
If you read it online, it could have been written by the author. Think about all the blogs, articles, newsletters, e-books and other written content you can see every day. Someone has to write it!
Above all, as a professional writer, you can work with companies to create content in almost every category, from lifestyle to cooking, fashion, health, technology.
Requirements:
- Write that you’re familiar with it
- Research skills
- Grammar know-how
10. Photographer
Average Salary: $76,000 per year
Traditionally, people imagine photographers being hired to work at weddings or take family portraits. But today the opportunities for photographers are almost endless!
For example, you can work with bloggers, journalists, event planners, fashion designers and many others. Usually, photographers work as freelancers, so this is a great hassle to consider along with your day’s work.
And the job that is a side hustle is one of the best jobs for less than degree moms, due to how easy it is to make money and create a flexible schedule.
Requirements:
- Photographic equipment
- Editing software
- Photography skills
11. Bookkeeping officer
Average Salary: $44,000 per year
Essentially, the bookkeeper is responsible for monitoring the company’s cash flow. For example, this means tracking transactions and storing a copy of receipts. As a bookkeeper, you can work directly for the company or start your own business as a freelancer.
Here’s a hint: When you become a freelancer, think about your hometown! Every company needs a bookkeeper. This includes small local moms and pop shops.
Requirements:
- Bookkeeping skills (you can learn from online courses)
- Pay attention to detail
12. Data Entry Clerk
Average Salary: $41,000 per year
The Data Entry Clerk adds and updates data information to the database. Additionally, other administrative activities may be responsible for such as data compilation and sourcing.
Requirements:
- Fast typing skills
- Pay attention to detail
- For example, you may need a specific computer program, such as Microsoft.
13. Transcriptist
Average Salary: $49,000 per year
Transcriptists listen to audio recordings and transcribe information. It is usually a word processing program like Word. These are called transcription. It is worth noting that transcriptionists are most frequently in demand in the healthcare industry.
Plus, like many other jobs that do not require a degree, you can choose to work for yourself as an agency, a specific company, or as a freelancer.
Requirements:
- Fast typing skills
- Pay attention to detail
- You may need to purchase a special transfer device
14. Virtual Assistant
Average Salary: $51,000 per year
The virtual assistant market is experiencing rapid growth and is expected to only continue. For this reason, becoming a virtual assistant is one of the best jobs for an organized mom without a degree.
As a virtual assistant, we provide administrative support. For example, typical duties include telephone and email management, note-taking, customer service, data collection, event planning, and more.
Of course, these obligations vary depending on your particular employer and whether you work as an agent, one company, or as a freelancer.
Requirements:
- Powerful multitasking, organization, and time management skills
- Basic computer skills
15. Proofreader
Average Salary: $58,000 a year
The proofreader is the final set of eyes for the text before it is published. They make sure everything is grammatically correct, error-free, properly formatted, etc.
Proofreading is a great job option for moms who love to read. It could also be a good fuss for home moms trying to support their families.
Traditionally, proofreaders do housework for the publisher. However, the rise of self-publishing has led to increased opportunities for proofreaders to work as freelancers for independent authors.
Requirements:
- Excellent grammar
- Word Processing Software
16. Shoppers
Average Salary: The national average is $18.95/hour, but it varies. (Instacart Shopper)
Average salary: $33,000 per year (individual shopper)
You can work full-time as a personal shopper, and of the best work for less than degree moms, it is one of the more fun and versatile careers.
For example, you can work as a personal shopper and help your clients choose items such as outfits, shoes and other furniture.
Alternatively, you can work with a service like Instacart. Essentially, people make orders online and you are responsible for going to the store to pick up items and delivering them to the client. These orders are usually for groceries.
Unfortunately, being a shopper means you have little control over how often you can work, so you can’t predict how much you earn in a day. However, 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
Find the flexibility of your career as a single mother
Work-life balance is undoubtedly a challenge for everyone, but when I’m a single mother, I play at the expert level.
In fact, according to the Harvard Business Review (HBR), “single mothers who lived alone with their children were more likely to say that work productivity was reduced as a result of care responsibilities (57% to 47%) than mothers from prolific households.”
If you are a single mother struggling with work-life balance, finding flexibility in your work can help make things more manageable.
Plus, having the option to decide to work from home makes things a lot easier, especially if you can control your time and schedule your own schedule.
A short list of best jobs for single mothers without a degree
Of the above job options, these are the best jobs for single mothers without degrees who need flexible schedules.
- Childcare provider
- Customer Service Representative
- Social Media Manager
- Graphic Designer
- Freelance Writer
- Bookkeeping officer
- Data Entry Clerk
- Transcriptist
- Virtual Assistant
Expert Tips: Look for employment opportunities that require professional credentials and university degrees
Even if you don’t plan on attending university, continuing your education to increase your profitability remains a smart idea. One way to do this (even if you only have a high school diploma) is to pursue professional accreditation.
For example, if you want to be a social media manager, you can enhance your resume with online credentials, such as a social media certificate from Georgetown University or a SMM certificate from Cornell University.
While a certificate cannot guarantee you a job, it can help you improve your resume and open the door to new employment opportunities.
How do single mothers survive financially?
There is definitely a certain struggle in living as a single mother, especially dealing with living as a single-income household. Therefore, it is important for single mothers to pay close attention to their income and spending to survive financially.
Start by creating a single mum budget. If you’re struggling with money tracking, use a variety of budgeting tools, budgeting templates, or budget assignments to help you focus on your goals.
What is the best career for a single mother?
No one has the best career. But the general rule of thumb is that for a single mother, the best career offers a lot of flexibility.
On the other hand, the most flexible jobs are often freelance careers and independent contract gigs. These can be great jobs for moms, but there are also healthcare that don’t have a steady salary each month, or that is sponsored by the job.
For this reason, safer and more flexible careers for single mothers include sales associates, customer service representatives, social media managers, or bookkeepers.
Which jobs have the most flexible time?
Flexibility is important when you are the mom at work for everything. That also applies to your job. Some of the most flexible and time-consuming jobs include customer service representatives, fitness instructors, graphic designers, writers, or virtual assistants.
Plus, if you decide to start your own business, you can create your own time and work whenever you need it.
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You don’t need a degree to support your family!
Even if you don’t have a degree, you can be sure to find flexible and stable jobs that will help support your family. There are plenty of resources to help you get started looking for the best work for moms.
So, start thinking about ways to save money as a mom and make sure you learn how to make a great budget. Finally, check out our list of jobs that pay well even if you don’t have a degree.