Working as a parent is tough. You’re always having to balance work with family responsibilities, and it can get overwhelming fast. 

This is especially true for moms, who are often the primary caretakers. And yet in 2021, 71.2% of them were also working or looking for work. 

So moms should be very selective when choosing a career. Some jobs are more family-friendly than others. 

You should look for a job that offers flexible work hours, stable income, and good benefits (maternity leave, paid time off, health insurance, and more).

Most of all, you want a job that makes it easy to take time off when daycare falls through or when you need to pick your kids up early from school. Flexibility is crucial.

So here are some careers for moms that offer good work-life balance: 

1. Medical assistant

Medical assistants support doctors and hospitals with administrative tasks. This might include scheduling appointments with patients, entering medical data, and preparing samples for lab tests. 

To become a certified medical assistant (CMA), you’ll need to complete high school, complete a medical assistant program (usually 1-2 years), pass a CMA exam, and renew your CMA certification every 60 months. 

This is a great career for moms who are detail-oriented and interested in the medical field. The average salary is $37,914

2. Real estate agent

Real estate agents help people buy and sell properties. They make money by charging a commission on each sale—usually 3% for the buyer’s agent and 3% for the seller’s agent.

To become a real estate agent, you need to get licensed by completing a course and passing a state-specific exam. These days, you can take real estate exam courses online at affordable prices. 

You’ll need to stay up to date on the real estate market, find deals, subscribe to the multiple listing service (MLS), and handle a lot of paperwork. But it can be well worth it.

Real estate agents usually stay in one area to become an expert in a specific real estate market. This is good if you want to settle down with a family. Plus, you often get to be your own boss and make your own schedule.

The career also has huge earning potential. Though salaries vary widely across the table, some real estate agents make well over $100,000!

3. Web developer

Web developers design and create websites. It’s their job to make sure a website runs well, looks good, and is easy to navigate.

To become a web developer, you need to complete a computer science degree, train with a coding school, or teach yourself how to program (usually in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript). 

And the job outlook is bright. The amount of web developer and digital designer jobs is expected to grow by 13% between 2020 and 2030. And in 2020, the median salary for web developers was $77,200. So there’s a lot of earning potential. 

In addition, web developers often get to work from home since all you need is a computer and a laptop. This makes it ideal for moms who want to stay at home to take care of kids. If you’re tech-savvy and a good problem solver, this may be for you.

4. Human resources specialist

Human resources (HR) specialists recruit, screen, interview, and hire workers. They also go over employee compensation and benefits with new hires and make sure the company complies with federal, state, and local employment regulations. 

Becoming an HR specialist usually requires getting a bachelor’s degree in human resources. It also takes good conversational skills and a lot of empathy. So if you have good listening and people skills (as many mothers do), this could be a good fit. 

In 2021, the median salary for HR specialists was $62,290, and jobs are expected to grow by 10% between 2020 and 2030. 

5. Tax accountant

Tax accountants prepare annual tax returns and quarterly tax reports for the IRS and advise clients on all things taxes. They can work for individuals or companies. 

To become a tax accountant, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and you might even need to pass an exam to become a certified public accountant (CPA).

As a tax accountant, you’ll interpret tax law for clients and help them stay up to date on tax regulations. 

In 2021, the median salary for tax accountants and auditors was $77,250, and jobs are expected to grow by 7% between 2020 and 2030.

Many tax preparers work from home on a part-time basis since it can be a very seasonal job. So if you want to make good money without a commute and you’re detail-oriented, this could be a good option. 

Final thoughts

Working as a parent is all about finding the right balance. You don’t want to feel like you’re failing your kids, but you also don’t want your career to suffer. 

So consider the 5 family-friendly careers above or look for others that support your unique lifestyle needs. It’s better to choose a career that fits than one that will make your home life hard. Whether you’re planning a big move or simply seeking better work-life balance, finding a profession that aligns with your priorities is key. For those starting a family in Dubai, it’s especially important to choose a career that allows flexibility and stability to support both your professional and personal aspirations. Remember, a fulfilling career should enhance your family life, not compete with it.