How much are moms worth?

Posted by Jessica Valenti at 9:48 AM on May 3, 2007.

Figuring out women's unwaged labor.

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It's that time of year again ... when Salary.com lets us know how much money moms would bring in if their work were waged. This year, the company figured out that the 10 jobs moms work would bring in $138,095 a year.

The typical mother puts in a 92-hour work week, the company concluded, and works at least 10 jobs. In order of hours spent on them per week, these are: housekeeper, day-care center teacher, cook, computer operator, laundry machine operator, janitor, facilities manager, van driver, chief executive officer and psychologist. By figuring out the median salaries for each position, and calculating the average number of hours worked at each, the firm came up with $138,095 -- three percent higher than last year's results.

Even mothers who work full-time jobs outside the home put in $85,939 worth of work as mothers, according to Salary.com.

Of course, women's unwaged labor isn't just a U.S. thing; women and girls do 2/3 of the world's work, most of it unwaged. For more information (and some cool stories) check out the work being done with the Global Women's Strike, where women across the world organize strikes to protest the lack of wages for "caring work."

Tagged as: labor, women

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Silly question. [Report this comment] Posted by: ABetterFuture on May 3, 2007 10:45 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] How much are moms worth? They're priceless. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Isn't it called "slavery" when a price is put on someone's head? [Report this comment] Posted by: Sojourner on May 3, 2007 11:46 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Is the point of this piece that moms should sell themselves? Why else would anyone attempt to measure family activity in terms of dollars and cents? The fact that a man's unpaid family support goes unmentioned speaks for itself. The writer treats men as completely worthless. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Isn't it called "slavery" when a price is put on someone's head? Posted by: Onemorecup » Doing work that you want to do is not slavery--money or not. That's the point. Posted by: Sojourner » RE: Doing work that you want to do is not slavery--money or not. That's the point. Posted by: Onemorecup » RE: Doing work that you want to do is not slavery--money or not. That's the point. Posted by: Onemorecup » Equity in pay? Yes. What does that have to do with keeping a home and family? Posted by: Sojourner » WHOA... Posted by: studiosus » RE: WHOA... Posted by: Nebris So... [Report this comment] Posted by: H_H on May 3, 2007 3:09 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] ...when I change a lightbulb for the wife, should I get paid for being an electrician? [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: So... Posted by: Onemorecup Ridiculous.... [Report this comment] Posted by: LostInDaJungle on May 3, 2007 4:06 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] I love that one of the "Job Titles" is CEO. Bob, we need to make this number bigger and more impressive. Hmmm, well, since they run the house, they're kind of a CEO, right? How much does that add on? Ummm, 130,000. It's a stretch, but run with it. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Mr Mom here [Report this comment] Posted by: brotherdaver on May 3, 2007 7:28 PM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Ever heard of a Mrs. Dad? I haven't. The whole issue is sexist and even the "10 jobs moms most do" is a skewed and arbitrary list. When my daughter was young and very sick I was her private nurse all the day and night long. Day care center worker doesn't apply after kids start school but afterschool childcare is not just babysitting. I have some "general manager" duties but CEO of a home? Overseeing managers and directors of multiple companies and/or departments supervising other adults production, etc in no way equates with what I've done. Bookkeeper and self trained financial manager yes; CFO, COO, CEO no way. Would I hire any of my neighbors as a psychologist? Nope, none are trained at that but some are really good parents. I figure I work on average 10 hours a day on family matters (excluding elder care away from my home ) above what I'd spend just maintaining myself if single. This is 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year or 3,640 hours annually. And I change light bulbs, service cars and do yardwork and other manly things. Vacations are rare and I do the extra work planning and executing them and playing catch up, which balances out the gains. I can't pay anyone where I live less than $15 an hour to do any of my jobs as Mr. Mom. So just at $15 X 3640 the "value" of my work is $54,600. There are no revenues nor paid overtime and the job comes with plenty of interruptions even in the middle of the night (but I find perks for myself when I can). It is meaningful work even if socially isolating (especially for a man) and greatly under appreciated. However, this attempt to price momming at a market value of over $100,000 is reactionary, fanciful "psychological compensation" aka wishful thinking. But as long as it isn't taxed, I'd say you can't overvalue the position. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] » RE: Mr Mom here Posted by: jimidee Training? [Report this comment] Posted by: Jonnieprince on May 4, 2007 5:44 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] Presumably for such a high profile 'job' there would be a three or four year training course that would need to passed to an acceptable level, and regular assessments to ensure the standard of 'work'. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5] Something they left out... [Report this comment] Posted by: jimidee on May 6, 2007 9:09 AM Current rating: Not yet rated [1 = poor; 5 = excellent] sexual favors, that is. How much is that worth? Lessee, an "around the world" (oral sex foreplay followed by copulation...just the way he likes it!) is worth around $500 on the street ($10,000 in Las Vagas) per session, times 3 times a week, times 52 weeks in a year. That is another $78,000 a year. [« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

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» RE: Isn't it called "slavery" when a price is put on someone's head? Posted by: Onemorecup

» Doing work that you want to do is not slavery--money or not. That's the point. Posted by: Sojourner

» RE: Doing work that you want to do is not slavery--money or not. That's the point. Posted by: Onemorecup

» RE: Doing work that you want to do is not slavery--money or not. That's the point. Posted by: Onemorecup

» Equity in pay? Yes. What does that have to do with keeping a home and family? Posted by: Sojourner

» WHOA... Posted by: studiosus

» RE: WHOA... Posted by: Nebris

» RE: So... Posted by: Onemorecup

» RE: Mr Mom here Posted by: jimidee

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» RE: Isn't it called "slavery" when a price is put on someone's head? Posted by: Onemorecup

» Doing work that you want to do is not slavery--money or not. That's the point. Posted by: Sojourner

» RE: Doing work that you want to do is not slavery--money or not. That's the point. Posted by: Onemorecup

» RE: Doing work that you want to do is not slavery--money or not. That's the point. Posted by: Onemorecup

» Equity in pay? Yes. What does that have to do with keeping a home and family? Posted by: Sojourner

» WHOA... Posted by: studiosus

» RE: WHOA... Posted by: Nebris

» RE: So... Posted by: Onemorecup

» RE: Mr Mom here Posted by: jimidee