Do you love love? Maybe you go all out for Valentine’s Day, or you have a habit of playing Cupid with your friends. But have you ever thought of turning your passion for romance into a money-making career?
We take a look at 16 of the most romantic jobs to fall in love with, what they involve, and what you could expect to earn. Hopeless romantic? Read on.
Chocolatier
Average salary: $33,205
Advertised vacancies: 3,137
Did you know that in the 15th century, cocoa beans were so highly valued by the Aztecs that they were believed to be a gift from the god Quetzalcoatl? Today, chocolate still holds a mystical hold over many of us. It’s no surprise then that romance is synonymous with giving and receiving chocolates and candy.
Turning a love of the sweet stuff into a career doesn’t need to be a pipe dream, with over 3,000 chocolate related jobs currently up for grabs. Roles on offer include cake decorator positions at Baskin Robbins (paying $14-16/hr) for those with a creative flair, and chocolate production worker roles at food company Cargill (paying $17.50-$25/hr) for those who want a hand in the production process.
You could also hone your skills as a food scientist specializing in chocolate. At the time of writing, Voyage Foods is hiring for just that, with a salary of up to $85,000 per year. Sweet.
Florist
Average salary: $64,839
Advertised vacancies: 236
Alongside chocs, flowers are the second most commonly gifted love token. Floristry is often cited as a dream job for green-fingered workers longing for the good life. And with advertised salaries averaging over $64k, it can be lucrative too.
Greeting card writer
Average salary: Up to $75,000
Do puns roll off your tongue? Someone has to come up with all the funny, cheesy, or downright gooey slogans for Valentine’s Day cards. You’re my otter half. You’ve got a pizza my heart. Who writes this stuff?
Of course, having a way with words doesn’t guarantee you a successful love life, as fans of the movie ‘500 Days of Summer’ will know all too well.
Hotelier
Average salary: $47,139
Advertised vacancies: 149,519
Every love story needs a romantic night away at a fancy hotel. And it’s hoteliers who work hard behind the scenes to ensure that everything is perfect.
The hospitality industry boasts hundreds of thousands of job openings, with nearly 150k hotel jobs currently up for grabs. If you love going the extra mile to give visitors a great experience and top notch service, a hotel job could be a great fit for you.
Jeweler
Average salary: Up to $30/hr
We can’t write a list of romantic jobs without including jeweler. After all, many couples choose to celebrate their relationship milestones with jewelry, be that engagement, wedding, anniversary, or becoming parents.
On average, jeweler’s receive up to $30 per hour. If you’re interested in all that glitters, you could also consider becoming a gemologist, working in a high end retail environment, or as a jewelry designer. The Gemological Institute of America (GIA) offers world-leading courses for aspiring gem lovers.
Matchmaker
Average salary: Dependent
This one’s for all you wannabe Cupids. Some people turn their hobby of matchmaking friends and family into a full time career, and it can be a real earner. Fees typically range from $500 upwards, with the most exclusive matchmakers charging a whopping $25,000 for setting up their clients.
You’ll need great people skills, empathy, and a large network to make this one a success.
Private Chef
Average salary: $64,430
Advertised vacancies: 164
Creating a bespoke menu tailored to their clients, private chefs use their culinary flair, organization and excellent cooking skills to create memorable dining experiences. You could hone your skills in a restaurant kitchen before setting up as a private chef, or alternatively study at a cookery school to gain a relevant accreditation.
Massage Therapist
Average salary: $61,016
Advertised vacancies: 11,401
Couples who relax together, stay together? Unwinding and relaxing together is certainly one route to a happy relationship, which is why massage therapists are on our list. Roles can typically be found at large hotel chains and resorts like Marriott, while other therapists work on a self-employed basis, building up a list of loyal clients.
Babysitter
Average salary: $36,728
Advertised vacancies: 2,012
Helping Moms and Dads enjoy some well earned time off together for date nights, babysitters are pretty crucial when it comes to creating the time and space for romance.
Not only this, working as a babysitter can be a great way to get some experience on your resume, earn extra cash around school or college, or to get experience ahead of a career in childcare.
Musician
Average salary: $36,873
Advertised vacancies: 2,994
Another job for the creative spirits! Love songs are constantly topping the billboards, be they songs about make-ups, break-ups, or heartbreak. On average, salaries for musicians hover around the $37k mark, but crooners hitting the big time as artists or composers can pull in much more.
Wedding Planner
Average salary: $53,453
Advertised vacancies: 216
Between the white dress, the venue, the food, the guest list, the entertainment, the flowers… (the list goes on) weddings are big business, and for many brides and grooms they’re pretty stressful to boot. Wedding planners work to take the stress away from the betrothed and create a day to remember. You’ll need excellent organizational skills and top notch communication for this role, but for those who love throwing parties, it could be a fun and fulfilling career.
Midwife
Average salary: $63,316
Advertised vacancies: 2,864
With relationships often come babies, meaning midwives are needed on this list too! Midwives support women through pregnancy and labor, as well as teaching parents how to care for their newborns. The most common route into midwifery is to become a Registered Nurse (RN) first, before achieving further accreditation in the profession.
Marriage Counselor
Average salary: $84,747
Advertised vacancies: 2,256
Helping couples navigate bumps in the road during their marriage is another option. Okay, it’s technically not the most romantic job out there, but it is a crucial one to support healthy relationships.
Pastry Chef
Average salary: $48,833
Advertised vacancies: 932
Another role for the sweet toothed. Cupcakes, pastries, donuts – it’s pastry chefs behind many of these delectable goodies and boy are we thankful for them. Hundreds of openings are currently on offer for trained pastry chefs, with salaries ranging up to $100k for the most talented pastry artists.
Sex Therapist
Average salary: $65,000
Advertised vacancies: 21
See yourself as Dr Jean in Sex Education? Sex therapists help couples connect and maintain a healthy intimacy. Great communication and total discretion are paramount. Commonly, therapists enter the profession via a degree in Therapy, Psychology, Counseling, or Social Work, before gaining licensing as a sex therapist. Find out more here.
Romance Writer
Average salary: $60,000
The final romantic job on our list is of course that of romance writer. From Lady Chatterley’s Lover to Fifty Shades of Grey, romance romps have topped the bestseller lists for centuries and remain firm favorites for many.
Have you got a way with words? Freelance writers typically earn between $50k and $65k per year, but penning the right sweet nothings could bring in far more.
Read more: The best jobs for each horoscope