Looking for a part-time job you can do during school hours? This list has 22 great options.
Many mothers dream of working during school hours, but unfortunately, there aren’t many jobs available that can accommodate a family’s busy schedule and demands.
My oldest sons started elementary school this year, so I know firsthand how difficult it can be to earn an income during school hours. Needless to say, they’re not in school every week, which makes juggling work and home life even more difficult.
We understand that parents don’t always want to leave their children before or after school – it can be expensive and while some kids enjoy spending more time with their friends, it can mean a long and tiring day for many others.
Moms, I’m here for you, so I’ve done the work for you. I’ve scoured the web for 22 of the most flexible jobs moms can do between school hours, many of which allow you to work flexibly even when the kids are homesick or on vacation.
22 Best School-Hour Jobs for Parents
Most of the jobs on this list can be done from home, but if you enjoy being on the go, there are some options you can do on the go too.
1. Freelance Writing Jobs
From freelance content writers, ghostwriters, copywriters, and magazine writers to resume writers, grant proposal writers, and technical writers, there is a writing specialization out there that anyone can use to earn money from home.
You don’t need a degree; you just need to have the talent and passion for writing and the ability to turn your writing assignments in on time. The great thing about freelance writing is that you can do this work during school hours or while the kids are sleeping. Here is a list of paid freelance writing assignments.
2. Rideshare or delivery driver
After dropping the kids off at school, why not earn a little extra cash as a rideshare or delivery driver? On-demand apps like DoorDash (food delivery), HopSkipDrive (for kids), and Instacart (grocery) make it easy to make money during school hours. All you need is a valid driver’s license, a reliable vehicle, and the ability to pass a background check. Once approved, you can take as many gigs as you want that fit your schedule.
3. Virtual Assistants (VA)
If you have experience working in an office environment, you likely have the skills and qualifications to work remotely as a virtual assistant. Most VAs require prior experience, tech savvy, attention to detail, and familiarity with Microsoft Office. You’ll likely need to be available during regular business hours, but many companies offer part-time work.
Here are some companies to consider:
4. Home day care operators
If you love kids or worked with children before having kids, starting a daycare in your home is a great option. Your child can be at home whenever you want, so it’s flexible and your child will always have other children to socialize with.
5. Online tutoring jobs
If you are a stay-at-home mom who previously worked as a teacher or have extensive knowledge of a particular subject such as reading, mathematics, business, marketing, or science, you can apply for an online tutoring job.
These online gigs offer flexible hours. For young children, you usually work evenings or weekends, but for college students and adults, the hours vary. Some companies only require you to answer homework questions over text, so you don’t have to use your phone or webcam.
Here are some companies to consider:
6. Social Media Manager
If you already spend a lot of time on social media, social media management might be right for you. Every business out there has (or probably should have) at least one social media platform. Business owners don’t always have the time or skills to manage social media pages and accounts. If you have extensive knowledge of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest, learn more about how to start a social media business here.
Here is a list of companies hiring for flexible social media roles:
7. Online Store Owners
Selling online is a great way to make money during school hours. Sell your items on platforms like eBay, Poshmark, and Etsy. Just create an account, set up your shop, take photos of your items, and post them online. Once your items sell, ship them to your customers while your kids are at school and watch the cash roll in.
Not sure what to sell? Here are some ideas to get you started:
8. Pet sitting or dog walking
If you love animals, use Rover, Wag, and Care.com to connect with pet owners and offer dog walking or pet sitting services in your spare time. With these apps, you choose the combination of services you offer (drop-in, dog walking, doggy daycare, boarding, house sitting) and the type of animal you care for. You can do this after you drop off the kids at school or take care of the animal at home.
9. Short tasks
Short tasks, or micro-jobs as they are also known, are great because you can complete them in a short amount of time at your own convenience. The tasks are varied so you can choose your preferred area of expertise.
10. The role of bookkeeping
Working as a bookkeeper is a great way to earn a good income, and if you like working with numbers and spreadsheets, it’s easy to get started. Whether you want to start a virtual bookkeeping business from home or work for a company entering income and expenses into online accounting software like Quickbooks, there are plenty of opportunities for you to explore.
11. Fitness instructor
If you have experience in fitness or a passion for exercise, consider teaching classes. Teaching other stay-at-home or telecommuting moms is a great option as it gives you the flexibility to include them in classes during school hours, plus it helps keep them healthy!
12. Transcriber
If you’re not sure what the job entails, a transcriptionist transcribes audio files and video clips into written text. If you’re a good typist and efficient, this could be the job for you. If you don’t have experience transcribing, there are companies like Rev and TranscribeMe that hire beginners.
If you want to know more about transcription, what it involves, and which companies are hiring, check out this post.
13. Beauty Business
If you love beauty and make-up and are looking for a job that’s fun and makes you feel good, a job in the beauty industry could be right for you. Maybe you want to start a business from home or work for an established company that offers flexible hours.
14. Housework
Household chores like cooking, cleaning, baking, laundry, etc. can all be turned into profitable home-based businesses. If you want to be your own boss, starting your own service business is a great option. Consider your skills and interests and go from there.
15. Customer Service Representatives
Perhaps the most popular and plentiful work-from-home jobs are customer service and technical support representative positions. In addition to the sheer number of jobs available, there are also plenty of legitimate companies that allow you to choose your own schedule.
If you enjoy helping customers solve their problems, consider these flexible jobs:
16. Data Entry Clerk
If you love typing, have strong computer skills, and want to work from home, data entry could be the perfect position for you. These jobs require good communication skills and a working knowledge of Microsoft Office and G Suite.
Check out below for online data entry jobs you can do during school hours.
17. Online Researchers
Internet research is a great way to make money from home, and many companies hire freelancers to do research. If you have background experience in a particular field, such as law, marketing, insurance, or real estate, you can set yourself apart from the competition.
You can join an agency like Wonder and once approved, you can take on as many projects as you like. FYI, Wonder is currently on a hiring freeze, but you can bookmark their page for future openings.
18. Mystery Shopper
Do you want to get paid to shop? You can become a mystery shopper from the comfort of your own home with just your mobile phone. Mystery shopping jobs require excellent attention to detail, a good memory and good communication skills.
Here is a list of companies to look for flexible opportunities at:
19. Proofreader
If you’re picky about grammar and have a knack for spotting typos, you’re in luck: proofreaders are in high demand. Proofreading can be done from anywhere, at your own pace. You can even work in a coffee shop for a change of pace, or while waiting in the car for a school pick-up. If you’re not sure if proofreading is the right career path for you, sign up for Caitlin Pyle’s free proofreading workshop.
Here are some companies that hire freelance proofreaders and editors:
20. Start a side hustle using AI
Are you tech-savvy, detail-oriented, and have great research and written communication skills? Then consider applying for an AI-related side job. These flexible positions could involve recording voice snippets; annotating text, images, audio, or video; researching items for accuracy and relevance; working on writing projects; and interacting with chatbots. These are freelance roles that you can fit into your schedule during school hours. These positions don’t require experience, but you’ll have to take a qualifying exam that can be difficult, so be sure to take the time to work it through thoroughly.
Here are a few companies you might want to check out:
21. Marking test papers
One type of remote part-time job that offers flexible hours is test scorer or evaluator. These jobs require a bachelor’s degree and the ability to meet deadlines, but most don’t require prior experience. Work schedules are flexible, but they tend to be seasonal jobs paying around $16-28 per hour.
If you want to get paid grading students’ tests, essays, and videos online, check out these hiring companies:
22. Start a small business
Many of the jobs on this list can be done through an agency or third-party company. This can be a good way to get a foothold, especially if you don’t have experience in the field. But you could also quickly turn it into your own business, giving you more flexibility and probably more fun.
Starting your own business from home can be exciting, so here are 5 ways you can be your own boss while doing what you love.
Read on to find out why back to school is the perfect time to start a business.
My plan for working during school hours
Whew, that’s quite a long list! Are you surprised (and perhaps overwhelmed) by the number of flexible work opportunities for stay-at-home moms?
I wanted to share my experience. Here in Australia, the new school year starts in February. My oldest child goes to school and my youngest child goes to a preschool for 3 year olds. Preschool is only 2 days and 6 hours a week. With drop off and pick up times, I don’t have much time to play with my kids, but here’s my plan:
On Mondays and Friday mornings, when the kids aren’t home, I use those hours to write. I’m a freelance writer and editor with a stable job now. When my youngest is home, I write or do other work until the afternoon when I pick them up from school. In the evenings and on weekends, I work on my sleep coaching business.
Other tasks I do include social media management and micro jobs like proofreading, creating images on Canva, transcription, online research, etc. I do whatever I can and want to do in the time I have, which is what’s great about this job.
I’ve been working from home since my oldest was born, so my kids are well aware that the afternoons will be quiet while I’m working. Sadly, my most productive nap days only recently came to an end (read my nap tips here).
I hope my example of working during school hours gives you an idea of how achievable and easy it is. Let me know what you think. To add variety to your life, why not choose a few different part-time jobs to keep you interested and ensure that you have an income coming in. That way, you can decide on your specialty and who knows where it will lead? Good luck!
Originally published on January 24, 2021. Content updated August 2024.
