Jobs for Moms with No Degree 

Jobs for Moms with No High School Diploma 

Home Health Aid

A home health aide provides essential care and assistance to elderly or disabled clients in their homes. Duties may include helping with daily tasks, monitoring health, and providing companionship. While a high school diploma or equivalent is typically preferred, it’s not always required. Many employers provide on-the-job training and may require certification in some cases that they may help you pay for. 

Retail Sales Associate

A retail sales associate works in stores, assisting customers, restocking shelves, and operating cash registers. They play a crucial role in customer service. Most retail positions do not require a high school diploma. However, it would be helpful to work on your communication and customer service skills. It is possible to work your way up in this field without a high school diploma. 

Childcare Provider 

There are lots of different ways to be a childcare provider. You can work as a nanny, at a childcare facility, or even start a childcare facility in your own home! Depending on what you choose to do, there might be different skills you have to learn, certificates, or licenses you have to earn. An important certification to have for working around children is your CPR certification, which is a class that you can take online. If you work for a school, they might help provide opportunities for you to further your education as well, which can open up your future career opportunities.  

Hairdresser

To become a hairdresser, you will need to get a license in cosmetology. In most states, you will be required to have at least a GED to go to cosmetology school, but you might be able to enroll in cosmetology school while you are enrolled in a GED program. Being a hairdresser is a great career for moms! There is flexibility to work around your kids and your client’s schedules, you get to have a creative and often fun work environment, and it offers you the ability to grow and change as you figure out what you like in the field.  

Jobs that pay over $40,000 for Moms with No College Degree

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist

A medical biller and coder organizes and manages health insurance claims and patient records for healthcare providers. This role offers flexibility in schedule and can often be done remotely, which makes it a great option for a mom with kids still at home. To be a medical biller and coder, you do not need a college degree. You can take an online course and earn a certification in medical billing and coding. This article has 20 medical billing and coding courses to explore. 

Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant provides administrative support to businesses and entrepreneurs remotely. Tasks may include email management, scheduling, and data entry. Pay for this position can vary greatly. There is a podcast episode here about how this person started making $50 an hour as a virtual assistant (and how you can, too). Virtual assistant positions offer flexible hours and are almost guaranteed to be completely remote. To get started, you should build your skills and create an online presence by offering your services on freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. It can also be smart to connect to pages specifically for entrepreneurs and small businesses to make connections with people who may be looking to hire. 

Jobs that pay over $80,000 for Moms with No College Degree

Web Developer

A web developer creates and maintains websites and apps. They work with coding languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Many web development jobs can be done remotely, allowing you to have a better balance between work and family. Web developers can make over $80,000 and their skills are typically in high demand. If this sounds interesting to you, start by learning web development through online courses and coding bootcamp. Be sure to keep track of any projects you work on so that you can build a portfolio to showcase your skills. 

Digital Marketing Manager

A digital marketing manager oversees online marketing campaigns, including social media, SEO, and email marketing, to promote products or services. Remote work is common in the digital marketing field. Once you develop the skillset necessary to be a digital marketing manager, you also have the option to freelance or consult which means you will be ultimately working for yourself and can set your own schedule. The best way to get started in this field is to get experience. While you might not make much starting out, if you are devoted to growing your skillset, it is a field in which you can move up quickly. 

Jobs that Pay Over $100,000 for Moms with No College Degree

It Project Manager

IT project managers oversee technology-related projects, ensuring they are completed on time and within a budget. If you don’t know much about technology, don’t worry! This role primarily focuses on management and helping coordinate specialists who are knowledgeable about their fields. This means you don’t have to be an expert in technology, you just have to be an expert in people and time management. Some larger organizations may offer flexible hours and remote work for this type of position. However, it is likely that if this is the field you choose to go into, you might end up working in the office sometime during your career. You can get started as an IT project manager by learning relevant skills and taking certifications. PMP (Project Management Professional) is a great certification when you are first starting out. 

Real Estate Agent

A real estate agent helps people buy, sell, or rent properties. As most of the pay is based on commission, it can vary greatly in what you are able to get paid each year (or month!). But because it is a commissioned-based job, there is no earning cap, meaning your income has unlimited potential. Real estate agents have the flexibility to set their schedules, though often you might have to make yourself available on weekends and evenings to accommodate your client’s schedules. To get started, you will need to complete a licensing course and join a brokerage. Some brokerages offer salaries to help you get started as you are first starting out and building a client base.  

Sales

Along the same line as above, anything in sales has the potential to be highly profitable. Depending on what field you are in, there is potential for these types of jobs to be remote and the better you become at your job, it can offer some flexibility in what your day-to-day looks like. However, it is important to note that sales jobs often require a lot of time and effort upfront. This might mean exploring full-time childcare options. However, as you are working in sales, you will likely soon be able to afford nannies or private education, if that’s what is best for your family. Potential sales fields include medical devices, insurance, tech or software, cars, real estate, and so much more! Just about every large company has a sales department and once you learn the skillset, it’s a position that is almost always being hired for. 

How to Get a Job as a Mom with No Degree

One of the key determiners in securing a job for anyone is who you know. Networking can open up so many job opportunities you didn’t even know existed! It can be especially useful to start networking before you are looking for a job, so it’s never too early to start making those connections. Here is a list of ways you can start networking today. 

Online Job Search Platforms

Utilize online job search platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and ZipRecruiter to search for job listings in your area. Create profiles, set job alerts, and apply directly to positions that match your skills and interests. It can also be helpful to use platforms like LinkedIn to reach out to people who are doing what you want to be doing for advice and future opportunities. If there is a company that you know you really want to work for, find a few people who work there are try to make a connection. When it comes time to apply for a job, ask if they will refer you to the position because many companies offer bonuses to employees who refer a winning candidate and it will look good for you to have an employee referral. It’s a win-win! 

Local Job Fairs and Workshops

Attend local job fairs, career workshops, and hiring events in your community. These events can bring together employers seeking candidates for various positions. Be prepared with copies of your resume and a brief elevator pitch. 

Community Centers and Employment Agencies

Visit community centers and local employment agencies, which often provide resources and job placement assistance. They can help match you with available positions and offer guidance on job applications and interviews. Working with agencies can be great for many reasons! For starters, this often means that the company is vetted and looking for a good candidate. If they are willing to pay an agency to help them find the right candidate, then this might help give you reassurance that they are willing to invest in you as an employee. Additionally, working with an agency is great because they will often have several similar jobs they are looking to fill. If one position doesn’t work out, then you’ll likely have others available to you. 

Final Thoughts

If you are a mom looking for a job with no degree, there are lots of options for you! As you try to decide which career is right for you, think about the big picture. Not only is it important to find a job that utilizes your skills and interests, but you also want to consider your work-life balance and long-term potential. Many roles may require additional certifications, but sometimes these can be found online, and your future employer might be willing to pay for any specific education they want you to have. 

Whatever role you are interested in, it’s important to start networking. Utilize online job platforms, social media, and local networking groups and job placement agencies. You might be surprised by the jobs that come up if you focus on building your network! 

Finding a job as a mom with no degree might feel overwhelming, but there are lots of options for you! With clear goals and a little bit of determination, you can find a position that is flexible to accommodate your needs as a working mom. You can find more information on businesses for single moms here.