Updated September 2021

Each year, the holiday hiring season starts around October and many businesses begin adding temporary, seasonal jobs and continue hiring through Thanksgiving. Seasonal work usually lasts through mid-January in the new year, and in some cases, these temporary jobs can lead to permanent employment.

Here are some of the he most popular seasonal jobs for the holidays and where to find them.

Retail seasonal work

Temporary jobs are most common in the retail sector. Mall stores, department stores, boutiques, grocery stores, big box stores – all need extra help during the busy time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Most retail jobs schedule around 20 to 32 hours a week, and some retail jobs pay big bucks!

Hourly pay rates range widely depending on the job and geographic location. While many retail jobs start at federal or state minimum wages, there are positions that pay up to $20+ per hour.

Popular seasonal retail positions

• Sales associate at mall stores, boutiques
• Gift wrapper at department stores and boutiques
• Overnight stocker at department stores, big box retailers, mall shops
• Warehouse/fulfillment for e-commerce operations, like Amazon and Walmart

Delivery service seasonal work

As online shopping continues to grow, delivery companies expect an extremely busy holiday and seasonal workers are needed.

USPS, FedEx Ground, and Amazon need additional support during the holidays. Some companies like Amazon offer positions using your own vehicle. USPS adds holiday season assistant clerk positions at local post offices, with varied days and hours.

Popular seasonal delivery service jobs

• Package delivery driver
• Fuel delivery driver
• Food delivery driver

Christmas-themed seasonal work

These jobs are good for people who love the spectacle of Christmas and end when the holiday arrives.

Popular seasonal Christmas-themed jobs

• Décor or holiday lighting installer, for both commercial and residential customers
• Pop-up Christmas tree lots at parking lots, vacant lots, and grocery stores
• Pop-up holiday activities (e.g., ice rinks and outdoor holiday markets)
• Salvation Army kettle driver

Food, beverage, and hospitality seasonal work

It’s party season, so typically there is a surge in demand for holiday hospitality and food services. Catering businesses and restaurants are common places hiring for seasonal work. This part-time work is heavily scheduled for evenings and weekends through New Year’s, and many of these jobs are paid hourly plus add tips or gratuities.

Popular seasonal hospitality jobs

• Catering servers
• Food runners
• Bartenders
• Coat check attendants
• Banquet servers for groups

Tips to search for your holiday job

To find open positions include the following key words in your job search

• "Seasonal" or "holiday" will pull out these temporary positions
• Your city or town or zip code to get nearby job results
• The industry where you're looking for work, example: "retail" or "delivery"

The winter holiday period is an ideal time to find seasonal work to gain job experience (great profile builder!) and earn extra money.