Despite all the hats they wear during the day, the vast majority stay-at-homes (SAHMs) aren’t exactly breaking the bank. However, according to Salary.com, the amount of diverse work SAHMs do on a daily basis would make a CEO take a much-needed vacation.
According to a survey of 19,000 SAHMs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the site found found that the average mom works an eye-popping “106 hours per week on average which means they are working 15 hours a day 7 days a week.” That’s a lot of work.
Much like people in the workforce who quantify their resume for maximum earning potential, Salary.com did the same for SAHMs and tracked “real-time market prices of all the jobs that moms perform” and calculated an annual salary. “The median annual salary for stay-at-home moms this past year is $184,820 – rising $6,619 above the pre-pandemic median,” the site states.
But, wait. There’s more. “And if you factor in pay premiums that companies offer like bonuses, overtime, and hazard pay due to the increased intensity of the work this past year, a stay-at-home mom could earn more than $200,000 annually!” the site continues. “I think we can all agree, they are worth every penny.” We here at Momtastic definitely agree.
The survey found that the majority of SAHMs time was spent being the household’s de facto Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. “We saw that mothers spent considerable time managing financial concerns and organizing the schooling of their family during the height of the pandemic,” Salary.com’s senior compensation consultant, Lenna Turner said.
While there are many pros for a child when at least one parent stays at home, a Gallup Poll of 60,000 women in 2021 found one noticeable con: Stay-at-home moms at all income levels are worse off than employed moms in terms of sadness, anger, and depression, though they are the same as other women in most other aspects of emotional well-being. Employed moms, however, are doing as well as employed women without children at home — possibly revealing that formal employment, or perhaps the income associated with it, has emotional benefits for mothers.”
However, low-income mothers are struggling at higher rates. “Many in this group are likely staying home out of economic necessity rather than by choice, and they likely feel pressure from tight finances and the demands of motherhood,” Gallup said. “Even stay-at-home moms who are not looking for work are worse off emotionally than are their employed counterparts — suggesting there may be other issues related to their higher levels of sadness, anger, and depression.”
