Updated: Nov 21, 2024

With the holiday season approaching, there’s a surge in demand for extra help across various industries. Look into opportunities to earn extra money this season, and explore ways to maximize income with temporary holiday jobs that offer flexible schedules and rewarding experiences.

1. Retail Sales Associate

Description: One of the most popular holiday jobs, retail sales roles see a spike during the holiday season as stores extend hours and see increased foot traffic. Retailers like Target, Walmart, and many others hire temporary staff to manage this demand.

Duties: Helping customers find items, restocking shelves, handling cash registers, and maintaining store organization.

Benefits: Retail jobs often offer flexible schedules, and some even provide employee discounts. For those working on specific holidays, additional pay (or holiday pay) might be an option.

Estimated Pay: $12 – $18 per hour

2. Warehouse Associate or Package Handler

Description: With online shopping at an all-time high during the holiday season, warehouses are often overwhelmed with packages that need to be processed and delivered on time. Companies like Amazon, FedEx, and UPS frequently hire seasonal workers.

Duties: Sorting packages, loading trucks, preparing items for shipment, and keeping up with safety protocols.

Benefits: Many warehouses offer night or weekend shifts, making it possible to work this job alongside a full-time position. There’s also the potential for overtime pay.

Estimated Pay: $14 – $20 per hour, with possible overtime bonuses

3. Food Delivery Driver

Description: Food delivery is especially busy during the winter holidays as people stay indoors and order food more frequently. You can work for delivery services like DoorDash, UberEats, or GrubHub.

Duties: Picking up food orders from restaurants and delivering them to customers’ doors.

Benefits: Flexible hours are one of the biggest perks, allowing you to work as much or as little as you want. Most platforms let you work whenever it’s convenient, so it’s possible to squeeze in shifts around other commitments.

Estimated Pay: $10 – $25 per hour, plus tips

4. Gift Wrapper

Description: If you enjoy wrapping presents, consider working as a gift wrapper. Many retail stores and shopping malls offer gift-wrapping services during the holiday season and hire extra staff just for this purpose.

Duties: Wrapping gifts with care, handling different shapes and sizes of items, and helping customers choose wrapping options.

Benefits: It’s a relaxed, creative job that lets you work indoors. This is also a good option for those who may not want a fast-paced role.

Estimated Pay: $10 – $15 per hour

5. Customer Service Representative

Description: Many companies experience an increase in customer inquiries and complaints during the holiday season, leading them to hire seasonal customer service representatives. This is especially true for online retailers.

Duties: Answering customer questions via phone, email, or chat, processing orders, and handling returns or complaints.

Benefits: These roles are often remote, giving you the flexibility to work from home and avoid commuting during cold weather. Some customer service roles also offer weekend and evening hours.

Estimated Pay: $13 – $20 per hour

6. Event Staff or Usher

Description: From holiday festivals to concerts and corporate holiday parties, events need extra staff to keep things running smoothly. Roles range from ushers to food and drink servers, depending on the type of event.

Duties: Checking tickets, guiding attendees, setting up or breaking down equipment, and occasionally providing light security.

Benefits: Events often take place on weekends, which makes it easy to keep another job while doing this one. Plus, you might get to attend some fun holiday events for free.

Estimated Pay: $12 – $18 per hour

7. Personal Shopper

Description: Some people get so busy during the holiday season that they don’t have time to do their own shopping and hire personal shoppers to help. Big stores like Walmart offer personal shopping services that you can work for, and apps like Instacart can connect you with clients who need help with groceries or other shopping needs.

Duties: Purchasing and organizing items according to a list, delivering items, and sometimes suggesting gifts.

Benefits: This job allows for a lot of independence and can be flexible. If you enjoy shopping, this could be a fun job that feels more like a hobby.

Estimated Pay: $15 – $25 per hour, plus tips

8. Freelance Holiday Decorator

Description: For those with a flair for design and decorating, consider offering holiday decorating services. This can range from putting up Christmas trees and lights to organizing festive tablescapes.

Duties: Installing and arranging decorations for homes, offices, or events, and sometimes purchasing materials.

Benefits: You get to work in a creative environment, and each project could be different from the last. This is also an excellent option for people who love celebrating and decorating for the holidays.

Estimated Pay: $20 – $50 per hour, depending on expertise

9. Pet Sitter or Dog Walker

Description: Many people travel during the holiday season and need someone to take care of their pets. Offering pet-sitting services or dog-walking can help pet owners ensure their furry friends are taken care of while they’re away.

Duties: Feeding, walking, and playing with pets, and sometimes staying overnight with them.

Benefits: If you’re an animal lover, this job will hardly feel like work! It also offers a lot of flexibility and can be combined with other jobs if you’re willing to pet-sit in clients’ homes.

Estimated Pay: $15 – $30 per hour, with potential overnight fees

10. Snow Shoveler or Yard Decorator

Description: In snowy regions, many homeowners need help shoveling driveways and sidewalks. You can also find work putting up outdoor decorations, lights, or seasonal yard displays for people who want their homes to look festive but don’t have the time to do it themselves.

Duties: Shoveling snow, setting up holiday lights and decorations, and sometimes handling heavy lifting.

Benefits: Outdoor work is ideal for people who prefer not to be in a confined space, and you can take on as many jobs as you want. Snow shoveling especially can pay well if there’s a high demand after a heavy snowfall.

Estimated Pay: $15 – $40 per hour, depending on the intensity and time required

Final Tips for Finding a Holiday Job

Here are some final tips for finding the right holiday job and making the most of it:

• Start Early: Many businesses begin hiring holiday staff as early as October, so start your search early to find the best positions.
• Check Job Boards Regularly: Platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and local community boards are a great place to find temporary and part-time holiday jobs.
• Leverage Personal Networks: Ask friends, family, or neighbors if they know about seasonal opportunities, or see if local businesses need extra help.
• Be Flexible: Seasonal jobs can be unpredictable, so flexibility with hours or shifts will often increase your chances of getting hired.
• Be Willing to Work Holidays: If you’re open to working on actual holidays, you’re likely to find higher pay and better job opportunities.

The holiday season is a perfect time to make extra income while building new skills and possibly even discovering a long-term interest. With a wide range of seasonal opportunities out there, it’s never been easier to find a holiday job that fits your schedule and interests!