The quaintest job in the Bay

Perched atop little more than a large outcropping of rock in the middle of San Francisco Bay is East Brother Light Station, a 133-year-old Victorian lighthouse turned bed and breakfast. As luck may have it, they are looking for new innkeepers.

The next set of hosts have quite an act to follow, judging from the visitor reviews on Trip Advisor. Guests rave about the hospitality afforded by co-caretakers Peter Berkhout and Dina Kashou. The pair, who refers to themselves as “lighthouse nerds,” said:

“You need a captain’s license to drive the boat, and I have that. And then you need somebody who’s a really good cook, and of course that’s Dina.”

Qualifications include: An active U.S. Coast Guard Captain’s license, good cooking skills, and no smoking. If this sounds like you, then you could be raking in around $90,000, plus about $10,000 in health insurance.

Although the island a mile north of the Richmond-San Rafael bridge features breathtaking views year round, the job may not be the most glamorous. The next innkeeper will have to be well prepared to host up to 10 guests in their $355 a night rooms.

Applicants should plan on being a jack-of-all-trades as you need to be a gourmet chef, tour guide, and housekeeper, among the normal administrative duties. This may sound easy, but when your inn is situated on an island 15 minutes from civilization, gathering food and cleaning laundry may be a little more daunting.

Berkhout and Kashou admit it was a difficult job. Most innkeepers only stay a couple of years for the experience and then move on to more “normal” accommodations. You know, maybe a place where they can drive a car to work and not a boat.

Think you’re up for the job? Ready to start running a lighthouse B&B by June 1? Then download the job application here.