Seasonal jobs can be a wonderful way to spend your time off from school or work. If you’re a student or have a job with off-seasons, then working seasonally could make you some extra money. It can also be a great way to earn extra qualifications or try something new! There are tons of jobs that you can do in an outdoors setting as well. If you’ve ever dreamed of working in outdoor spaces, one of these jobs below may be the perfect start to your new career. This list contains amazing opportunities in the first 25 states (alphabetically) in America.
Alabama
Camp DeSoto in Mentone, Alabama posts job openings for their summer camp every year. You could spend the summer as a camp counselor, camp photographer, kitchen staff, or as a horseback riding instructor. Mentone is a gorgeous mountain town littered with hiking trails, waterfalls and nature-centered businesses. The summer season lasts from late May until the end of July. The jobs pay anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 for the season. You can apply for a job at Camp Desoto by visiting their website and clicking ‘apply now’.
Alaska
Alaska is a wonderful place to be in the summer. Home to colossal mountains, gorgeous glaciers, and even the northern lights – every outdoor adventure fanatic dreams of visiting The Last Frontier. Are you interested in working on the tallest mountain in North America? You can apply for one of the seasonal jobs with Denali Park Adventures. Some of the open positions include adventure guide, zipline worker, media specialist, and office manager. The jobs pay anywhere from $15.00/hour (plus tips) to $24.00/hour. You can apply at workindenali.com.
Arizona
Arizona is a drop-dead gorgeous state. Home to the Grand Canyon, the Sonoran Desert and Saguaro National Park, Arizona has some of the most unique geography in the United States. The Grand Canyon is internationally famous, but most visitors only view the Canyon from above. If you’d like the chance to hike into the canyon and explore everything it has to offer, why not work there? You could apply as a Hiking/Backpacking Guide with the Wildland Trekking Company and basically be a professional adventurer. The seasonal jobs last from early April until October. The average pay per day is $186.00 (plus tips).
Arkansas
The only national park in Arkansas is also it’s own town, with houses and stores all located within the park itself. Hot Springs National Park is widely-known for the thermal springs that run through the park. You can still bathe in the natural hot springs, drink the water, or explore the various pools around town. The best way to live and work in Hot Springs during the summer season is by getting a retail/restaurant job. Many of the shops in the city center hire seasonally, especially when tourism ramps up. Check out Cracker Barrel, Dick’s Sporting Goods, or Kirkland’s for a seasonal position in Hot Springs National Park!
California
When searching for seasonal jobs in California, there are a ton of locations to pick from. From Joshua Tree all the way up to the redwoods, California is a gorgeous state to live in. Lassen Volcanic National Park is located north of San Francisco, and you can work and live there every summer. Apply for a seasonal position with Snow Mountain LLC and you could live IN the national park! You can spend your free time exploring the outdoors and get paid $16.00 – $25.00/hour for your work. The summer season starts in early May and ends in mid-October.
Colorado
Colorado is famous for its endless sunshine and 53 fourteeners (mountains above 14,000 feet in elevation). Working in Colorado for the season is any mountain-lover’s dream. You can work in the summer at a dude ranch or at a ski resort during the winter season. The summer season at Camp Chief Ouray is from May to August, and the average pay for a job there is $600.00/week. If you want to work during the winter season (late November to early April), Eleven Experience is paying over $20.00/hour for food service workers.
Connecticut
Imagine this: You work at an adventure park as a climbing instructor, wakeboard instructor, lifeguard, or ticketing agent. Aside from your time at Brownstone Adventure Sports Park, you get to spend your free time hiking in the woods, relaxing at the beach, or rock climbing in central Connecticut. The working season lasts from May to October, and as of this blog post the hourly pay is undetermined. Working at this park gives you the great opportunity to meet other adventure-loving people to explore with on your days off.
Delaware
Delaware is a beautiful state with dramatic seasonal changes throughout the year. Although it is one of the smallest states in the country, it contains 17 state parks (many of them coastal). You could easily explore the entire state of Delaware in one summer. Work at one of the state parks and split your free time between beaches and hiking trails. The seasonal jobs for the summer include lifeguarding, working as a naturalist, fee collecting, and park maintenance. The jobs pay, on average, $17.00/hour. The Delaware State Parks website goes into more detail about what jobs are available to apply for now. The summer season lasts from Memorial Day until Labor Day.
Florida
Out of all of Florida’s natural wilderness areas, Everglades National Park is by far the most famous. With the largest tropical area in the country, the Everglades is extremely unique in its geography and wildlife. As of the creation of this post, there are two job openings at Flamingo Adventures located within The Everglades National Park. The summer season runs from mid-May to late October. The jobs pay from $16.00 to $18.00/hour, but housing only costs $50/week. By living within the national park, you would have easy access to kayaking, fishing, hiking, camping, and more.
Georgia
With the Appalachian Mountains in the north and canyons and waterfalls littering the state, Georgia is a highly underrated adventure spot. Clayton, Georgia, is a beautiful mountain town north of Atlanta – and very popular to visit in the summertime. If you’d like to spend your summer nestled in the mountains and whitewater rafting down the Chattooga River, get a job with Southeastern Expeditions! You could work as a photographer, office staff member, raft guide, or a motorboat driver. The jobs pay from $10.00/hour to $65.00/trip (for raft guides). The summer season lasts from April until October.
Hawaii
It’s Hawaii. Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to work here for a season or two? Finding seasonal jobs in Hawaii can be quite competitive, but almost any job is worth being able to spend your free time exploring the gorgeous islands and beaches in this state. Many families escape to Hawaii in the winter – when their homes are buried in snow, but Hawaii is still 60-80 degrees (Fahrenheit). You could take advantage of the tourism and work at the Kahala Hotel and Resort in Honolulu. Salaries very, but the winter season for this job lasts from early November until early February.
Idaho
Idaho is yet another underrated outdoor adventure state. With over 100 mountain ranges and world-class skiing and rafting, Idaho is a great place to work for a season or two. There are dozens of outdoor adventure-based seasonal jobs available here. One company that stands out is Shore Lodge in western Idaho. You could work as a front desk agent and go skiing or hiking during your free time. This position pays $16.00/hour, but housing is provided (as well as some meals or meal discounts). The winter season starts in December and lasts until early spring.
Illinois
Right away, Starved Rock Lodge starts off strong with their slogan “work where you hike”. Isn’t that ideal? Starved Rock Lodge is located in Starved Rock State Park in Illinois. Employees at the lodge have forests, waterfalls, and canyons literally at their doorstep, ready to be explored. They have a few seasonal jobs – most of which involve working in the kitchen or as serving staff. The positions pay anywhere from $13.00-$16.00/hour. Their most popular working season is the summer, but you can apply to work there at any time of the year.
Indiana
Did you know that there is a National Park in Indiana? Neither did I before writing this post. Indiana Dunes National Park was declared a national park in 2019 - just before White Sands NP and New River Gorge NP in 2019 and 2020 (respectively). Bordering Lake Michigan’s southern shoreline, this national park is a great place to visit all year round. During peak tourist seasons, the state of Indiana is hiring seasonal workers to keep up! You could work as a recreational assistant, park guide, and in few other outdoors-based positions. The pay ranges from $9.00 to $28.00/hour. You can learn more about employment on the Indiana Dunes website.
Iowa
The Midwest is not widely known for outdoor adventure, but there are still many amazing places worth visiting in Iowa. From sea kayaking at Lake Red Rock to cave exploring at Maquoketa Caves State Park, you can do a little bit of everything in Iowa. Seasonal jobs are harder to find in the Midwest, but I found an interesting option for people who enjoy working on the water. If that’s you, apply to be a water patrol officer for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources! Seasonal water patrol officers work during the summer season to ensure a safe environment for everyone in the area. You may be responsible for rescuing people in need or responding to emergency situations. The hours are non-traditional, so you’ll have a lot of time to explore during typical working hours! The pay is $16.50/hour.
Kansas
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks offer a wide variety of seasonal jobs and locations. Thanks to the amount of options, you can pretty much pick anywhere in the state to live for the summer. You could work as a camp host, conservation tech, biologist aide, or even a ranger (if you have the right qualifications). These seasonal jobs are the perfect way to gain more experience working in outdoor services. The season lasts from May until September.
Kentucky
Imagine exploring the largest cave system in the world. There are more than 426 miles of passageways in Mammoth Cave National Park, and there’s even an underground river. It’s amazing to explore such a fantastic geologic masterpiece, but that’s not the only thing you can do at this national park. Throughout the year, visitors camp, hike, canoe, bike, go horseback riding, and stargaze in the park. Currently, there is an opportunity to work as a park guide for the Student Conservation Association. You will receive a travel allowance of $1,100.00, plus $250.00/week for living expenses. Housing is provided by the NPS, and you may also have an opportunity to receive an additional $2,400.00 if you work the entire season. The season lasts from November until March.
Louisiana
Louisiana certainly has a unique landscape. With the largest wetlands and swamplands located in this state, you can expect to see wildlife that are difficult to find anywhere else in the United Sates. Marshlands/Swamps are famous for being lush, green, and full of life. The swamps near New Orleans in Louisiana are beautiful – and you can work as a tour guide for the summer. Reach out to companies like Airboat Adventures, Honey Island Swamp Tours, and Cajun Encounters to work next to alligators and other swamp life every day.
Maine
Maine is amazing because you can get the best of both worlds. From sea kayaking to summiting the Longfellow Mountains, you can do it all. Acadia National Park, where the sea meets the mountains, offers some of the most jaw-dropping coastal landscapes in the United States. By working at one of the retail locations just outside of Acadia, you’d have easy access to the park any day of the week. Snag one of the seasonal jobs at Cool As A Moose and you may even find that some of your coworkers are just as adventurous as you! The jobs pay $14.00 – $16.00/hour. Cool As A Moose also offers low-cost housing to employees who will stay and work the summer season through the end of October.
Maryland
Have you ever wanted to work on a ship? Maryland is famous for its waterways and water-based wildlife. As a result, it’s the perfect place to find a seasonal jobs that involve working in the water. The Living Classrooms Foundation is hiring Educational Coordinators, Mates, and Deckhands to work for the summer. There are two vessels to work on: one sailing ship and one power-driven vessel. The summer season lasts from early March until late November. The pay for these positions, on average, is $2640.00/month ($16.50/hour).
Massachusetts
Picture this: you’re working in a bakery, surrounded by the scents of cookies, cakes, bread, and pies all day long. After a day of batch production, you set off with a few coworkers to the beach for an evening of surfing. You are on Nantucket – an island in Massachusetts that is classically expensive to visit, but you get shared housing with your coworkers for only $160.00/week. These seasonal jobs at Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm pay $23.00 – $25.00/hour. They’re hiring throughout the year, but you can apply to only work for a season.
Michigan
Among the many islands scattered on the Great Lakes is Mackinac Island, Michigan. You may surprised to discover that, on an island, you can find seasonal jobs working with horses! Automobiles have been banned on the island for over 100 years, so horses are used for everything. If you love horses and want to spend your summer taking care of them, you can do that with Mackinac Island Carriage Tours. Housing and meals will both be provided for you by the company. You can work in ticket sales, carriage driving, kitchen staff, or in the stables. You can apply to work during the spring, summer, or fall seasons.
Minnesota
You should work in Minnesota if you have an interest in camping, canoeing, and exploring the Minnesota Northwoods. Clearwater Historic Lodge & Canoe Outfitters is the perfect place to work for the summer when all you want to do is go out and canoe and camp in the woods. The lodge is located just outside Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, which contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes. You can work as a member of the outfitting team, guest services, or housekeeping during the summertime. The summer seasons lasts from mid-May until mid-October. Housing and meals are provided for by the lodge, and you would get paid $11.00 – $13.00/hour.
Mississippi
The geography in Mississippi varies from red clay hills in the north to sandy beaches on the coastline. In between, you can find marshes, forests and tons of great places to explore outdoors. Twin Lakes Summer Camp posts positions for summer camp staff every year. You could work as a counselor, support staff, or leadership at this camp. You would be helping out with ropes courses, rock climbing walls, archery gear, horseback riding and much more. Other staff positions include photographer, videographer and wranglers (horse care). You can apply for a job by going to their website and clicking ‘apply for a summer staff position’.
Missouri
Although it is nowhere near the coast, Missouri has a surprising amount of water-based outdoor attractions. The most popular lake in the state is the Lake of the Ozarks. More than 5 million people visit the lake each year, which means it’s a great place to find a summer job. You could spend a few days a week working and enjoy the beaches in your free time. Many of the shops near the lake hire seasonally, especially when tourism ramps up. Check out Bass and Baskets, The Bend @ the Duck, or Li’l Rizzo’s Restaurant for a seasonal position on the lakefront!
Information about seasonal work in states 26-50 will be uploaded next week!
One thought on “25 Amazing Seasonal Jobs for Nature-Lovers in the United States”
Comments are closed.