The Best Jobs for American Expats in Europe

So, you’re taking the leap and moving from the US to Europe permanently? Amazing, good for you! It’s a huge deal and one that I personally definitely don’t regret. Of course, once you’ve decided where you’re moving to, the next thought often falls to work. What jobs even are there for American expats in Europe?

Well, there’s more variety than you’d think. Whether you’re looking for full-time, part-time, contract, or freelance roles, there’s a lot to choose from.

Also, now that we’ve realized we can work well remotely, you might not even have to go into your local office.

Online work has massively opened up job opportunities for US expats in Europe, as well as around the world.

So what are the best jobs for US expats in Europe? Let’s find out.

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1. Marketer

Take a leaf out of Emily in Paris’ book and bring your marketing skills to Europe.

Although you may need to know the local language to work cohesively with your new team, there are plenty of multilingual marketing departments that operate in English.

Whether your specialism lies in PR, Advertising, Content, Events, or another area of marketing, there are a lot of avenues to go down.

If you have experience working in the US markets, this could work in your favor as more and more European countries look to expand their horizons across the Atlantic.

2. Consultant

If you have a certain unique skill or experience that you think others could learn or benefit from, then you could become a consultant.

There are a couple of ways that you can make this work as an expat.

You can work online, collecting clients from around the world and doing one-to-one appointments online.

You could work as a consultant in real life, building contacts in your new home country, which is a great way to assimilate and meet people.

Fundamentally you need to have a successful experience that other people aspire to have.

Whether that’s how to move to another country, how to build a successful business, what you need to have in place to buy a house in a new country – anything that you can create resources, guides, or webinars that you can monetize.

3. English Teacher

Okay, this is a classic work abroad job. You’ll notice that depending on where you are in Europe, almost everyone is at least bilingual or at least has a decent grasp of the English language.

That’s because, in many European countries, children start learning English just after Kindergarten.

With this being the case, there are plenty of English teaching jobs available if you have experience or qualifications.

Chances are you’re going to need more of a traditional teaching qualification than a TEFL or TESOL certificate, or plenty of experience.

If you’re lacking this, you can always earn money as an English tutor instead.

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4. Hospitality

Do you have a flair for making people comfortable or providing high-quality service?

Then a career in hospitality might be for you. Europe has some of the biggest and flashiest resorts, hotels, and restaurants in the world, so if you have experience, you can make some serious money.

Unlike a lot of Western nations where being a waitress, bartender, or other hospitality worker is seen as a part-time job or something for younger people, in Europe, hospitality is taken seriously as a career.

There are hospitality colleges and those in the field are seriously well-trained so that they can give the best possible service.

If you have experience, especially working in a resort or high-end establishment, you’ll probably be able to find a job pretty easily.

If you want to set up your own B&B or restaurant, that’s also a possibility, just check with your local business laws and regulations before you commit.

5. Translator

If you’re bilingual or multilingual, then you’re in a great position to become a translator in Europe.

Whether this is done online through video calls or for written content, or it’s done in person on contracts for the local services, like for the police, hospitals, and councils, there are a few different styles of translation jobs for you to choose from.

This is one of those expat jobs where you’re likely to be working for yourself as a contractor.

Few companies need full-time translation services, so if you’re looking for a more flexible expat job, this might be perfect for you.

If you are looking for full-time translation jobs, your best shot is to get a job in a larger company that needs multiple copies of contracts, comms, or other written material in different languages.

6. IT Professional

Handy with tech? If you’ve got experience working in IT of any kind, then you’re going to be a hot commodity in Europe.

As we’re becoming increasingly reliant on tech, there are more and more jobs springing up for qualified, experienced IT professionals.

Whether your specialism lies in coding, hardware, software, management, or logistics, you’ll be able to find work in Europe.

It’s a good role for US expats as the language of tech is the same around the world so you can slot into a team relatively easily.

You can also work remotely or in person, so it gives you tons of flexibility.

7. Customer Service Agent

If you consider yourself a people person, then consider working in customer service.

Whether this is in a more traditional call center, online via webchat and social media or in-person on a help desk in a resort, this is a good way to meet people and feel social in your new home country.

Although working in customer service isn’t for everyone, if you like problem-solving and helping people get out of jams, then this might be really rewarding for you.

It’s an ideal role for an expat because not only can you offer a new language to the customer service team, but you can bring some of the US hospitality that might make fellow American complainants feel more at home and understood.

8. Au Pair

Looking for a way to move to the US while keeping accommodation rates low? Consider becoming an Au Pair.

This is a classic work abroad job as you can live with a family and save money on accommodation and food. Sometimes you’ll even have access to the family’s transport.

Realistically you’re going to need some kind of childcare experience, whether that’s as a nanny, a teacher, or even a babysitter.

If you’re thinking of moving to Europe with a spouse or partner, this probably isn’t going to be a viable option, but if you’re making the leap on your own, it’s a great way to get an inbuilt support system.

So, if you’re a US expat heading to Europe, you can be safe in the knowledge that there are plenty of options when it comes to finding work.

Whether you’re creative, you want a little bit of flexibility, or you want a job where you’ll meet new people, there’s a suitable role for you.

This all depends on what you’re most suited to, where your passion lies, and whereabouts in Europe you’re looking to move.

For instance, if you’re moving to Malta, where English is the main language, becoming an English language teacher probably isn’t going to be as viable as if you were moving to somewhere like Norway or Italy.

A good way to scope out the possibilities in your new country is to check out job boards on sites like LinkedIn, just to get an idea of availability, salaries, and the number of hours.

The fact that you’re reading this shows that you’re serious about doing your research, which is great.

Use this article as a jumping-off point for starting your new expat adventure in Europe – you’re not going to regret it!