Legit work from home jobs for stay-at-home moms in the US (no experience)
Yes, there are legit work from home jobs for stay-at-home moms in the US that don’t need experience. The usual starting points are customer service, appointment setting, virtual assistant work, general admin and entry-level remote sales. Public pay data puts most of them somewhere between about US$13 and US$30 an hour depending on the role, and a real employer will never ask you to pay to get hired. Before you say yes to anything, check whether it’s a W-2 job or 1099 contract work, because that decides your taxes and protections.
At She Sells we train women, especially moms, for remote sales roles (appointment setting and closing) worked from home, with a team in Australia and the US. This guide is written for US moms first, with a short note for Australian readers near the end.
Entry-level remote jobs for moms, with US pay ranges
These are roles where employers commonly hire people without a degree or a long résumé. Pay is public job data, not a promise, and varies by employer, state, hours and experience.
| Role | What you’d do | Typical US pay (varies) | No-experience friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Customer service representative | Answer calls, chats and emails, process orders, fix problems | Median US$21.53 an hour, May 2025; typical entry education is a high school diploma with short on-the-job training (BLS) | Yes, often with paid training |
| Appointment setter | Contact leads by phone or message and book calls for a closer or sales team | About US$12.74 to US$20.85 an hour, 10th to 90th percentile, median US$16.08 (Payscale, May 2026); many roles add commission or bonuses | Yes, if you’re comfortable on the phone |
| Virtual assistant | Inbox, calendar, admin and client follow-up for small businesses | About US$12.71 to US$29.89 an hour, 10th to 90th percentile, median US$19.70 (Payscale, June 2026) | Yes, if you’re organised |
| Remote closer | Run sales calls with booked prospects and close the sale | Usually commission-based, so it swings with what you sell; treat any big number you see online as not typical | Possible with training and practice |
Two honest notes. First, the higher end of any range usually goes to people with a track record, so expect to start lower. Second, sales roles are often commission-heavy, and some are commission-only. That can suit you if you want flexible hours, but income takes time to build. Our guide to appointment setter jobs from home covers what that first role looks like day to day.
What She Sells offers moms starting from zero
Most moms we talk to have two problems: they don’t have the skill yet, and they don’t know how to get hired. She Sells is built to cover both halves.
- She Launches is the foundation program: live coaching, role play and sales frameworks so you can learn appointment setting and closing. It does not include direct placement.
- She Soars is the career program through the She Sells “Cert III in Remote Sales” certificate, with placement facilitation: once you’re certified, our recruitment team works with you to land a role within 90 days, or your money back.
- There’s also a free community and our podcast, “She’s Not Selling”, if you want to learn more before committing to anything.
For context, Brooke started as a primary school teacher in a small town and made $440 in her first month of remote sales in 2020. That’s her story, not a forecast. You can read more on the programs page.
Not sure which remote job fits your life? Book a free call with the She Sells team.
W-2 or 1099: know which one you’re signing
This is the question most “work from home” articles skip, and it matters a lot when you’re budgeting around kids.
W-2 employee
If you’re hired as an employee, your employer reports your wages on Form W-2 and withholds income tax, Social Security and Medicare from your pay. Employees are generally covered by minimum wage rules, and many remote customer service and admin jobs are set up this way.
1099 independent contractor
If you’re a contractor, the business reports what it paid you on Form 1099-NEC instead of a W-2. Nobody withholds tax for you. You generally owe self-employment tax at 15.3% (12.4% Social Security plus 2.9% Medicare) once your net self-employment earnings reach $400 or more in a year, on top of income tax. Many virtual assistant, appointment setting and closing roles are 1099.
| W-2 employee | 1099 contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax withheld from pay | Yes | No, you set money aside yourself |
| Minimum wage applies | Yes | No, you’re paid per your contract |
| Control over schedule | Set by the employer, often shifts | Usually more say over when and how |
| Common for | Customer service, admin | VA work, appointment setting, closing |
A simple habit if you go 1099: move a slice of every payment into a separate savings account for tax, and talk to a tax professional before your first year ends.
Your state changes the numbers
The federal minimum wage is US$7.25 an hour, but many states set a higher rate, and the Department of Labor keeps a state-by-state minimum wage table. If a W-2 remote employer is based in one state and you live in another, ask which state’s rules they pay under, and check the table for where you live. State income tax also differs a lot, from states with none to states with several brackets, so a 1099 tax savings habit should reflect your state too.
Some remote employers only hire in certain states because of payroll and tax registration. If a listing says “remote, US only” or lists specific states, believe it and don’t waste an application.
FTC job scam signs every mom should know
Work-from-home job ads are a favourite hunting ground for scammers because they know moms want flexibility. The FTC’s job scam guidance is blunt: honest employers will never ask you to pay to get a job, and if someone asks you to, it’s a scam. Watch for:
- Claims you can make a lot of money in a short time with little work.
- Being asked to pay for a starter kit, “training” or certifications before you can start the job.
- A check sent to you that you deposit and then use part of. The FTC says the check is fake and will bounce.
- Reshipping packages from home. The FTC says reshipping goods is never a real job.
One more red flag worth adding: be wary of interviews done only by text or chat app, and job offers made before anyone has properly spoken to you.
You can report job scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your state attorney general. If you’ve been burned by an MLM before, our breakdown of legit work from home jobs vs scams goes deeper on recruit-to-earn models.
To be clear about our own model: She Sells is a training provider, not an employer. Paying for training is a choice you make to learn a skill. A job, from anyone, should never cost you money to accept.
How to land your first remote job with no experience
- Pick one lane. Customer service if you want steady W-2 hours, VA work if you love organising, appointment setting if you’re happy on the phone and want a path into higher-paid sales.
- Translate your mom skills. Scheduling a household, calming upset people and following up until things get done are real job skills. Put them on your résumé in work language.
- Set up the basics. Reliable internet, a quiet corner, a headset and a laptop. Our list of what you need to work from home in sales covers the setup.
- Be honest about hours. Many remote jobs want set shifts. If you need school-hours-only work, say so early and look for part-time or contract roles.
- Practise out loud. Phone and video interviews are where moms with no experience shine or freeze. Role play with a friend or a coach before the real thing.
A quick note for Australian mums
The same job types exist in Australia, but the rules are different: you’ll be either an employee (tax file number, super, award rules) or a contractor working under your own ABN, and pay is set in AUD. Our guide to remote sales jobs in Australia covers the local version.
Want to learn remote sales and get help landing the role? Book a free call with the She Sells team in Australia and the US.
Results vary. Nothing here is a promise of income. See our earnings disclaimer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest legit work from home job for a stay-at-home mom with no experience?
Customer service and appointment setting are the most common entry points because employers train you and care more about communication than a résumé. Customer service is often W-2 with set shifts, while appointment setting is often 1099 with more schedule flexibility. Pick the one that fits your childcare reality.
How much can a stay-at-home mom make working from home?
It depends on the role, hours and state. Payscale’s 2026 data puts US appointment setters at roughly US$12.74 to US$20.85 an hour and virtual assistants at roughly US$12.71 to US$29.89 an hour, and commission roles vary widely. Those are public ranges, not a promise.
Is a 1099 remote job bad?
Not necessarily. 1099 work often gives you more control over your hours, which suits many moms, but nobody withholds tax for you and minimum wage rules don’t apply. Read the contract, understand how you’re paid, and set aside money for self-employment tax.
Do I need to pay for training to get a remote job?
No employer should charge you to get a job, and the FTC says a request to pay for a job is a scam. Training programs are separate: you might choose to pay to learn a skill, but that should never be a condition of being hired.
Can I do this around kids at home?
Yes, with planning. Calls need quiet, so most moms work during naps, school hours, early mornings or evenings, or with some childcare. Be upfront with employers about your available hours.
