Top 25 Jobs for Work-Life Balance

Image description

A woman sits typing on a laptop, with a black cat sitting next to her. There's also a list with the title "9 of the Best Work-Life Balance Jobs" and these job titles:

• SEO manager
• Social media manager
• Substitute teacher
• Digital marketing manager
• Web developer
• Software engineer
• Digital content manager
• Data analyst
• Recruiting coordinator

Careers that offer sufficient work-life balance offer several benefits including increased job satisfaction, more flexibility and better employee health, to name just a few.

In this article, we explain what it means to have a work-life balance and provide a comprehensive list of 25 of the best jobs for a good work-life balance.

What does it mean to have a work-life balance?

Work-life balance is typically defined as when a person does not spend so much time working that they miss out on the pleasures of everyday life. A job that provides work-life balance is one that offers flexibility, does not require employees to work overly-long hours and offers ample PTO.

Sometimes it can be difficult for today's individual to find harmony between work and home life, but it's not impossible. Taking an inventory of your personal and work goals can help you discover how much flexibility and change you may need to attain the ideal balance.

—Mary Morgan, SHRM-CP

Having a good work-life balance can provide many benefits, including lowered stress levels, increased well-being and overall higher job satisfaction.

25 best jobs for work-life balance

The following are a few of the best jobs to consider if you are looking for a career that allows for a good work-life balance:

1. Substitute teacher

National average salary: $65.28 per day

Primary duties: Substitute teachers fill in for permanent teachers when they cannot be in school for reasons such as illness, vacation or maternity leave. Substitute teachers perform the same duties as permanent teachers but on a temporary basis.

For the working parent, an advantage to most education careers, including non-teaching positions such as administration or tutoring, is the convenience of working the same schedule as school-age children.

—Mary Morgan, SHRM-CP

2. Marketing assistant

National average salary: $31,283 per year

Primary duties: Marketing assistants support marketing directors and other executives with marketing efforts and other projects. They may research marketing data, develop marketing budget spreadsheets and other tasks required for a marketing project.

Read more: Learn About Being a Marketing Assistant

3. Research technician

National average salary: $32,906 per year

Primary duties: Research technicians conduct experiments and tests as well as gather and record research discovered during these experiments.

4. Web designer

National average salary: $36,408 per year

Primary duties: A web designer is responsible for creating the layout, look and features of a website.

Read more: Learn About Being a Web Designer

5. Lab technical assistant

National average salary: $38,517 per year

Primary duties: Lab technical assistants help scientists and other members of the lab team perform research and testing in a lab environment.

Read more: Learn About Being a Lab Assistant

6. Recruiting coordinator

National average salary: $39,790 per year

Primary duties: A recruiting coordinator is responsible for interviewing applicants and hiring candidates for open jobs being filled by the recruiting agency they work for.

7. Copy editor

National average salary: $44,387 per year

Primary duties: Copy editors are responsible for editing content produced by writers. They analyze punctuation, grammar and spelling to ensure writing is readable and accurate.

8. Computer programmer

National average salary: $46,098 per year

Primary duties: Computer programmers are responsible for developing various parts of websites and typically work as either permanent employees for a company or on a freelance basis.

Read more: Learn About Being a Computer Programmer

9. Content manager

National average salary: $59,084 per year

Primary duties: Content managers produce and publish content through writing, editing and proofreading. They also work with a content team to come up with strategies that further company goals.

10. Corporate recruiter

National average salary: $60,648 per year

Primary duties: Corporate recruiters are responsible for finding and recruiting the best candidates for corporate positions.

Read more: Learn About Being a Recruiter

11. Client manager

National average salary: $66,106 per year

Primary duties: Client managers are responsible for overseeing client relations as well as identifying potential clients and determining ways to convert them into paying customers.

Read more: Learn About Being a Client Services Manager

12. Marketing manager

National average salary: $68,831 per year

Primary duties: Marketing managers are professionals who develop and execute marketing strategies for a company. They oversee all aspects of a marketing project from start to finish.

Read more: Learn About Being a Marketing Manager

13. Project analyst

National average salary: $70,202 per year

Primary duties: Project analysts assist throughout the course of a project by implementing data analysis and performance evaluations as well as ensuring information is understood and received by all necessary parties. They may also monitor and document the phases and progress of a project.

14. Creative manager

National average salary: $71,277 per year

Primary duties: Creative managers are responsible for the development and implementation of projects aimed at created new media and materials for marketing, advertising and web communications.

15. Data analyst

National average salary: $72,827 per year

Primary duties: Data analysts collect, analyze and store data on various subjects including linguistics, market trends and sales numbers. They interpret this data and present it in a way that helps businesses make informed and productive decisions.

Read more: Learn About Being a Data Analyst

16. Civil engineer

National average salary: $83,731 per year

Primary duties: Civil engineers are in charge of the design, development and maintenance of various structures and infrastructure including buildings, power plants and roads.

Read more: Learn About Being a Civil Engineer

17. Research engineer

National average salary: $90,648 per year

Primary duties: Research engineers typically work in lab settings and perform various research and development tasks to come up with results for clients.

18. Program analyst

National average salary: $92,880 per year

Primary duties: Program analysts develop and implement new computer programs. They also troubleshoot existing computer programs and improve them for better functionality.

Read more: Learn About Being a Program Analyst

19. User experience designer

National average salary: $96,165 per year

Primary duties: User experience (UX) designers are responsible for designing the experience of using a product, typically an app or game.

Read more: Learn About Being a UX Designer

20. Front end developer

National average salary: $107,145 per year

Primary duties: Front end developers are professionals who specialize in the design of websites. Common duties of a front end developer include designing web pages, testing the functionality of website design and ensuring website aesthetics are appropriate.

Read more: Learn About Being a Front End Developer

21. Software engineer

National average salary: $108,199 per year

Primary duties: Software engineers create information systems and test current software system validation.

Read more: Learn About Being a Software Engineer

22. Strategy manager

National average salary: $118,753 per year

Primary duties: Strategy managers provide expert advice to organizations regarding how they can grow their business with the least risk. They typically work with C-level professionals to form strategies on how to achieve a company's goals.

23. Data scientist

National average salary: $124,155 per year

Primary duties: A data scientist's job is to study and analyze data to form insights as to how this data affects industries, organizations and other entities.

Read more: Learn About Being a Data Scientist

24. Mobile developer

National average salary: $126,087 per year

Primary duties: Mobile developers create mobile applications, or apps, as well as test and improve these apps for usability.

25. DevOps engineer

National average salary: $126,735 per year

Primary duties: DevOps, or development and informational-technology operations, engineers are professionals who perform various tasks within the computer science industry. These tasks may include deployment and network operations, coding, scripting and computer development.

Read more: Learn About Being a DevOps Engineer