Best jobs for stay at home mums: Entry-level, remote & high pay

Jobs for stay-at-home mums who refuse to settle

Society convinced an entire generation of women that motherhood meant giving up your career. You were supposed to be grateful for whatever scraps of employment might fit into your life with kids, but thankfully, those days are ending as Australian employers finally recognise that mothers have incredibly important skills. 

Managing a household while keeping multiple small humans alive, fed, healthy and reasonably happy requires exceptional organisational abilities that business schools can’t teach. You’ve been running a tight ship for years, all while being under an immense amount of pressure. Once you’ve been a mother for a few years, any office job will seem like a walk in the park.

The employment market is slowly showing this. Women’s workforce participation reached a record high of 63.5% in January 2025, up from 58.6% a decade ago. That’s driven partly by remote work opportunities that make employment so much easier for working mums. 

Jobs for stay-at-home-mums in Australia now include everything from virtual assistant roles you can do during school hours to high-paying specialist positions that maximise your life experience and professional capabilities. See what careers are available for you and how Monarch can help get you there.

Why more mums are choosing remote work

For decades, society forced women into making an impossible choice between having a meaningful career and being present for their children. That outdated idea is finally crumbling as remote work proves that mums can excel professionally while still making it to school pickup on time. 

Working from home has grown dramatically across Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, 36.3% of Australians worked from home in 2024. This has created real opportunities for mothers who no longer have to choose between being involved at home or having a successful, high-paying career.

Now, remote work helps mums accommodate their professional commitments around their home responsibilities. Here’s why work-from-home jobs work so well for mums:

• Escape the exhausting commute: Losing two hours a day to travel means missing bedtime stories and school events. Remote work gives you those precious hours back while eliminating petrol costs and toll fees.

• Manage the mental load differently: Women perform an average of 32 hours of unpaid work and care per week, which is nine more hours than men. Work from home for mums lets you throw in a load of washing between meetings or start dinner prep during lunch breaks, making managing the household so much easier.

• Employers finally acknowledge reality: Progressive companies embrace flexibility to attract different types of talent into the workforce. Since almost 90% of Australian workers want to work from home at least part of the time, offering flexible work arrangements is a no-brainer. 

• Flexibility trumps additional perks: Free office snacks lose their appeal when you can’t attend your daughter’s assembly or handle your son’s sudden illness without losing some of your annual leave. Research shows that women who worked from home three days per week experienced a 12% increase in job satisfaction.

• Your parenting experience is valuable: Any mum who manages a household already has exceptional project management skills, diplomatic communication abilities and crisis resolution techniques. You’ve been coordinating complex schedules while negotiating with toddlers and solving all kinds of problems for years. Employers need that.

• Breaking outdated workplace expectations: Remote work challenges the assumption that mothers should be grateful for whatever employment scraps accommodate their lifestyle. Instead of only being able to come into the office after school drop-off and having to leave before pick-up, remote working mums can work a regular schedule like anyone else.

Best careers & jobs for stay-at-home mums

The employment numbers reveal something most families already know but society rarely acknowledges. Women make up 68.7% of all part-time workers in Australia. When you look at couple families with children, 48% have the man working full-time while the woman works part-time, compared to just 3% with reversed roles. 

This is the reality many mothers live every day. Someone needs to be available for school pickup and run the household, but it’s almost never the mother who gets to prioritise her career. Thankfully, the career options available to mums in Australia have expanded drastically. You no longer have to choose between unskilled retail work or selling skincare products to your neighbours. 

Now, you get to build a full-fledged career as a mum, all from the comfort of your house.

Entry-level jobs for stay-at-home mums

Re-entering the workforce after focusing on family can feel overwhelming, but entry-level jobs for stay-at-home mums are excellent places to start. These positions value your existing skills while giving you training opportunities to level up.

Junior Digital Marketer

Small businesses everywhere are drowning in the digital world. They know they need Instagram posts and email newsletters, but most business owners would rather focus on running their companies than figuring out hashtag strategies. That’s where you come in. Digital marketing roles let you help local cafes reach new customers or help online stores boost their sales through better social media presence.

The best courses for breaking into digital marketing are:

• SEO Certificate

• Diploma of Social Media Marketing

• Social Media Marketing Short Course

• Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) Course

• Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication

• Email Marketing Certificate

Project Assistant / Admin

Every successful project needs someone behind the scenes making sure nothing falls through the cracks. Project assistants keep teams organised and chase up delayed deliverables to prevent projects from going off the rails. You’ll be coordinating meetings, tracking budgets and helping solve the inevitable problems that pop up during complex projects.

These roles are extremely versatile and easy to break into and get exposure in different industries. Almost every industry needs a project assistant or project manager, so look for a role in the one that aligns with your interests the most. The best courses for administrative or project-based roles are:

• Certificate IV in Business Administration

• Diploma of Project Management

• Certificate IV in Project Management Practice

Bookkeeper / BAS Agent Assistant

Every business generates invoices, pays bills and needs someone to balance the books at the end of the month. Bookkeeping assistants help established practitioners manage client workloads while learning the ins and outs of business finances. You’ll process transactions and help small business owners understand their financial position.

The best certificates for bookkeeping in Australia are:

• Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping

• Diploma of Accounting

Support Desk / Customer Service Rep

When someone’s computer crashes or they can’t figure out how to return an online purchase, you’re the person who helps turn their frustrating day around. Customer service representatives solve problems and guide people through processes that seem complicated to them but are routine for you. Tech companies especially love people who can explain technical concepts clearly without making customers feel foolish. 

The best courses for tech support or customer service roles are:

• Certificate IV in Information Technology

• Certificate IV in Business Administration

Human Resources Assistant / Coordinator

No day is the same as an HR rep. They handle everything from hiring new staff to resolving workplace conflict and updating company policies. HR assistants support these activities by coordinating interviews and helping implement policies that create a better working environment for everyone. This field has a very clear career path and you could become a human resources manager in just a few years.

These are the best courses for mums looking to break into human resources:

• Certificate IV in Human Resource Management

• Diploma of Human Resource Management

Good remote jobs for stay-at-home mums

Being a full-time mum and having a full-time in-office job is close to impossible. Alarm at 6 a.m., quick shower before the kids wake up, then the sprint to get everyone fed, dressed and out the door whilst you’re mentally rehearsing your presentation. You sit in traffic for 45 minutes only to get to work already exhausted before your day officially begins. No wonder research shows that almost half of all mid to high income mothers experience burnout.

Remote work gets rid of this daily chaos. Good remote jobs for stay-at-home mums let you skip the commute while giving you the flexibility to rush to school to deliver forgotten lunch money or to pick up sick children. Work from home mums can now pursue fulfilling careers with great salaries and tons of growth potential.

Virtual Assistant

Busy executives and entrepreneurs need someone reliable to handle their overflowing inboxes and manage the administrative tasks that keep their businesses running. Virtual assistants work behind the scenes to make successful people look even more organised than they already are. The work stays interesting every day because you get to shadow successful people and learn from them as you help them manage their everyday life.

The best courses for working mums looking to become virtual assistants are:

• Certificate IV in Business Administration

• Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship & New Business

Social Media Content Creator

Most social media jobs are fully remote because posting content doesn’t need to happen from inside a cubicle. You can create Instagram stories while your kids are at school, write captions during nap time and schedule posts for the week ahead without anyone tracking your hours. The work is much more results-based than hourly based, so as long as the engagement is coming in and the conversions are there, it doesn’t really matter where or how you do your work. 

The best way to become a social media manager is by getting one of these certifications:

• Diploma of Social Media Marketing

• Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication

• UX and Web Design Certificate

Online Tutor / Trainer 

Parents everywhere are struggling to help their kids with homework that looks nothing like what they learned in school. Online tutors fill this gap by providing subject-specific help through video calls and digital platforms. You might help a high school student understand their chemistry homework or teach English conversational skills to international learners in Australia or across the world. The scheduling flexibility works beautifully for mothers since you can offer sessions whenever your kids are busy. 

Freelance writing & blogging 

Companies need fresh content for their websites, newsletters, marketing materials and blogs. You can help by researching topics and creating content that educates readers while positioning their client as the subject-matter expert and the right choice if they’re looking to purchase a good or service. Writing is completely location-independent and you almost never have to join a meeting, which is why it’s one of the best jobs for introverts and for busy mums.

Customer service roles 

Tech companies run their customer support teams entirely remotely, helping users troubleshoot problems through phone, email and chat platforms. These roles are perfect for mums who love solving puzzles and helping people with their problems. Many of these positions have structured schedules that let you work while your kids are at school or in the afternoon when they’re busy with extracurriculars.

The best courses mums can take for joining a customer service team are:

• Certificate IV in Business Administration

• Certificate IV in Information Technology

High-paying jobs stay-at-home mums can go after

High-paying jobs for stay-at-home mums require additional training beyond entry-level positions but offer a level of financial independence that makes the investment worthwhile. These careers come with big salaries without the need to sacrifice work-life balance, making them sustainable for mums with family responsibilities. Many of these careers were forced to become remote-friendly during the pandemic and have stayed that way since.

Digital Marketing Specialist or Consultant

Companies spend thousands on advertising campaigns that either succeed brilliantly or fail spectacularly based on targeting and timing decisions. Digital marketing specialists create strategies to maximise return on investing while minimising wasted spending on ineffective campaigns. You’ll analyse customer behaviour data and test different approaches to get results. All from your living room.

The best courses for digital marketing are:

• SEO Certificate

• Diploma of Social Media Marketing

• Social Media Marketing Short Course

• Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) Course

• Certificate IV in Marketing and Communication

• Advanced Diploma of Digital Marketing

• Email Marketing Certificate

Project Manager / Coordinator

Every successful business initiative involves coordinating multiple people, budgets, clients and deadlines while keeping everyone on the same page about progress and changes. Project managers create detailed plans and manage resources to deliver results on time and within budget. Many companies have flexible positions for project managers since most of project coordination happens over email or through digital project management tools.

The best way to become a project manager is with a:

• Diploma of Project Management

• Advanced Diploma of Leadership & Management

Finance/Paraplanning Support

Financial advisers spend their days meeting with clients who want to retire comfortably or buy their first home, but need someone behind the scenes researching investment options and preparing detailed reports. Paraplanning is different from financial planning, as they handle the analytical work that helps advisers make sound recommendations while clients receive comprehensive financial strategies. Either of these options in the financial industry give you excellent job security since people always need help managing their money and planning for the future.

These are the best certificates to get started:

• Advanced Diploma of Paraplanning

• Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking

AI-Business Specialist / Data Analyst Assistant

Every company has heard they need to use artificial intelligence and data analysis to stay competitive, but most business owners have no idea what that really means or where to start. AI specialists help organisations figure out which parts of their operations could benefit from automation, while data analysts dig through sales numbers and website traffic to help companies make smarter decisions. These fields are two of the fastest-growing in Australia because businesses desperately need people who can use tech to find practical solutions.

These are the best certificates for a career as an AI specialist or data analyst:

• AI for Business and Marketing

• Data and Web Analytics

Business Development Specialist / Consultant

Most successful businesses reach a point where they’ve captured their local market but need help figuring out what comes next. Business development specialists help companies find new opportunities without abandoning what already works well. You might help a successful café chain decide which neighbourhoods to expand into or help a consulting firm figure out which services their existing clients want to buy. 

The best online courses for business development are:

• Advanced Diploma of Leadership & Management

• Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship & New Business

Tips to succeed as a work-from-home mum

Juggling work calls while your toddler demands snacks feels impossible some days. You’re not imagining the pressure. Research shows that almost three-quarters of working parents are considering changing their work arrangements or leaving their jobs entirely. Another study found that 83% of working mothers experience guilt about their employment, usually because society expects them to be available for everyone else’s needs 24/7.

Here’s the truth, though. You can absolutely thrive professionally while being present for your family’s important events. Success comes from building systems that work for your specific situation, not trying to fit into someone else’s idea of the perfect work-life balance. Try these strategies to thrive in a job for stay-at-home-mums in Australia:

• Time-blocking frees up your mental headspace: Block out specific hours for focused work and protect them like you would a doctor’s appointment. Batch similar tasks together so you’re not constantly switching between email and phone calls. When your brain knows what to expect, you’ll get more done in less time.

• Boundaries are your friends: Tell your family when you’re working and when you’re available. Use headphones during important calls or set up quiet hours when kids know to only interrupt you for real emergencies. If you have a partner, split household responsibilities more fairly instead of carrying the entire mental load yourself.

• Your workspace matters: Designate a specific area for work, even if it’s just one corner of your dining table. Good lighting and organised supplies help you focus. 

• Negotiate what works for you: Talk to your employer about flexible start times, compressed work weeks or core hours when you need to be available. Document your achievements so you can show how alternative arrangements benefit everyone involved.

• Drop the guilt about providing for your family: Working teaches your children valuable lessons about independence and contributing to society. Pursuing professional goals while raising a family shows them that mothers can be complex, ambitious people with diverse interests and capabilities.

• Find your tribe: Connect with other working mothers who understand the challenges you face. Online communities and local groups can provide emotional support when you’re feeling overwhelmed by competing demands.

FAQs

Your career is waiting for you

Being a stay-at-home mum doesn’t mean abandoning your professional dreams. You’re simply adapting them to fit the life you’ve chosen while your children are young. The skills you’ve developed managing a household are perfect for many careers that come with big salaries and plenty of self fulfillment. 

Take one small step today. Browse job listings that interest you, research a course that could open new doors or reach out to someone working in a field you find appealing. You don’t need to change your entire life overnight. Start with what feels manageable and build momentum from there. 

See how self-paced Monarch courses fit into your busy schedule so you can prepare for the next leap.