5 Top Jobs for Working Moms

More mothers are working today than ever before. Seven in 10 mothers with children under 18 now work, including three in four who are employed full-time, according to data compiled by the Department of Labor. Mothers are now the primary breadwinners for 40 percent of households with children under 18, a dramatic increase from 11 percent in 1960. For the majority of mothers, working full-time is now the norm.

For mothers who need to work, picking a position that pays well while allowing them to balance their work role with their role as a parent can be a challenge. Here’s a look at five of the best positions for working moms.

Pharmaceutical

When job site CareerBliss surveyed 60,000 women to identify the happiest jobs for working mothers, the top answer was jobs in the pharmaceutical industry. Big pharmaceutical companies such as Celgene have become attractive places for workers in recent years due to the high competition in the growing pharmaceutical industry, which has compelled employers to offer appealing compensation and benefit packages in order to attract top workers. Nine in 10 employees at pharmaceutical companies describe themselves as happy in their work, with work schedule flexibility being one of the most popular draws.

Pharmaceutical workers also see their jobs as meaningful, giving them an opportunity to help fight diseases and advance medical science. Mothers say they like working for pharmaceutical companies because it provides good life-work balance in a work environment with good management and excellent benefits. The pay is also excellent, with pharmacists averaging an annual base pay of $147,348 as of September 2018, according to Glassdoor.

Biotech

Closely related to the pharmaceutical industry is the biotech industry, which shares much of the same appeal for workers and is another favorite of working mothers. The high demand for biotech workers means that big employers such as Amgen are offering high salaries and strong benefits. Mothers say they like working in biotech because of the flexibility, opportunities for career advancement, and sense of pride in working in the field. Biotech jobs include positions as engineers, researchers, and area sales managers. Jobs involving a scientific background pay particularly well, with the average biotech scientist earning $95,328 a year, according to Salary.com.

Administrative and Clerical

Administrative and clerical jobs are a perennial favorite for mothers. While not paying as high as pharmaceutical or biotech jobs, compensation is solid, and other benefits can make administrative work rewarding for mothers. Mothers say they like administrative jobs for their flexibility, with many employers offering telecommuting opportunities to work from home. Mothers in clerical positions also appreciate the strong support they get from their employers. Administrative positions can be found at a wide range of companies, from financial providers such as U.S. Bank to direct sales companies such as Amway. Titles include positions such as administrative assistant, executive assistant, and office manager. The average salary for an administrative assistant is currently $38,747, according to Payscale.

Accounting

Accounting is another popular field with working mothers. Exceptional compensation, strong growth opportunities, and predictable hours and expectations are some of the reasons moms say they like working in the accounting industry. Accounting jobs can be found both at accounting firms such as Deloitte and at companies large enough to have internal accounting departments. The starting salary for a general accountant is currently $46,750, according to Robert Half, while staff accountants with three years of experience start at $62,000. Specialized accounting positions can command significantly higher salaries. For instance, the average controller starts at $118,250, while a chief compliance officer may earn $169,250.

Telecommunications

This is another attractive field for working mothers. Telecommunications work, required by countless firms that need phone representatives in departments such as customer service and sales, offers many opportunities for remote work from home, making this an appealing option for mothers seeking to balance their work and personal schedules. Mothers who work at telecommunications companies also say they take pride in their work, which involves representing the company as well as helping others. The telecommunications field includes a wide range of job titles, and salary varies by position. For instance, the average salary for a network integration manager is $84,627, according to Indeed.com.

Pharmaceuticals, biotech, administrative and clerical work, accounting, and telecommunications work represent some of the most rewarding career opportunities for working mothers. Most of these positions offer the flexibility to balance work responsibilities with personal demands, and all of them provide excellent salary potential for working mothers.