In recent years, freelance mom jobs have exploded as a way to generate income on the side. For some people, those same freelance pursuits blossomed into full-blown work-from-home businesses.
As a stay-at-home mom, these kinds of jobs hit the sweet spot. You can set your own hours, choose your clients, and boost your household income. At the same time, you’ll have the flexibility to care for your home and family on your terms.
From freelance writing to home business ideas, here are 13 freelance mom jobs that stay-at-home moms can crush.
1. Photographer
Median salary range: $45,500–$67,500 ($22–$32/hour)
Photography is about more than just snapping quick pics – it’s an art form all its own. Successful photographers have a flair for pairing lighting, angles, and subjects to create visually stunning images.
Photography often starts as a side hustle that grows with name recognition and talent. For stay-home moms looking to make their start, online courses and workshops offer chances to hone your skills.
Best of all, the photography market is vast. If you’re not big on snapping wedding photos, you can take pictures in public, the woods, or just around your home. You can sell your work on sites like Flickr, Shutterstock, and Pixabay. Alternatively, you can scour jobs boards or advertise on social media to let the world know you’re in business.
2. Videographer
Median salary range: $38,000–$59,000 ($18–$28/hour)
Videography sounds similar to photography – but the differences make the job. Rather than focusing on stills, videographers compose art through moving images. Your camera needs will also likely differ from a regular photographer’s.
Many videographers begin with a background in content production, though it’s not required to succeed. Work-from-home moms with an eye for composition, storytelling, and editing can also take advantage of the bountiful opportunities to be had.
Niches with high demand for videographers include corporate and small business advertisements, stock videos for production use, or story-based marketing content. You can also expand into the wedding industry and command thousands of dollars for a weekend’s worth of work.
And as your experience and skill grow, the money you earn will, too.
3. Graphic designer
Median salary range: $45,500–$68,000 ($22–$33/hour)
Creative individuals who prefer computer screens to cameras might opt to explore graphic design instead. Graphic designers create images for printed and electronic materials, like websites, product packaging, and business logos.
Graphic designers generally work with programs like Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop. Some have even harnessed the burgeoning power of AI to enhance their flexibility and creativity.
As a freelance designer, you’ll get to choose the services, clients, and hours that interest you. You can also set your own rates based on project quality and prior experience.
If you’re just starting out, marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork can help you rake in early reviews. Selling designs to local businesses or graphic design firms presents another viable career path.
4. Illustrator
Median salary range: $40,000–$72,500 ($19–$35/hour)
Artists seeking a more hands-on work environment might look toward freelance illustration. Illustrators worth with a variety of physical and digital tools to produce creative, aesthetically-driven content.
Illustrators often enjoy more creative freedom than graphic designers. You might bring novels or children’s books to life or focus on technical schematics and patents.
Whatever you choose, freelance illustrators can enjoy plenty of flexibility in their careers. That extends to your work-life balance – you can take your pick between one-off images or larger projects worth thousands of dollars.
Of course, finding clients is often the hard part. Marketplaces like Upwork and job boards like Indeed often pool clients seeking an illustrative eye. You can also advertise on social media.
5. Business Consultant
Median salary range: $45,500–$91,500 ($22–$44/hour)
For stay-at-home moms who lack that creative streak, don’t worry – you can earn money from home, too! One option, particularly for those with a management or executive background, is selling your expertise as a business consultant.
Freelance consulting lets you capitalize on your business skills without committing to the usual 9-to-5 office hours. Generally, the job involves helping clients optimize their day-to-day operations, solving complicated challenges, or improving profitability. Depending on your role, you may host video interviews or weekly meetups or produce extensive written reports and guidance.
Freelance consultants have the power to set their own hours and rates. While you can offer a range of skills, specializing in niches like marketing or finance often comes with larger paychecks.
6. PR Manager
Median salary range: $39,500–$71,500 ($19–$34/hour)
Freelance PR management is a subset of business consulting, but it’s earned its own mention due to its specialized skillset.
Simply put, freelance PR managers help companies develop public relations strategies, handle crises, and promote a positive public image. The required skillset varies, but often involves:
- Writing and distributing press releases and other media
- Interacting with media outlets, such as journalists and news stations
- Managing social media accounts (or social media managers)
Because most companies require a positive spin eventually, freelance PR experts are often in demand. However, some businesses require at least 5 years of experience, so it helps to have a PR background.
7. Travel Consultant
Median salary range: $34,500–$69,000 ($17–$33/hour)
If you love traveling and organizing itineraries, then travel consultant work-from-home jobs are for you!
Travel consultants help other people plan, organize, and enjoy their vacations. You’re responsible for researching idyllic destinations and excursions, finding the best deals, and booking flights, cruises, and rooms.
The best travel consultants have a knack for research (and may have traveled the world themselves). Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to keep calm when things don’t go to plan go a long way.
Travel consultant jobs pop up on job boards and marketplaces fairly frequently. Agencies like Nexion, Outside Agents, and Travel Planners International can also make the leap. If your business takes off, you might even consider setting up your own website.
8. Bookkeeper
Median salary range: $30,500–$56,000 ($14–$30/hour)
Bookkeeping is another work-from-home job that brings you into the business world – but not the office. As a bookkeeper, you’ll record and track transactions, oversee project budgets, and file reports. In other words, you’ll generally mind and report on a company’s financial affairs.
To be a bookkeeper, you’ll need some math savvy and an organized mind. However, unlike becoming an accountant, you aren’t required to have a bachelor’s degree (unless your clients require one) to work. That said, taking a few community college classes or online bookkeeping courses can give you a professional boost.
When you’re ready to pick up your first client, you can lurk on digital marketplaces, network on LinkedIn, or reach out to local businesses.
9. Translator
Median salary range: $44,500–$81,000 ($21–$39/hour)
Working as a translator requires a very specific skillset: the ability to speak at least two languages fluently. Because the U.S. is both uniquely diverse and monolingual (at least compared to many European countries), monetizing this ability can be quite lucrative.
As a freelance translator, you’ll find plenty of work translating audio/video files or written documents between languages. You might also take clients who require you to perform live translations, such as webcasts or phone calls.
Translation jobs abound on job boards like Indeed, Upwork, FlexJobs and ZipRecruiter. While it’s one of the higher-paid freelance mom jobs available, rates vary by experience, reliability, job complexity, and languages spoken.
10. Computer Programmer
Median salary range: $45,000–$78,000 ($22–$38/hour)
Computer programming is an enormous field with tons of potential. Better yet, it’s easily outsourced, allowing freelance moms to sell their skills remotely and on their schedule.
However, this isn’t a job you can leap into blind. You’ll need technological know-how and prior experience to complete your work. You may also specialize in a particular area, such as designing and writing code, testing and debugging existing programs, or maintaining larger systems.
Computer programmers can readily find work on a variety of job boards and online marketplaces. While there’s plenty of work for self-taught coders and programmers, a college degree or online certifications can boost your earnings potential.
11. Freelance Writer
Median salary range: $37,500–$78,000 ($18–$38/hour)
No article on work-from-home freelance mom jobs is complete without mentioning The Big Three: writing, proofreading, and editing.
If you’re passionate about turning phrases and churning out amazing content, freelance writing might be right up your ally. You have tons of employment options, including self-publishing, ghostwriting online articles, grant writing, and even marketing writing jobs. (And of course, monetizing your very own blog.)
As a freelance writer, you can also be choosy about your clients and topics. Many writers specialize in higher-paying topics like marketing or finance, while others employ a jack-of-all words approach.
For truly articulate wordsmiths, climbing up the pay ladder can be a breeze. You can make your name on websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Virtual Vocations for 1-5 cents per word. After tucking a hefty portfolio under your belt, you can reach out to specialty publications to command anywhere from fifty cents to a dollar (or more!) per word.
12. Proofreader
Median salary range: $37,500–$63,000 ($18–$30/hour)
Did you catch the mistake in this sentence the the first time around? (Hint: double “the”!)
If you didn’t need it pointed out, you might be prime proofreading material.
Proofreading is another fantastic freelance job for the busy mom who wants to increase her income without adhering to a set work schedule. As a proofreader, you’ll check written works for spelling, grammatical, and factual errors.
As with freelance writing, proofreaders can find work on a variety of online marketplaces. You can also set your rates by word, page, or hour, based on your contract and expertise.
13. Editor
Median salary range: $46,000–$96,500 ($22–$46/hour)
No great freelance writer is complete without a freelance editor to watch their back.
Editing goes a little further than proofreading – it’s the process of fully reviewing and correcting a written work. Aside from the usual grammar and fact-checking duties, you’re responsible for ensuring that an article is readable and suits its purpose.
Editors work for a variety of publications, including independent authors, publishing houses, newspapers, and in-house content for corporations and small businesses. Regardless of where you work, you can generally expect to be paid per word, with rates starting around 1-5 cents per.
Make some extra income with these freelance mom jobs
Freelance work is ideal for stay-home moms who:
- Want to ease into (or out of) the job market
- Prefer to set their own part-time or full-time schedules
- Have other projects waiting in the wings
- Want to focus on their kids
- Really, really hate their daily commute
Whether you choose to go fully remote or build work-related travel into your routine, these freelance mom jobs serve as creative and business outlets that can introduce new purpose (and income) into your life.
And of course, freelance work offers something so few jobs truly provide these days: a healthy work-life balance. With a little time and money investment, you can work toward making your successful freelance mom dreams come true.
Freelancing FAQs
What is freelancing?
Freelancing – i.e., self-employment – involves working on your terms. You can set your own hours, rates, and contractual conditions. However, it carries some significant downsides, including doing your own taxes and lack of access to employer-sponsored health insurance. (Psst: We've got a list of part-time jobs that provide health insurance here!)
What equipment do you need to freelance?
The primary investment freelancers require is the skill to complete your work. Beyond that, your exact equipment needs vary based on your job description.
For computer-based jobs, an internet connection and functioning laptop or desktop are a must. Photographers and videographers also require a quality camera and editing suite. And for designers and illustrators, a creative spark (and perhaps Adobe Photoshop) goes a long way.
What is the biggest challenge as a freelancer?
As a working mom, you'll face plenty of challenges, including trouble finding clients, meeting unrealistic demands, and scheduling. Many also struggle with knowing when and how much to raise rates and managing their payment process. And of course, you’ll have to consider taxes – both lowering your tax bill and paying what you owe, when you owe it.