The American tourism industry is a giant ecosystem that employs millions of people. According to Brittany Ferries, tourism accounted for $2.51 trillion in 2024 and employed more than 9 million people. Interestingly, nearly a third of these jobs are temporary or seasonal.
Seasonal work in the United States is in demand not only among students or travelers on the Work & Travel program. Many Americans consciously choose temporary employment to change the environment, try new professions, or combine work with travel.
East Coast: beaches, cities, and cultural festivals
The East Coast of the United States is not only long Atlantic beaches, but also cultural centers, where life is especially vibrant in the summer.
Atlantic Coast – the center of summer tourism
From the Jersey Shore to the Carolinas, the East Coast turns into one big resort in the summer. Employers open thousands of positions for lifeguards, workers at coastal bars and restaurants, as well as animators and photographers.
It’s still the best option in the field of domestic tourism – the East Coast remains popular with Americans who prefer short trips over long-haul flights.
Festivals and cultural events
In the summer, New York and Boston become activity hotspots, with street theater, jazz concerts in parks, and other events. To keep things operating smoothly, temporary workers – from organizers and volunteers to lighting technicians – collaborate as a group.
The South of the United States: cruises & culinary capitals everyone wants to visit
The colorful flavors and rhythms of the South welcome guests from the busy Miami shoreline to the jazzy streets of New Orleans.
Florida – the “eternal season”
Floridais one of the few regions of the United States where tourism practically knows no pause. It is home to the country’s largest theme parks, as well as the beach resorts of Miami and Orlando. Walt Disney World alone employs up to 77,000 cast members annually, including thousands of temporary workers for the summer season.
Florida also employs water sports instructors, kayak guides, and even diving specialists for tourists.
Louisiana and Texas: food and music
New Orleans is well-known for its jazz performances, street festivals, and food, all of which draw tourists. There are almost 10,000 temporary jobs in the city at the busiest time of year, ranging from baristas to cooks.
Texas, in turn, has become a center of music tourism: the SXSW festival in Austin attracts about 400,000 guests annually. To organize such a scale, an army of temporary staff is required.
West Coast: from vineyards to Hollywood
The Western United States attracts millions of tourists with its natural parks, wineries, and world-class entertainment industry.
Wine regions and rural tourism
Grape harvesting in California and Oregon is not only a farm job, but also part of the tourism industry. Napa Valley is actively hiring winery guides, translators, and tasting room workers.
Hollywood and the entertainment industry
Los Angeles welcomes millions of tourists every year, and the demand for service workers increases exponentially during major film festivals. Seasonal workers are needed not only in hotels, but also on film sets – as assistants, coordinators, or technical specialists.
National parks
The West also has some impressive natural features. Every year, millions of visitors travel to locations like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon. The need for rangers, tour guides, and employees for cafés and gift stores causes a 40–50% rise in park openings during the season.
The center of the country and Alaska: unexpected destinations
The Midwest and Alaska aren’t always associated with tourism, but they are where demand for unique seasonal jobs is growing.
The Midwest and farm tourism
Agritourism is rapidly growing in Iowa, Minnesota, and Kansas. Tourists attend farmers’ markets, sampling of local goods, and harvest celebrations. For seasonal workers, there is an opportunity to combine rural living with work in the hotel business.
Alaska: A “summer paradise” for temporary workers
Summer in Alaska is just a few months long, yet it attracts hundreds of thousands of people. In 2023, cruises drew around 1.7 million passengers. To handle such a throughput, up to 25,000 temporary workers are required.
A special segment is vacancies in the field of cruise ships security. This work is associated not only with maintaining order but also with compliance with international safety standards, which makes it valuable for those who want to develop a career in related fields.
Deserts and mountains: tourism off the beaten path
Arizona, Nevada and Utah are tourist destinations with a special character. Nature guides, expedition specialists, and event coordinators are in demand here.
Every year, around 70,000 people attend the Burning Man festival in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. To plan it, hundreds of temporary employees are employed, including engineers, drivers, and security experts.
Who is looking for seasonal workers?
Seasonal employment in tourism covers dozens of areas, from the hotel business to cruises. To find the right job and avoid surprises, it is important to understand which industries have vacancies and what a job seeker should pay attention to.
- Hotel business – from coastal resorts to mountain hotels.
- Entertainment – concerts, movie festivals, and amusement parks.
- Natural sites – national parks, ecotourism, expeditions.
- Cruise industry – work on liners, in ports and travel agencies.
Important points for seasonal workers
Seasonality. Recruitment begins well in advance of the busiest time of year: beach destinations like Florida are busiest in the spring, and Alaska is actively seeking visitors in January. The selection of openings and your chances of obtaining the best terms increase with the time of your application.
Documents. For foreigners, the key visas are J-1 and H-2B. The first is related to educational programs, and the second requires an invitation from the employer. Registration takes time, so it is worth preparing in advance.
Housing. In national parks or on cruises, housing is usually provided – these can be cottages or rooms for staff. In large cities, you have to look for housing yourself, and rent often “eats up” a significant part of the salary.
Where to look for seasonal work
Searching for seasonal employment has become much more convenient thanks to online resources. One example is Jooble, a job aggregator that collects offers from all over the world. Unlike local job boards, Jooble allows you to search for work all over the United States at once – compare offers in Florida, Alaska, or California and find current vacancies using filters.
For job seekers, this means access to a broad picture of the market, where you can not only find a part-time job but also understand the dynamics of demand in different regions.
Seasonal work in tourism in the USA is a whole palette of opportunities that is open to both Americans and foreigners. Eastern beaches, ski resorts, deserts, and Alaska – each destination has its own specifics and seasonal rhythm.
The main thing is to prepare in advance, study the market, and find exactly the job that will give not only income, but also impressions for a lifetime.