An American tech professional who left her lucrative job to pursue pastry-making in France at a fraction of her previous salary says she has never been happier. Valerie Valcourt, who previously worked for top tech firms like Google and Amazon, made the career shift in 2022.
Valcourt, now 34, decided to change paths due to burnout and mental health concerns in her corporate job, despite earning over $100,000 a year. She applied to a pastry school in France and was accepted. After quitting her job, she moved to France to follow her passion.
Currently working as a pastry assistant at Maison Chabran in Tournon-sur-Rhone, Valcourt earns around $30,000 annually, along with five weeks of paid vacation. While this salary is lower, it covers her expenses comfortably, although she is now focused on rebuilding her savings.
Valcourt appreciates the French work culture, which emphasizes rest and leisure, unlike the US. Her colleagues discourage overtime, allowing her to work around 40 hours per week. With her newfound free time, she has been learning new skills and enjoying hobbies like yoga, playing the ukulele, skateboarding, and crochet.
