When the warm days fade and winter starts to peek around the corner, you may start to wonder: is it time to start hunting for a new seasonal job?
Cold weather presents a plethora of new winter seasonal jobs for any road traveler! While living van life or RV life during the winter is challenging, your temporary job status doesn’t have to become an extra burden.
And don’t worry–if you aren’t a fan of cold temps, snow or the “holiday spirit”, this article covers other job types that don’t involve going outside or crazy Christmas-shoppers!
For an easy way to start finding temporary jobs, check out my roundup of 17 gig apps to find instant work
8 Popular Types of Temporary Winter Jobs
Ski Resort Jobs
It goes without saying that ski resorts have a massive influx of job opportunities come wintertime. You might be thinking that all of these jobs involve being outside or knowing how to ski or snowboard–false! There are tons of job opportunities at ski resorts that can appeal to both indoor and outdoor type folks, including:
- Line cook
- Dishwasher
- Front desk receptionist
- Shuttle bus driver
- Ski boot fitter
- Chairlift technician
- Snowboard / ski instructor
- Ski patrol
- Bellman
- Housecleaning
- Spa therapist
- Child care attendant
- Snow maker
- Ticketing attendant
- Maintenance technician
…the list goes on. You can start by searching for job postings on some of the major ski resort websites:
- Vail resort in Colorado
- Big Sky resort in Montana
- Jackson Hole resort in Wyoming
- Snowbird resort or Alta resort in Utah
Many resorts love welcoming back the same seasonal help if you were a great employee, so they keep an open mind when hiring.
If you are looking for a winter job that comes with housing, working at a ski resort is your best bet. Since lots of resorts are in more remote areas up canyons, they don’t expect staff to deal with trying to commute these roads in the winter.
Although the pay may be slightly lower than other seasonal jobs (depending on the role), you gain “free” housing and new coworkers that can also become ski buddies or adventure pals. Oh, and free access to some of the most beautiful wintertime landscapes!
Holiday Season Retail Jobs
The holidays wouldn’t be the holidays without the majority of people spending too much money. Many retail stores hire extra help during this seasonal uptick. You can find winter seasonal jobs at these chain retail stores across the country: Amazon warehouses, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Costco, Target, Kohl’s, Nordstrom, Big Lots and Macy’s.
These types of jobs are great for road travelers because once you get your foot in the door at one of these stores, it’s typically easier to get hired at any of their other locations (or even transferred). You could expect pay to be around $12-$14/hour.
Typical job descriptions may include:
- sales associate
- shelf stocker
- store manager
- cashier
This means you could spend each winter season visiting new states but working at the same store, for guaranteed stable income. Just make sure you end your seasonal work on a good note! If you want this seasonal job in the winter again, building good rapport with your colleagues is critical.
‘Round the Neighborhood Jobs
If you’re living in a state that gets a lot of snow, there are neighborhoods that would love a hand clearing snow from sidewalks, driveways and roadsides! You can use an app like Task Rabbit or Gig Smart to list your services. Ultimately you can set your own prices and decide what the job is worth to you.
You could even be a snow plow driver to help residents with snow removal after a big storm, if you’re confident about your driving skills. Or, a Christmas tree collector that picks up trees at the end of the Christmas season when people throw them out. These trees can be recycled!
These types of jobs are great for people who like the snow and the cold weather.
National Park Jobs
Somewhat similar to ski resorts, national parks (more likely in warmer states) can see an uptick in visitors during the holidays and need help with a range of jobs including entry-level to experienced roles. Jobs may include:
- Line cook
- Maintenance tech
- Tour guide
- Outdoor education specialist
- Cleaning staff
- Desk receptionist
Check out this updated job board from Coolworks on seasonal national park jobs across the country.
Events Manager / Coordinator
Company Christmas parties, New Years parties, ice sculpture contests, museum walkthroughs–there are loads of wintertime activities that require extra help planning and executing on.
Apps like Blue Crew work with staffing agencies so you can snag multiple gigs throughout the holidays. Jobs could include catering, event decoration setup, cleanup crew, or anything in between. Pay will typically range between $10-$20/hour.
These can be some of your higher paying winter seasonal jobs, since they require a bit more brainpower to execute on.
Resort Jobs in the South
Ski resorts aren’t the only popular resorts during the holidays–many families and couples flock to luxury resorts in the southern states to escape the cold. If you aren’t a fan of the cold but want a winter seasonal job, this could be a perfect fit.
Family-friendly and activities-oriented resorts in warmer climates will have similar staffing needs to ski resorts. Food cook, dishwasher, gardener, host, bellman, activities organizer, spa therapist, child care assistant, etc.
But instead of freezing your butt off everyday, maybe you’ll be jumping in the ocean! These resorts aren’t as likely to provide housing, but some may. You can check Indeed’s list of southern resort jobs here.
House Sitting Jobs
Lots of people relocate for the winter and need a house sitter! Of course, house sitting jobs aren’t exclusive to just the winter season, but they jump in demand during this time.
Check out sites like House Sitters America and Trusted House Sitters to sign up as a house sitter. Local house sitting pay rates are typically between $25-$50/day, but I’m not sure what the house sitting websites’ payment structures are. Pay will also depend on added tasks, such as pet care, lawn care, or other household chores.
House sitting can be hit or miss–if you get stuck not liking your arrangement, it can be a hassle to try to get out of. But if you end up at a great location with easy household chores, it’s an amazingly easy way to earn money and explore new locations.
Renting Out Your Campervan
If you want an unorthodox winter seasonal job, try listing your van on a campervan rental site! I’ve been renting out my van for six months and it’s been quite the experience–read my ultimate guide to listing your van on Outdoorsy!
Of course, this means you couldn’t live in your van and you’d probably need to be in a warmer, more southern state. Unless your van is fit for winter activities, it could be a great way to make passive income.
I’ve earned back about half as much as I initially spent on my van, and that feels amazing. But it does come with drawbacks, such as potential renter damage and having to organize your schedule around renters.
How Long Do Seasonal Jobs Last?
Typically, seasonal positions last about three months. You can expect seasonal jobs in the winter months to last roughly from December to February.
That being said, many ski resorts can be open for as long as December through April, which means more work time for you!
Some seasonal jobs may want you working full-time during those months, but others may only need you part-time.
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There you have it! Wintertime doesn’t have to mean the end of job opportunities–but really, a chance to explore somewhere new and maybe learn a new (temporary) job skill.
If you’re more interested in finding remote, ongoing work then check out these top van life jobs you can do from anywhere.