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Exploring Part-Time Remote Employment in Higher Education: Tips for Active-Duty Military Spouses
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Approximately one out of every five active-duty military spouses has at least a master’s degree, a typical requirement for employment in higher education. Specifically, the 2024 Department of Defense (DoD) Survey of Active-Duty Spouses found that 18% of military spouses have an advanced degree. Example degrees among respondents included: Doctor of Medicine (MD), Juris Doctor (JD), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Science (MS), and Master of Arts (MA). With the growing demand for accessible and flexible education experiences, this percentage is expected to increase. Despite the rate of advanced academic achievement among active-duty spouses, the population is subject to unemployment and underemployment.
Factors Driving Part-Time Employment Searches
Data from the 2024 DoD survey indicate that approximately 20% of today’s civilian military spouses are unemployed and the population is subject to underemployment. The DoD defined underemployment in multiple ways. First, as employment that entails “working outside of one’s professional field.” Second, as employment “that is inferior to certain standards, such as sufficient pay.” Top factors for unemployment and underemployment included: caring for children, service member deployment, and a permanent change of station (PCS) move in the prior year.
To balance the demands of childcare, deployments, and PCS transitions, many spouses choose part-time employment. For example, approximately 1/3 of surveyed spouses reported part-time employment in the civilian labor force. Part-time employment was defined as <35 hours per week. Furthermore, many spouses choose remote work opportunities - approximately four out of 10 spouses choose remote/telework roles in the labor force.
Remote Employment Opportunities in Higher Education
Higher education institutions can support today’s spouses who are seeking flexible employment with part-time remote opportunities. Currently, there is no DoD survey data regarding military spouse employment in higher education positions (academic, administrative, leadership, etc.). However, 2024 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) suggest that part-time positions are common in the higher education space; specifically, part-time employees accounted for approximately 1/3 of total employees at Title IV degree-granting institutions. Overall, 1,355,225 people were employed part-time among a total of 5,621 degree-granting institutions.
The 2024 DoD survey reports that 64% of spouses have employers that offer flexible scheduling; however, the percentage of spouses employed in the remote higher education space is not available. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provides telework/remote work data from the Current Population Survey, which surveys 60,000 occupied households. For the employment sub-category “education, training, and library professions” (within the category of “management, professional, and related occupations”), approximately 56.3% of workers “teleworked all hours” in July 2026. Data from the BLS also suggest a positive relationship between remote work opportunities and advanced educational achievement. In the year 2025, 56.7% of employees with advanced degrees reported having remote working days compared to 47.3% of employees with bachelor-level degrees.
The 2024 DoD survey reports that 10% of spouses are employed by a non-profit; however, the specific percentage of spouses employed in the non-profit higher education space is unavailable. Example roles in higher education that can be completed in a remote, part-time capacity include but are not limited to: (i) online adjunct educator, (ii) tutor, (iii) career services advisor, (iv) writing specialist, (v) online education manager, (vi) course developer, (vii) research assistant, and (viii) academic advisor. Spouses can utilize sources such as HigherEdMilitary and HigherEdJobs to review position openings.
Tips for Spouses Seeking Remote Employment in Higher Education
As previously mentioned, approximately one out of every five active-duty spouses has earned an advanced degree, which qualifies them for positions in higher education academia, administration, and leadership. However, additional professional experiences are typically necessary. For those spouses who are interested in working in higher education in a remote capacity and need additional experience, they can consider the following tips to gain additional skills and knowledge:
Tip #1: Engage in Remote Research to Stay Current on Trending Topics
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook anticipates 7% growth in the number of postsecondary teachers by 2035. Research experience is typically necessary for full-time faculty roles in the higher education space. For spouses who are interested in working as part-time online educators, such as adjuncts, research experience develops qualitative and quantitative skills. Furthermore, reviewing literature helps to stay current with trending topics and issues. Military spouses who are currently enrolled in a degree program can inquire about remote research opportunities with faculty. There are numerous tasks that spouses can assist with in a remote capacity; for example, spouses can assist with literature reviews, systematic reviews, and abstract writing.
Tip #2: Volunteer Virtually With Organizations to Build Leadership Skills
Spouses can join a professional higher ed organization and serve as a virtual volunteer to gain valuable skills in collaboration, mentorship, project management, and leadership. Spouses can also check with their local spouses’ associations for open volunteer positions. Example virtual volunteer assignments include webmaster, secretary, president, recruiter, scheduler, web designer, and more. Volunteering for a team builds collaboration skills, which are necessary to serve students in higher education leadership and administrative capacities.
Tip #3: Try Remote Tutoring to Practice Leading and Engaging a Virtual Classroom
Spouses can work as remote tutors in higher education or other professional platforms to develop Classroom and student management skills. Tutors can practice leading discussions and asking students questions to test for understanding. Tutors develop skills in instruction, while also connecting with students in a real-time, remote format. Spouses may also benefit from tutoring groups of students, which provides valuable experience for managing virtual, synchronous classrooms as an online educator.
Tip #4: Attend Professional Conferences Virtually to Build Your Remote Network
Spouses can register for professional higher ed conferences as virtual participants. Attending conferences can assist spouses with building networks and connections, including professionals who work for remote/telework employers. Attending conferences virtually can also assist with meeting continuing education requirements to maintain a credential.
Conclusion
Approximately one out of five active-duty military spouses have academic qualifications for employment in higher education positions. Due to factors such as PCS, deployments, and childcare responsibilities, some spouses seek remote, part-time employment positions for flexibility. Colleges and universities can support the hiring of military spouses who are seeking flexible employment. Active-duty spouses can consider the four tips in this article to expand on their skills and experiences, preparing them for remote employment in higher education.
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