The Average Income Of A Professional Cuddler Isn't What You Think

If you're someone who's always in the mood for a good snuggle, you may want to think about making a career out of it. Not only is professional cuddling a real job, but it may be more lucrative than you'd think. Typically, career cuddlers make anywhere from $40 to $80 an hour, and in some cases, a lot more. Whether you're looking for a full-time role or a side hustle to make extra cash, getting paid to snuggle could be a surprisingly cozy job to consider.

Studies have shown that physical touch provides a wide range of emotional and physical benefits, including reducing stress, anxiety, and loneliness while promoting relaxation, enhancing mood, and even supporting immune health. That's where professional cuddlers come in. Their role is to create these positive experiences for their clients through purely platonic physical connection — from holding hands and spooning to simply maintaining contact while sitting together. They are paid well to do it. Professional cuddler Samantha Varnerin writes on her Cuddle Career blog that while some cuddlers charge as little as $40 an hour, others earn as much as $300. However, rates can vary widely, she says, as there could be discounts for pre-paid sessions or different rates for longer or overnight sessions.

According to ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for a cuddle therapist in the U.S. is about $64,000 per year — though salaries range as high as $112,000 to as low as $35,500. This translates to around $17 to $53 per hour. It's important to note, however, that these figures are based on a 40-hour work week, which may not always apply to cuddlers. Cuddle Career's Varnerin, for example, typically works 10 to 14 hours, although she did once pack in 52 hours' worth of cuddle time in a single week. 

Cuddle rates also vary by location, with some cities in California and Alaska ranking highest for annual salaries. Per ZipRecruiter, in Fremont, California, the annual salary for a cuddle therapist is almost $82,000, followed by $79,000 in Nome, Alaska, and $78,000 in Berkley, California. The other seven cities that round out the top 10 highest salaries all make more than $75,000 a year. While being a professional cuddler may not be among the highest-paying American jobs,  considering how much the average American really makes between the ages of 25 and 34 — less than $58,000 – if physical connection is your thing, it may be a job worth looking into.

While there are no required licensing or qualifications to become a professional cuddler, many undergo training or certification courses. The Cuddle Sanctuary offers a cuddle therapist training program to learn techniques, safety practices, and skills to build and maintain a cuddle business. Some companies also require cuddlers to take specific courses to work for them, such as Cuddlist, which has a required two-week training certification program.