19 Best stay-at-home dad jobs: Great flexible part- & full-time work ideas

3. Freelance writer

Freelance writing involves creating content on a contractual basis without being a permanent staff member. A great thing about this kind of remote job is that it can involve a wide range of writing activities, such as blog posts, articles, copywriting for marketing materials, technical writing, and ghostwriting for books.

It's ideal for stay-at-home dads due to its flexibility, allowing them to work around family schedules and from any location. If becoming a freelance writer appeals to you, begin by considering what topics and things you're knowledgeable about or interested in. You can then work on building a portfolio to showcase your best work to attract clients.

Think about also using platforms like LinkedIn and joining both online and offline writing communities to expand your network. Don't forget to create a professional website and utilize social media to advertise your services.

Although you may be tempted to seek out the best-paying writing opportunities right from the get-go, keep in mind that as a new freelancer, you will likely find that it will be a good idea to start with smaller gigs to build your reputation and gain experience.

4. Social media manager

These days, almost all companies and organizations have a presence on social media, with an active account on at least one platform. Social networks are crucial for increasing brand visibility, consumer confidence, and engagement. With the importance of social media being at an all-time high, it's crucial to have somebody there to manage content. This is where social media managers come in!

A social media manager is responsible for overseeing a brand's or company's interactions with the public by managing social media platforms, creating content, analyzing engagement data, and running marketing campaigns. This role is crucial as it helps shape the company's public persona and engages directly with customers to build community and loyalty.

For stay-at-home dads, this job offers great flexibility, allowing them to work from home and set their own hours, making it easier to balance work and family life.

If you enjoy social media and have an eye for how to grow a following on different networks like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, Pinterest, and LinkedIn, consider getting into social media management as a profitable side hustle from home, starting with your own social media or by managing accounts for friends or local businesses.

To stand out from the competition, remember to keep up with the latest digital marketing trends and platform updates. You might also opt to obtain certifications in social media management and digital marketing to enhance your credibility.

5. Fitness coach

For many people around the world, their health is increasingly becoming a priority in their lives. If you're passionate about staying active and healthy, becoming a fitness coach can be an excellent way to earn income while still being able to be present at home with your kids. 

A fitness coach guides people towards their health and fitness goals through personalized exercise routines, nutritional advice, and motivational support. Working from home, fitness coaches can conduct virtual training sessions via video calls, create personalized workout plans for online clients, or develop and sell fitness programs and ebooks.

Give yourself the best chance of success with your future fitness coaching business by getting certified by a reputable organization in fitness training and nutrition. Depending on the type of services you plan to offer, you might need to set up a home gym, investing in essential equipment for conducting virtual sessions or demonstrating exercises.

In addition, having your own website and employing social media to share fitness tips and inspire others will be essential for attracting clients and building your business. To differentiate yourself from other fitness coaches, you may very well find that offering unique services by specializing in areas like post-injury recovery, senior fitness, or prenatal exercises proves advantageous.

6. Pet sitter

Pet sitting as a stay-at-home dad provides a great path to make extra money while helping instill a love and respect for animals in your children. Pet sitting involves caring for pets while their owners are away, which may include feeding, dog walking, playing, administering medication, and providing companionship. 

When working as a pet sitter, it's important to be aware of the pets' specific needs and any health conditions. Furthermore, no matter how curious your kids and the pets may be about each other, any introductions must be done carefully, ensuring the safety and security of both the pets and your family.

As a future pet sitter, consider familiarizing yourself with different pet types and their care needs, perhaps by volunteering at dog and cat shelters to gain experience. You can further enhance trust with clients by obtaining certifications and pet first aid and care. Pet-sitting platforms like Rover or PetBacker make it easy to connect with pet owners, also allowing you to collect reviews from happy clients to build your credibility. 

7. Virtual assistant

If you count organization and multitasking as some of your top skills, why not become a virtual assistant? Virtual assistants provide administrative support to businesses or entrepreneurs remotely.

Day-to-day tasks may include managing emails, scheduling appointments, handling customer inquiries, bookkeeping, doing some data entry, and assisting with social media management. This role is excellent for stay-at-home dads due to the ability to choose your own hours and work from home.

To get your start in virtual assisting, you'll want to begin by identifying your skill set, highlighting your strengths in areas like communication, organization, or technical skills. Regardless of the kind of company you'll be assisting, equipping your home office with a reliable computer, high-speed internet, and any necessary software is a must! It's also crucial to have a decent phone on hand for making phone calls.

Creating a professional website or LinkedIn profile to showcase your services is a great way to build your internet presence. Feel free to also join virtual assistant groups and forums to connect with potential clients and learn from others in the field.

8. Remote customer service representative

Possessing strong communication skills and being comfortable interacting with people are valuable assets when it comes to the working world, particularly when it comes to customer service. If the aforementioned attributes sound like you, working as a remote customer service representative can be a terrific work-from-home option when you have kids.

Many major companies and call centers regularly recruit customer service agents, offering ample opportunities for employment. Being a native English speaker can be a significant advantage in this field. While the work may not always be thrilling, it can certainly contribute to covering household expenses.

Remote customer service reps handle customer inquiries, resolve issues, and provide support via phone, email, or chat from a home office setting. This role generally entails troubleshooting, offering product information, taking care of some data entry, processing returns, and maintaining customer satisfaction.

Just like when working as a virtual assistant, as a remote customer service rep, you will want to equip your home office, ensuring that you have a quiet workspace, reliable internet, and possibly a headset. Don't hesitate to develop your communication, problem-solving, and computer skills to further bolster your resume. In addition, when prepping for interviews, be prepared to discuss how you'd tackle various customer scenarios and demonstrate your home office readiness.

9. Online tutor

Sharing your knowledge with others and helping them learn by working as an online tutor is both a noble activity and the perfect way to boost your income as a stay-at-home dad. Online tutors supply educational support and instruction to students over the internet, using platforms that allow for video calling, document sharing, and real-time interaction.

Tutors can specialize in academic subjects like math, science, and English, or offer lessons in skills such as music, languages, or coding. Another option for teaching on the web is to become an online course creator, selling your courses as digital products on e-learning platforms or via your own website. Release a new course once a week, once a month, or once a year—it's completely up to you and your schedule!

Did you know that with WiziShop's ecommerce solution, you aren't limited to physical goods; you can sell digital items like online courses too!

Whether you opt to go the online tutor or course creation route, it's a good idea to focus on subjects you are knowledgeable about and passionate teaching. Also note that depending on your area, relevant certifications can boost your credibility.

10. Daycare provider

If you're already caring for your own children at home, why not earn some extra cash by watching a few more kids? Operating an in-home daycare is a popular job among stay-at-home parents due to its high level of convenience.

Note that this job definitely demands a genuine affection for children. Additionally, keep in mind that depending on your location, you may need specific certifications and a license to operate a daycare. That being said, deciding to start your own in-home daycare is a great way to end your job search as a stay-at-home dad!

To become a daycare provider, verify that your home is childproofed and equipped with age-appropriate toys and safety equipment. It's also important to complete a pediatric first aid and CPR course to ensure you're as well prepared as possible in case of emergencies. 

Next, you'll need to develop and communicate clear policies on operating hours, payments, and emergency procedures. Then, aim to maintain open, transparent communication with parents to build trust and credibility.

11. Graphic designer

Have an eye for design and artistic aspirations? Launching a career in graphic design may be right up your alley, also seeing as it's a flexible job, offering a good work-life balance for stay-at-home dads.

Graphic designers create visual concepts, using software or by hand, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. They develop the overall layout and production design for advertisements, brochures, magazines, and corporate reports.

If you haven't already done so, you'll of course need to learn the basic of graphic design, acquiring fundamental skills through courses, either online or in person. In addition, you should have an excellent grasp of design software and gain proficiency in tools like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.

Having a strong portfolio to showcase your work to potential clients is very beneficial. You may want to get started by taking on freelance projects to build your reputation and gain experience.

12. SEO specialist

As a growing number of businesses develop a presence on the web, it's becoming all the more crucial to know how to stand out from the competition and get to the top of the search results in order to drive site traffic. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a valuable skill set because it directly impacts a business's online presence and its ability to attract organic traffic, making it a crucial and in-demand skill in digital marketing.

For this reason, becoming an SEO specialist can be the perfect side gig for a stay-at-home dad searching for a new job that can be done remotely and that has plenty of potential for growth.

SEO specialists optimize websites to improve their visibility and ranking on search engines like Google. Their activities include conducting keyword research, optimizing website content and structure, building backlinks, analyzing competitors, and monitoring SEO performance with tools like Google Analytics and SEMrush.

To get started as an SEO specialist, you'll first want to be sure you have a good understanding of SEO principles, knowing the basics of how search engines work and the factors that affect rankings. Then, to gain practical experience, you can start your own website or blog to apply SEO techniques practically.

You can also take reputable SEO courses and obtain certifications to further bolster your skills and credibility. Just remember that SEO is a constantly evolving beast, so it's advantageous to keep up with industry blogs and forums to stay up to date with the latest happenings.

13. Translator

If you're fluent in at least a couple of languages, becoming a professional translation may be an easy transition. Translators convert written content from one language to another, ensuring that the original tone, intent, and context are maintained. They can perform a variety of tasks in their work, such as reading through original material, using specialized dictionaries and translation tools, and editing drafts to ensure high standards of accuracy and readability. 

You might be wondering if this is still a good field to enter due to the advances in AI translation tools appearing year after year. Well, despite these powerful technological developments, the demand for skilled human translators remains high due to their ability to understand cultural nuances, idioms, and context that machines often miss.

Besides being bilingual in multiple languages, you might opt to focus on specific fields like legal, medical, or technical translation to increase demand for your services and increase your chances of success as a professional translator. It never hurts to get certified in this line of work too, for example by obtaining professional certification from organizations like the American Translators Association.

You can gain translating experience by starting with smaller projects or volunteering to translate for nonprofits, also joining translation associations and online communities to connect with potential clients and other professionals.

These steps can help establish you as a professional translator capable of delivering high-quality work that goes beyond what AI can achieve!

14. Virtual consultant

Another way to capitalize on your specific knowledge and expertise in order to earn income on the side as a stay-at-home dad is by getting in virtual consulting work.

Virtual consultants offer expert advice and services to clients remotely, leveraging technology to communicate and collaborate. This role can span various fields, including business strategy, IT, marketing, finance, and human resources. The versatility in specialization with this kind of position allows consultants to cater to a wide array of industries and client needs.

Virtual consulting is an attractive field for dads looking for remote jobs due to its flexibility in working hours and location, the ability to handle multiple clients, and the high demand for specialized knowledge.

The first steps involved in becoming a virtual consultant involve pinpointing areas where you have deep knowledge and experience along with getting any relevant certifications and continuing your education to stay current in your field and build credibility.

Furthermore, you'll want to set up your online presence by launching a professional website and maintaining active profiles on platforms like LinkedIn. Remember also that networking is essential, so you should aim to connect with potential clients and other professionals through online forums, webinars, and conferences.

15. Ebook author

Speaking of harnessing your knowledge and expertise... Have you ever dreamed of putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and writing a book to share with the world? 

While breaking into traditional publishing as an unpublished author can be difficult, often taking years, the arrival of ebooks has opened up a whole new universe to those looking to get their works published. 

Ebook authors write digital books that are published online, accessible via e-readers, tablets, and other electronic devices. This role involves researching topics, crafting engaging content, and editing to create comprehensive and appealing ebooks for a targeted audience.

Some of the benefits of writing an ebook include low publishing costs, higher royalty rates compared to traditional publishing, the ability to reach a global audience easily (even with no previous experience as an author), and the flexibility to work from anywhere, making it an ideal job for a stay-at-home dad!

To get started as an ebook author, you'll need to begin by picking a topic area that interests you and that has a potential reader base. To ensure your credibility with your readers, your content must be informative and well researched.

Don't be discouraged if you face writer's block from time to time during the writing process—even the most experienced of authors battle this at some point! The important thing is to write regularly, developing a routine to maintain progress.

Once you polish your work and format it for e-reader devices, you can use platforms like  Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing to publish your ebook and employ social media and other digital marketing strategies to promote it.

As a reminder, you can also sell your ebooks via your own ecommerce site created via the WiziShop solution! 

16. Video editor

With the rise of digital platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, the need for video content has significantly increased, driving demand for skilled video editors who can create engaging, high-quality videos. What's more, companies are investing more in video marketing as it proves to be one of the most effective ways to engage audiences and convey messages. This requires professional video editing to ensure the content is impactful and polished.

If you're looking to work in a field that blends technical skill with creative vision and offers the opportunity to work on a variety of creative projects, flexible working conditions, and the potential for remote work, becoming a video editor may be just the ticket!

As a future video editor, it's best to master the associated software, including editing tools like Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve. You can build your skills through continuous practice and personal projects as well as study film and editing techniques to ensure that you understand film theory and editing best practices.

17. UX tester

Are you a tech-savvy dad with strong analytical skills, attention to detail, empathy to understand user perspectives, and good communication skills to be able to articulate feedback effectively? Consider choosing a job involving user experience (UX) testing as a means to make extra money from home while taking care of a baby and/or older children.

UX testers evaluate software, websites, and applications to ensure they are user-friendly, intuitive, and functional. They conduct tests to identify any usability issues and provide feedback to help designers and developers enhance the user experience. This involves tasks such as executing test scenarios, reporting on user interactions, and suggesting improvements.

UX testers are in demand because businesses recognize that a superior user experience leads to higher customer satisfaction, increased usage, and ultimately, greater revenue. Top-notch UX design can significantly differentiate a product in a competitive market.

Of course, to achieve success in the field of UX testing, you'll need to be sure that you understand principles of user-centered design and usability testing. It's also beneficial to learn tools like Sketch, Figma, and Adobe XD, and familiarize yourself with wireframing and prototyping.

Then, you can begin with freelance projects or internships to help develop your portfolio, featuring case studies and test reports to showcase your ability to evaluate and improve UX, to show to potential clients.

18. Online survey taker

When it comes to the top side jobs for stay-at-home dads, online survey taking is one of the easiest!

These web-based survey takers provide valuable feedback for market research by completing surveys that assess consumer opinions on various products and services. Their insights help companies shape their marketing strategies and product developments. As businesses are constantly seeking real consumer insights to improve their offerings, the demand for survey takers who can gather this data efficiently is high.

This kind of job isn't without its disadvantages. You'll likely find that the pay for each completed survey is rather low and that the work can be inconsistent. That being said, there are no special skills required to take surveys on the internet. Plus, the work allows for a flexible schedule and can be done from anywhere!

You can begin taking surveys on the internet right away by signing up on trusted survey sites like Swagbucks, Survey Junkie, or Vindale Research. Just be sure to set realistic expectations, becoming familiar with the pay structure and time commitment.

Make organization a priority and stay on top of what surveys you've completed and your earnings. Finally, be cautious about sharing sensitive data, as you may come across scams with this sort of job.

19. Web developer

Last on our list of the best jobs for stay-at-home dads is another one that combines creative flair with technical prowess: web developer. Web developers design, build, and maintain websites and web applications. They work on the backend programming, which includes server, database, and application logic, as well as the front-end elements that users interact with.

As digital presence becomes essential for businesses, demand for skilled web developers who can deliver effective and attractive online platforms is rising across a plethora of industries. This side job provides lots of potential for remote work and flexible hours, also allowing for creative expression in your day-to-day activities.

Don't forget, though, that as a web developer, you'll need to continually learn new skills and technologies to keep up with ever-evolving changes in the tech world. What's more, this kind of project-based work can lead to fluctuating income, and you'll often face tight deadlines, which may be tricky to manage as a stay-at-home dad.

Get your web developing career off to an excellent start by mastering HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and which are foundational to both front-end and back-end development. These languages are essential for creating and styling web pages.

Once comfortable with the basics, you'll want to learn server-side languages like Python, Ruby, or Node.js. Understanding database management with SQL or MongoDB is also crucial for building dynamic sites. It's also advantageous to learn to use Git and GitHub, as these tools are essential for tracking changes in your code and collaborating with other developers.

You can then apply your skills by working on personal projects or contributing to open source. This helps you understand real-world problems and showcases your abilities to potential employers.

How to balance work and dad life

Balancing work and dad life as a stay-at-home dad working from home can be challenging but fulfilling. Here are a few things you can do to help manage both roles effectively:

• Establish a routine: Create a consistent daily schedule that includes specific times for work and family activities. This helps set expectations for you and your children, making transitions smoother throughout the day.
• Designate a workspace: Having a specific area in your home set aside for work can help you stay focused and make it easier to separate work time from family time. Ensure it’s organized and free from distractions.
• Set boundaries: Communicate your work hours to your family and make it clear when you shouldn't be disturbed, except for emergencies. This helps children understand when you are working and when you are available for them.
• Plan ahead: Use tools like calendars or apps to plan your work tasks and family commitments. This can help prevent overbooking yourself and ensures you have time set aside for both responsibilities.
• Take breaks and be flexible: Make time for short breaks to spend with your children during the day. This not only gives you a necessary break from work but also allows you to fulfill their needs. Being flexible with your work hours, when possible, can also help you attend important family events and respond to unexpected situations.

By implementing these strategies, you can create a balanced environment where both your professional and parental duties are managed effectively!