Avoiding the Walk of Woe

The St. John ferry dock is the happiest place on earth… for arrivals. There are a lot of sad faces for those returning to reality. What if you could avoid the “walk of woe” and tear up that return ticket? The island is full of expats who have done just that, and you can do it too!

Is it easy to make a living on St. John? Not if you are reliable and hard-working. Here are a few of the most popular jobs on St. John.

Bartend

You’re in luck if you can whip up tasty concoctions because we have nearly 50 establishments with endless happy hours. Serve craft cocktails at the air-conditioned Bowery, a lime in da coconut beachfront at High Tide, or a cold ale under Aqua Bistro’s tiki hut.

Provide Stress Relief

Tourists and locals alike take advantage of the occasional mani, pedi, massage and yoga class.

Offer Maintenance & Repair

Skilled labor is hard to find on an island, especially when accompanied by a work ethic that ignores island time. Salty air contributes to an ongoing need for building and vehicle maintenance so there’s plenty of work to go around.

Cook

Whether it’s barbecuing a juicy burger at Skinny Legs or perfecting the panko crusted wahoo at Morgan’s Mango, you’ll have options if you know your way around a kitchen.

Sell

Are you outgoing and friendly? Choose from charming boutiques, jewelry stores, dive shops or beach supply outfitters. Many of our stores come with an incredible ocean view. Retail therapy never looked better.

Captain or Crew

If you have the proper credentials, you can spend your days snorkeling, diving and boating with tourists.

Spread Joy

What could be more fun than greeting happy arrivals at the ferry dock, showing them to their villa and giving them the skinny on all things St. John?

Living on an island is more expensive and inconvenient. But swimming with sea turtles before your shift begins is priceless. And the commute isn’t so bad either.