Are you seeking flexible part-time jobs for moms that let you contribute to your household income while staying available for your kids when they need you? Rather than settling for side gigs for moms that do not offer long-term potential, explore these meaningful and rewarding opportunities that can become a full-time career when your kids have flown the roost.
Key Takeaways
- Flexible Careers Tailored for Moms: The blog highlights six career options that offer flexibility for stay-at-home moms, including real estate, freelance writing, virtual assistance, online tutoring, e-commerce selling, and fitness instruction. These options allow moms to balance work and family life.
- Real Estate as a Standout Option: Real estate is emphasized as a financially rewarding career with scalable income potential. Unlike other jobs where income is tied directly to hours worked, real estate allows you to build your own business and generate earnings based on property values and successful deals.
- How to Get Started: Practical steps are provided for each career to help moms transition into these roles, such as obtaining certifications, building portfolios, and leveraging popular platforms to connect with clients.
- Real Estate Licensing in Washington: Moms can quickly start a real estate career in Washington by completing a 60-hour Fundamentals course through Rockwell Institute.
6 Careers With Flexible Hours for Moms
No one prepares you for how challenging it can be to rejoin the job market after staying home with kids. You might feel unprepared to return to your previous career yet frustrated at starting over in an entry-level role in a new field. Rather than settling for a dead-end job, tap into your talents and skills to explore one of these careers offering flexible hours for moms.
Note: All the salary statistics for this article were sourced from Indeed in January 2025.
1. Real Estate Agent (Real Estate Broker)
Average Salary in Washington: $89,750
Job Description: The primary role of a real estate agent is to assist with the buying, selling, or leasing of properties. Real estate agents (“brokers” in Washington) must have a real estate license. This license is required and/or helpful for all real estate careers.
One of the main benefits of the real estate industry is the financial success of doing real estate part-time. Real estate brokers in Washington earn around 3% of the property’s sale price, which they split with their brokerages. The current average home value in Washington is $589,180 (Zillow, January 2025). Even if you have a 50/50 split with your brokerage, you could earn $8,837 per average transaction.
How to Get Started: You need to complete pre-licensing coursework to get your broker license in Washington. Check out Rockwell Institute’s courses, offered in-person, via livestream, or at your own pace online. We’ll walk you through the steps to get your license and help you prepare for your licensing exam.
2. Freelance Writer
Average Salary in Washington: $47.80/hour
Job Description: If you have a talent for writing, consider pursuing a career as a freelance writer. Many writers carve out a niche or specialty to secure work. You might specialize in ghostwriting for clients who need content like books, articles, or blog posts. Alternatively, you could focus on specific industries like technology, healthcare, or real estate to develop expertise and attract a targeted audience.
How to Get Started: Many freelance writers begin by setting up profiles on platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr. You can also directly connect with marketing companies or departments to offer services and provide high-quality content.
3. Virtual Assistant
Average Salary in Washington: $29.76/hour
Job Description: A Virtual Assistant provides remote administrative, organizational, and technical support to individuals or businesses. Their tasks may include managing emails, scheduling appointments, data entry, research, social media management, customer service, and other day-to-day operations.
How to Get Started: Determine your skills and choose the services you’ll provide, such as administrative support or social media management. Build a professional portfolio and promote yourself on platforms like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr. Establish competitive rates, grow your client base, and keep your skills up to date to remain in demand.
4. Online Tutor
Average Salary in Washington: $24.16/hour
Job Description: Online tutors assist students in enhancing their understanding of specific subjects, preparing for exams, or acquiring new skills through virtual one-on-one or group sessions. They may focus on academic subjects, test preparation, language learning, or training in professional skills.
How to Get Started: Identify your subject expertise and target audience, then establish a professional profile on tutoring platforms such as Wyzant, Tutor.com, or VIPKid. Promote your services through social media and personal networks, set competitive rates, and utilize video conferencing tools to provide engaging and effective lessons.
5. E-Commerce Seller
Average Salary in Washington: No data available
Job Description: E-commerce sellers run and manage online stores to offer products or services on platforms such as Amazon, Etsy, eBay, or Shopify. Their responsibilities include sourcing or creating products, managing inventory, marketing, addressing customer inquiries, and fulfilling orders to drive revenue.
How to Get Started: Select a product or niche that aligns with your interests and market demand, then choose a platform to launch your store. Source or create your products, list them with engaging descriptions and high-quality images, and implement a marketing strategy using social media or ads to draw in customers.
6. Fitness Instructor or Coach
Average Salary in Washington: $28.03/hour
Job Description: Fitness instructors create and lead exercise programs aimed at enhancing physical health, strength, and overall well-being for individuals or groups. They may focus on specialties such as personal training, group fitness classes, yoga, or Pilates, customizing workouts to align with clients’ specific goals.
How to Get Started: Obtain a fitness certification from a reputable organization in your chosen specialty, such as personal training or yoga. Gain experience by working at gyms or leading local classes, and promote your services through social media, networking, or fitness platforms to attract clients.
Considerations When Choosing Flexible Part-Time Jobs for Moms
While we’ve highlighted popular side gigs for moms, real estate offers several unique advantages:
- Working in real estate allows you to build your own business. When you’re ready to transition to full-time work, you’ll already have an established foundation to expand.
- The steps to get your license in Washington are easy to follow and can be achieved in just a few months.
- While the hourly rate can be high in many of these industries, your income is tied directly to the hours you work. (How many fitness classes can you teach in one week?) However, in real estate, your income potential is not solely tied to the hours you work. Instead, it’s influenced by the value of the properties you sell and your ability to close deals. This means you can scale your earnings significantly without being limited by the number of hours in a day.
- If you’re a stay-at-home mom, you’re probably trying to find a side gig that allows you to work while your kids are in school. Most tutoring jobs are scheduled during after-school hours, so this might not be the best choice for a part-time job until your kids are out of school.
- Real estate can be highly rewarding financially. Real estate professionals typically earn around 6% of each sale, which is shared among the buyer’s agent, seller’s agent, and their respective brokerages.
Ready to get started? (Single moms also make great agents!) Enroll in the required 60-hour Washington Fundamentals course with Rockwell Institute today.
