High-Paying Jobs for Single Moms: The Best-Paid Roles
High-paying jobs for single moms, ranked by salary. From nursing ($93,600) to software development ($133,080), see which roles pay most and how to reach them.
Reviewed by
Subha
Published
Sep 5, 2025
Last Reviewed
Jun 15, 2026
Click to zoomA confident professional woman in a blazer smiles in a modern office, representing high-paying careers.
When money is tight and the household runs on one income, “what pays the most” is a fair question to lead with. This guide does exactly that: it ranks real jobs by salary, using federal wage data, and shows which high-paying roles a single mom can actually reach, plus how long each one takes to get there.
Here’s the benchmark to beat. In May 2024, the median U.S. wage across all jobs was $49,500 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Every role below pays well above that, and several clear six figures. The goal isn’t the flashiest title. It’s the highest pay you can realistically train into around your kids.
| Role | Median pay | Remote-friendly? |
|---|---|---|
| Financial manager | $161,700 | Often hybrid |
| Software developer | $133,080 | Yes, frequently remote |
| Nurse practitioner | $132,050 | Partly (telehealth growing) |
| Financial analyst | $101,350 | Often hybrid |
The short version
High-paying jobs for single moms range from registered nursing at a median $93,600 to software development at $133,080 and financial management at $161,700 (BLS, 2024). The biggest earners need a degree or specialization, but several six-figure roles are remote-friendly, and a few high payers need only a two-year degree.
What counts as a high-paying job for a single mom?
A high-paying job clears the U.S. median wage of $49,500 by a wide margin and ideally tops $80,000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). For a single mom, the better question adds two filters: can you reach it without a decade of school, and does the schedule or remote option work with kids?
That’s the lens this guide uses. Pay comes first, because it’s the reason you’re here. But a $160,000 role that demands 70-hour weeks may serve your family worse than a $95,000 one with remote days. We’ll flag both the salary and the catch for each tier.
Want stability and an easier on-ramp over the absolute highest pay? Our companion guide to the best careers for single moms ranks roles by trainability instead of salary. This post is the money-first view.
Which jobs pay single moms six figures?
The top earners cluster in finance, tech, and advanced healthcare. Financial managers earn a median $161,700 a year, software developers $133,080, and nurse practitioners $132,050 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). All three clear six figures, well over triple the national median wage.
These pay the most, but they ask the most back. Financial managers and nurse practitioners need a bachelor’s or master’s plus experience. Software development is the outlier: many developers broke in through bootcamps and self-study, no traditional degree required. If you want the highest ceiling with the most flexible entry, tech is the standout.
What high-paying jobs can a single mom do remotely?
Tech and analytical roles pay the most and travel home the easiest. Software developers ($133,080 median) and financial and investment analysts ($101,350) are frequently remote or hybrid (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). The wider computer and information technology field pays a median $105,990, more than double the all-jobs median.
Data careers deserve a special mention. The BLS projects data scientist jobs to grow 33.5% from 2024 to 2034, the fastest-growing occupation in its 2026 outlook, and the work is heavily remote. For a single mom, a remote six-figure job removes the commute and the childcare gap in one move. That combination is hard to beat.
Already working from home and want the full menu of options first? See our guide to work-from-home jobs for moms, then aim up toward these higher payers.
Are there high-paying jobs that skip the four-year degree?
Yes, and registered nursing is the headline example. RNs earn a median $93,600 a year and many qualify with a two-year associate’s degree, not a four-year BSN (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). That’s nearly double the national median for a degree you can finish at a community college.
Software development belongs here too. Plenty of developers earning that $133,080 median learned through bootcamps and online courses rather than a computer-science degree. The pattern is clear: the highest pay-per-year-of-training sits in nursing and tech. Both reward skill and certification over a long, expensive diploma.
How do you actually reach the high end?
Getting hired is step one. Climbing into the top of the pay band is where the real money lives, and it follows a pattern. The lowest 10% of registered nurses earned under $66,030 while the top 10% earned more than $135,320 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024). Same job, a $69,000 gap. Specialization and location drive it.
- Specialize into a higher-paying niche once you have a base
- Earn the certifications that unlock senior pay bands
- Go remote to access higher-paying markets from anywhere
- Negotiate every offer and raise, never take the first number
- Move toward management or lead roles as your kids get older
None of this happens in month one. But the mom who treats the first job as a starting line, not a finish line, often doubles her pay over a few years. The ceiling is far higher than the entry wage suggests.
How long does it take, and how do you pay for training?
The timeline tracks the pay. Registered nursing takes about two years via an associate’s degree; software skills can come faster through a bootcamp; financial and advanced healthcare roles take longer. With child care averaging over $13,000 a year, the training season is the real hurdle, not the work itself.
Funding is more available than most moms expect. File the FAFSA for Pell Grants and federal aid, start at a community college, and look for single-parent scholarships and employer tuition reimbursement. Our guide to childcare assistance for single mothers covers help with care while you study.
Is a high-paying job worth it as a single mom?
Usually, but not always, and the honest answer depends on the trade-offs. A higher salary buys stability, savings, and options, yet the top-paying roles can demand long hours that collide with parenting. The right pick balances the paycheck against the schedule, not just the number on the offer letter.
That’s why remote six-figure roles in tech and analytics stand out for single moms: high pay without the commute or rigid hours. If you need income today while you train toward one of these, see ways to make money as a single mom or browse the full list of jobs for single moms.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest-paying job for a single mom?
Among realistic targets, financial managers top the list at a median $161,700 a year, followed by software developers at $133,080 and nurse practitioners at $132,050 (BLS, 2024). The highest pay needs a degree or specialization, but software development is reachable through bootcamps without a traditional degree.
Can a single mom realistically earn six figures?
Yes. Software development ($133,080), nurse practitioner ($132,050), and financial roles all clear $100,000 (BLS, 2024). Tech is the most accessible six-figure path because many developers train through bootcamps rather than four-year degrees, and the work is frequently remote.
Which high-paying jobs are remote?
Software development ($133,080), financial and investment analysis ($101,350), and data science are the most remote-friendly high payers (BLS, 2024). The broader tech field pays a median $105,990 and is heavily remote. For a single mom, a remote six-figure role removes both the commute and a daytime childcare gap.
What high-paying jobs don’t need a four-year degree?
Registered nursing pays a median $93,600 with a two-year associate’s degree, and many software developers earning $133,080 learned through bootcamps (BLS, 2024). Both deliver the most pay per year of training, far more than the $49,500 national median wage requires.
How long does it take to reach a high-paying job?
It varies by field. Registered nursing takes about two years through an associate’s degree, software bootcamps can be faster, and advanced finance or healthcare roles take longer. Pay also climbs with experience: top-decile RNs earn over $135,320 versus under $66,030 at entry (BLS, 2024).
The bottom line
The highest pay sits in finance, tech, and advanced healthcare, from registered nursing at $93,600 to financial management at $161,700. The sweet spot for most single moms is a remote, six-figure tech role or a two-year nursing degree: strong pay, reachable training, and a schedule that can work with kids. Pick by pay and fit, then fund the path with aid.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Financial Managers, Occupational Outlook Handbook,” retrieved 2026-06-15, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Software Developers, QA Analysts, and Testers, OOH,” retrieved 2026-06-15, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners, OOH,” retrieved 2026-06-15, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Financial Analysts, OOH,” retrieved 2026-06-15, bls.gov
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Registered Nurses, OOH,” retrieved 2026-06-15, bls.gov
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✻ About the contributor · Folio N°.169
Reviewed by Subha
Psychologist and writer covering the topics that matter most to single moms, money, mental health, and the small daily rituals that keep a family running. Every article is research-backed and edited four times before publish.
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