Seasonal Work
Holiday • Summer • Travel • Events
Short-term work opportunities tied to busy seasons and changing demand
Information checked August 2026. Job openings, schedules, requirements, housing options, and hiring periods can change, so verify details with each employer before applying.
Seasonal work can be a nice option when you want income for part of the year instead of taking on another permanent job. Employers often need extra hands during holidays, tourism seasons, tax season, major events, summer programs, and busy shipping stretches.
The work itself can range from a handful of shifts to several months. Some positions are close to home, while others mean working at a resort, park, camp, or destination for an entire season.
1. Outdoor & Hospitality Work
Parks, resorts, lodges, recreation areas, camps, golf courses, and tourist destinations often bring on additional workers when visitor traffic picks up.
Parks, Resorts & Lodges
Seasonal roles can include front desk work, food service, housekeeping, guest services, retail, tours, recreation, maintenance, and transportation.
Some destination employers offer employee housing or help workers find a place to stay, but availability, cost, and eligibility vary by employer and location, so it’s worth confirming directly before you commit.
Camps & Outdoor Programs
Summer camps and outdoor education programs may hire counselors, activity leaders, instructors, kitchen staff, maintenance workers, and supervisors for a defined season.
Golf & Country Clubs
Golf courses and clubs may add outside-services staff, grounds crews, food and beverage workers, and banquet or event staff during their busiest months.
2. Events & Specialized Services
Weddings, festivals, concerts, fairs, conferences, sports seasons, and holiday events can all create short bursts of demand for workers.
Event Staff
Common roles include ushers, ticket takers, guest services, concessions, setup and breakdown crews, banquet workers, and general event support.
Photography & Seasonal Services
Experienced photographers, decorators, installers, and other service providers may find short-term work around weddings, festivals, graduations, holidays, and other busy periods.
Some of this work may be freelance or contract-based rather than traditional employment, so it’s worth checking how the position is classified before you accept it.
3. Tax Season
Tax preparation is one of the clearest recurring seasonal hiring cycles. Tax firms may hire preparers, reception staff, customer support workers, and other seasonal employees before and during filing season.
Tax Preparation & Support
Some positions call for prior tax knowledge or training, while others lean more toward customer service or office support. Employers may begin recruiting and training before the busiest part of filing season, so waiting until tax season is fully underway can mean missing some openings.
4. Retail & Logistics Peaks
Retailers, warehouses, fulfillment centers, and shipping companies often need extra workers when order volume climbs.
Seasonal Retail
Stores may hire temporary sales associates, cashiers, stock workers, fulfillment staff, customer service workers, and inventory support during holiday and other peak shopping periods.
Warehouses & Delivery Operations
Fulfillment centers and logistics companies may add package handlers, warehouse associates, order pickers, loaders, and other workers when shipping demand rises.
When Should You Start Looking?
Summer
Camps, parks, resorts, recreation programs, and tourism employers may recruit well before summer begins. Starting your search early can give you more options to choose from.
Holiday Season
Retail, fulfillment, events, decorating, hospitality, and shipping employers may begin hiring before the busiest holiday weeks arrive.
Tax Season
Tax firms may recruit and train workers before filing season begins, especially for roles that require tax preparation knowledge.
Travel & Recreation
Hiring timing depends on the destination. Summer parks, winter resorts, and other tourism employers can recruit months ahead of their busiest season.
Employee or Contractor?
Seasonal doesn’t automatically mean freelance or independent contractor work. A temporary cashier, camp counselor, package handler, tax preparer, or park employee may still be hired as an employee for a limited period.
Other opportunities, such as event photography, decorating, or certain task-based services, may involve contract work instead. Before you accept anything, check how you’ll be paid, whether taxes are withheld, and who’s responsible for expenses.
Holiday Cents reminder: A short-term job can still be worthwhile even if it’s not permanent. Compare the pay, schedule, travel costs, housing costs if applicable, and how well the job fits the months when you actually want to work.
Where to Search
CoolWorks: Search seasonal and destination jobs
PeopleReady / JobStack: Find local short-term and flexible work
USAJOBS: Search federal seasonal and temporary jobs
SeasonalJobs.dol.gov: Explore the U.S. Department of Labor seasonal jobs portal
Indeed: Search using Seasonal or Temporary filters
LinkedIn Jobs: Search seasonal and temporary openings
The Bottom Line
Seasonal work can make a lot of sense when you want extra income during a specific part of the year, want to try a different kind of job, or need work that fits around other commitments. Start looking before the busy season begins, compare the real costs and schedule, and choose opportunities that fit the time of year and type of work you actually want.
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