Here are four careers that suit the hopeless romantic
This is the time of year when people tend to have romance on the brain. Flowers! Jewelry commercials! Ads for upscale restaurants! If you’re a hopeless romantic, it’s kind of like the Super Bowl. But what if you want to turn those lovey-dovey feelings into a career, something you can build professionally? Believe it or not, there are options out there for you.
Wedding/special event photographer
If you have a knack with a camera, being a wedding photographer gives you a front-row seat to some of the happiest days of people’s lives. Everyone’s dressed up, people are (usually) on their best behavior, and your goal is to capture the romance for posterity. Plus, being a photographer has the advantage of being a flexible career, or side business, with many weddings and special events happening outside of standard business hours.
What you’ll need: High-quality cameras and related equipment, plus training on how to use it. Courses on professional photography are highly recommended.
What it pays: The median salary is $32,490 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Florist
Florists and floral designers are usually the go-to retailers for romantic life events, with busy seasons around holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc. Floral designers are there for the good, the bad, and the celebratory, providing flowers and delivery to a range of customers.
What you’ll need: Workers in a retail floral shop will need the basics (a high school degree and customer service skills). If you’re looking to become a floral designer, you’ll likely need vocational courses and on-the-job training. Creativity and artistic flair are very helpful, as are good customer service skills to help your customers find the right way to say it with flowers.
What it pays: The median salary for floral designers is $26,350 per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Chocolatier/candymaker
If you’re more interested in food service than flower service, you may want to consider becoming a chocolatier. This is not the most common path in food service, but what’s more romantic than high-quality chocolates to go with those flowers and gifts? Chocolatiers are artisans who create edible masterpieces, playing with flavors and structures to create the perfect bite.
What you’ll need: To become a chocolatier, you’ll need a solid base in the culinary world, and may need to complete a pasty chef course. You’ll also need to meet your state’s licensing and food handling regulations, so be sure to check what your state requires.
What it pays: The median salary for chocolatiers is $21,000 per year, but experienced pastry chefs can make more.
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Marriage counselor
Sometimes love needs a little help, and marriage counselors are licensed health care professionals who can help couples work on their relationships. This is not a job for the starry-eyed romantic who thinks all relationships are a romcom-ending away from happiness, but rather a practical career for someone who believes that therapy and hard work together can overcome challenges in love and life. Plus, health care careers are a very stable, practical bet for long-term career longevity.
Marriage and family therapy in particular is a field that’s growing—the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of jobs in this area will grow more than 23% by 2026.
What you’ll need: Marriage and family therapists typically have a master’s degree or higher, plus complete an internship or residency. Licensing requirements may vary by state, so be sure to check your own state’s requirements.
What it pays: The median salary for marriage and family therapists is $48,790, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you love the very idea of love, there are ways to live that out in your professional life as well. Choosing a career that helps make other people happy can be a key to long-term career satisfaction. If you have the skills and the inclination to work in one of these service fields, you may find yourself with even more love to go around.
Kate Lopaze is a career advice journalist for Thejobnetwork.com where this article was originally published. She investigates and writes about current strategies, tips, and trending topics related to all stages of one’s career.