- Guest Contributor
- August 25, 2022
As the holidays approach, many facets of the American economy start to move into overdrive. The festive season is a period of considerable consumption, and all that buying and selling requires additional workers. Packages need to be shipped, products need to be displayed, and revelers need to be entertained. If you’re a gig worker, each of these needs represents an opportunity for added income.
Whether you’re a social butterfly who enjoys interacting with the public or a true introvert who prefers working behind the scenes, you can find a seasonal job that suits your personality. Here are 20 of the best-paying jobs to consider this holiday season.
Gift Wrapper
Median Monthly Income: $2,900
Median Hourly Rate: $17
Primary Duties
Gift wrappers are often hired by stores during the holiday season to help customers wrap their purchases. This could be a great option if you’re good with your hands and enjoy making things look as beautiful as possible.
Customer Service Rep
Median Monthly Income: $3,300
Median Hourly Rate: $19
Primary Duties
When businesses experience a sharp rise in traffic during the holidays, they’re bound to face more questions from clients. Seasonal customer service reps help answer those extra questions.
Tutor
Median Monthly Income: $3,600
Median Hourly Rate: $21
Primary Duties
Tutors provide additional assistance to students outside their normal classwork. By helping students with their studies before end-of-semester exams, you can earn some extra cash for the holidays.
Package Delivery Driver
Median Monthly Income: $2,700
Median Hourly Rate: $16
Primary Duties
During the holiday season, people send more packages than at any other time of the year – and additional drivers are necessary to move the extra cargo.
Warehouse Associate
Median Monthly Income: $1,900
Median Hourly Rate: $11
Primary Duties
Warehouse associates help with the logistics of storing and sending products in a warehouse – something that requires extra brain power during the busy holiday season.
Landscaping Worker
Median Monthly Income: $2,100
Median Hourly Rate: $12
Primary Duties
Landscapers help businesses and residential properties look their best – and many people will want their yards to sparkle during the festive period.
Retail Sales Associate
Median Monthly Income: $1,800
Median Hourly Rate: $10
Primary Duties
Most stores are at their busiest during the holiday season, which means you can probably land a job behind a register.
Photographer & Videographer
Median Monthly Income: $3,900
Median Hourly Rate: $23
Primary Duties
If you’re good with a camera, you can probably find work during the holidays recording events or taking pictures at parties.
Nanny
Median Monthly Income: $2,600
Median Hourly Rate: $15
Primary Duties
Nannies help care for children, and they’re in especially high demand during hectic times – like the weeks before and after Christmas.
Santa Claus
Median Monthly Income: $5,200
Median Hourly Rate: $30
Primary Duties
A part-time Santa Claus sits in some public place – often a mall – and kindly responds to children as they make their requests for Christmas gifts. It pays surprisingly well – not bad work if you can get it!
Restaurant Server
Median Monthly Income: $2,200
Median Hourly Rate: $13
Primary Duties
Servers wait on patrons at restaurants and bars – establishments that are often busy during the holidays. You’ll earn much of your income from tips, meaning your take-home pay depends on a combination of hard work and fortune.
Graphic Designer
Median Monthly Income: $4,600
Median Hourly Rate: $26
Primary Duties
Graphic designers help companies beautify their online spaces – and businesses are especially eager to impress when the holiday season brings additional traffic to websites and social media pages.
Personal Shopper
Median Monthly Income: $3,500
Median Hourly Rate: $20
Primary Duties
Personal shoppers help their clients make all the purchases they need, always looking out for the best value.
Christmas Tree Seller
Median Monthly Income: $2,300
Median Hourly Rate: $13.50
Primary Duties
Christmas trees become big business for a few weeks every year, and you can tap into the profits by acquiring some trees and selling them on the side.
Christmas Card Designer
Median Monthly Income: $6,500
Median Hourly Rate: $38
Primary Duties
Perfect for the artistically inclined, this job will have you designing the cards that people will then send to their loved ones during the holidays.
Uber Driver
Median Monthly Income: $3,400
Median Hourly Rate: $19
Primary Duties
Uber drivers use their own vehicles to bring people from one place to the next – and the bonanza of socializing around the holidays means there are usually plenty of passengers to go around.
Tour Guide
Median Monthly Income: $2,000
Median Hourly Rate: $12
Primary Duties
Tour guides have to learn about a place before drawing on their knowledge to show guests around. With travel on the rise around the holidays, attractions may need additional experts on hand.
Social Media Assistant
Median Monthly Income: $4,700
Median Hourly Rate: $27
Primary Duties
Businesses have a lot to tell their customers during the holidays – deals, specials, new product offerings – and social media assistants help share all this information through the right online channels.
Catering Assistant
Median Monthly Income: $1,600
Median Hourly Rate: $17
Primary Duties
Catering assistants help prepare and serve food during catered events. If you enjoy fast-paced work and being part of a team, then this might be the perfect holiday gig.
Retail Stocker
Median Monthly Income: $2,400
Median Hourly Rate: $14
Primary Duties
Stores sell more goods around Christmas than during any other time of the year. Retail stockers make sure the shelves stay filled no matter how quickly customers try to empty them.
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About the Author: Ben Clabault is a freelance writer from Sandwich, Massachusetts. He has spent much of his adult life traveling through Latin America. He currently lives with his fiance in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. His areas of expertise include travel, marketing, SaaS, and global cultures. You can find his work on Copyfolio and reach out to him on LinkedIn.
