How much can a stay-at-home mum realistically earn from home?
Realistically, a stay-at-home mum (mom in the US) in an hourly role from home can expect somewhere between the minimum wage and about A$50 or US$30 an hour, multiplied by the hours she can actually protect, often 5 to 20 a week. In Australia the National Minimum Wage is A$26.44 an hour from 1 July 2026, and Payscale lists virtual assistants at about A$20 to A$51 an hour; in the US the federal minimum is US$7.25 (many states set more) and virtual assistants sit around US$13 to US$30. Commission-based work like remote sales can pay more or less than that, and it takes time to build. She Sells trains mums in Australia and the US for remote sales roles worked from home, and helps certified graduates get placed.
The number that matters isn’t the hourly rate. It’s the rate times the hours you really have, minus childcare and tax. Here’s the honest maths.
What you could earn, by option and hours per week
These are gross figures before tax, worked out from each source’s median or benchmark rate. They’re examples from public pay data, not a promise, and your rate will depend on your experience, the client and your location.
| Option (rate used) | Source and range | 5 hours | 10 hours | 20 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU minimum wage job (A$26.44 an hour) | Fair Work Ombudsman, from 1 July 2026; awards may set higher | A$132 | A$264 | A$529 |
| AU virtual assistant (median A$30.88) | Payscale AU: A$20.27 to A$50.51, 10th to 90th percentile, small sample, June 2026 | A$154 | A$309 | A$618 |
| AU sales development rep, pro rata (about A$40 an hour) | Seek: average advertised salary about A$80,000 in listed locations such as Brisbane, October 2026; our hourly figure divides that by 52 weeks of 38 hours | A$202 | A$405 | A$810 |
| US federal minimum wage (US$7.25 an hour) | US Department of Labor; some state laws set higher rates | US$36 | US$73 | US$145 |
| US virtual assistant (median US$19.70) | Payscale US: US$12.71 to US$29.89, 10th to 90th percentile, June 2026 | US$99 | US$197 | US$394 |
| US appointment setter, base pay (median US$16.08) | Payscale US: US$12.74 to US$20.85 base, 10th to 90th percentile, May 2026; commission is extra and varies | US$80 | US$161 | US$322 |
Figures in the hours columns are per week, before tax and before any childcare costs. Part-time sales development roles are less common than full-time ones, so treat the Seek line as a guide to the market rate, not a part-time job you can walk into.
The honest maths: hours, childcare and tax
1. Count the hours you can really protect
Most mums at home with young kids don’t have 20 clear hours. Nap times move, school calls, and someone always needs a snack. Start by writing down blocks you can rely on most weeks: two school-day mornings, a couple of evenings once the kids are in bed, a weekend block while your partner or a grandparent has the kids. If that adds up to 6 hours, plan around 6, not the 15 you wish you had. Our guide to working from home with a toddler has practical ways to find and guard those blocks.
2. Subtract childcare, if you need it
If you pay for care to free up working hours, the useful number is what you keep per hour: your hourly rate minus the hourly cost of care after any subsidy. If half your hourly rate goes on care, 10 hours of work leaves you roughly 5 hours’ worth of pay before tax. That can still be worth it if the work builds a skill that pays more later, but go in with your eyes open.
In Australia, check the Child Care Subsidy first. Services Australia says you must care for a child 13 or younger who isn’t attending secondary school (unless an exemption applies), use an approved child care service, be responsible for the fees and meet residence and immunisation requirements, and the amount depends on your circumstances. In the US, support varies by state, so check your state’s child care assistance program.
3. Set aside tax
Employee roles usually withhold tax for you. If you’re a contractor (an ABN in Australia, or 1099 work in the US), nobody does, so put a share of every payment into a separate account. Check how it works for you with a registered tax agent or tax professional.
Want to see if remote sales could fit the hours you have? Book a free call with the She Sells team.
Where She Sells fits
Hourly roles cap out at your hourly rate times your hours. Remote sales (appointment setting and closing) works differently: many roles pay a base plus commission, or commission only, so what you earn depends on the offer, your skill and how consistently you practise. That’s the opportunity and the risk in one sentence.
She Sells covers both halves: learning the skill and getting the job. She Launches is our foundation program, with live coaching, role play and frameworks (it doesn’t include direct placement). She Soars is our career program through the She Sells Cert III in Remote Sales certificate: once you’re certified, our recruitment team works with you to land a role within 90 days, or your money back. See our programs for the details.
I started as a primary school teacher in a small town, and when I moved into remote sales in 2020 I made $440 in my first month. That’s my own result, not typical, and it took steady practice to grow from there.
What about the big numbers you see online?
You’ll see big income claims about remote sales. Here’s what we can honestly say, and how the maths works. Some She Sells ladies earn $2,000 to $10,000 a day once they are well practised and experienced. That is not typical. For example, 10% commission on $50,000 in sales in a day is $5,000, and days like that need experience, a strong offer and a full calendar. Others earn $100,000 to $200,000 a year working remotely, also not typical; for example, 10% commission on $1,000,000 in sales over a year is $100,000. These are results some women reach after time and practice, never a starting point and never a promise. Read our earnings disclaimer before you weigh them up.
For public pay ranges on closing roles, see how much remote closers make, and read the pros and cons of commission-only sales jobs so you know what you’re signing up for.
How to work out your own number in 15 minutes
- Hours: list the blocks you can protect most weeks and add them up.
- Rate: pick one option and use the source’s median, not the top of the range.
- Childcare: subtract the hourly cost of any care you’d pay for, after subsidy.
- Tax: take off a share for tax if you’re a contractor.
- Ramp-up: for commission work, assume the first months are slower while you learn.
If the number makes sense, start small and review after a month. For more options, our guide on how to make money from home as a mum walks through the main paths.
Red flags when an offer sounds too good
When an offer promises big money for a few hours a week, slow down. Walk away if you have to pay to join or buy stock first, if most of the money comes from recruiting other people, or if someone promises a set income with no interview. Real roles pay you for real work.
Want an honest look at what remote sales could mean for your family? Book a free call with the She Sells team.
Frequently asked questions
How much can a stay-at-home mum make working 10 hours a week?
Using public pay data, 10 hours at the Australian minimum wage of A$26.44 is about A$264 before tax, and 10 hours at the US Payscale median for virtual assistants (US$19.70) is about US$197. Your figure depends on your rate, your real hours, childcare and tax.
Is it worth paying for childcare to work from home?
Work out what you keep per hour after the cost of care and any subsidy, then decide. Even if the gap is small at first, it can be worth it if the work builds a skill that pays more later. In Australia, check the Child Care Subsidy rules with Services Australia first.
What’s the best paying work-from-home job for mums?
It depends on your skills and hours. Hourly roles like virtual assistance give steady, predictable pay, while remote sales roles often pay base plus commission or commission only, which can pay more over time but varies a lot. Training first helps you get results sooner.
Do I need to pay tax on money I earn from home?
Usually, yes. In Australia it’s added to your other income and taxed by the ATO, and in the US the IRS taxes it too, with self-employment tax if you’re a contractor. Set aside part of each payment and get advice once your income is regular.
How fast can I start earning in remote sales?
It varies. Learning the skill, practising and landing a role takes time, and early commission can be slow. She Soars graduates who are certified work with our recruitment team to land a role within 90 days, or their money back.
Results vary. Nothing here is a promise of income. See our earnings disclaimer.
