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15 Seasonal Jobs That Could Add a Serious Boost to Your Winter Income

The holiday season can get a bit expensive. Because of this, some people seek out additional income streams to pad their incomes and make a bit extra money for gifts, dinners, travel, etc.

This is even more true today, as many people continue to struggle with the higher cost of living and incomes that are not keeping up. Add in the need to buy gifts, and most resort to going into debt. But this doesn't have to be your only option.

Fortunately, there's a lot of seasonal work to take advantage of if you want to bolster your income this holiday season. Here are 15 seasonal jobs that could add a serious boost to your winter income. There are jobs in many industries, so chances are you are likely to find something that interests you.

1. Seasonal Chef

Man, chef and serious with plate in kitchen at restaurant for fine dining, meal and creativity. Male employee, professional and cooker with food for culinary, hospitality and catering service.
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Some resorts and other locations that see an influx of customers throughout the winter season may be in need of a seasonal chef to help them feed their hungry masses. If you're skilled in the kitchen and have experience, you may very well be able to secure a chef job to generate additional income.

Think of places like ski resorts or indoor water parks to start. If you enjoy the warm weather, look into popular destinations in the south where snowbirds flock to avoid the cold. Keep in mind that many higher-end resorts pay well, so look there first!

2. Pet Sitter

Woman playing with her dog while walking in park on snowy winter day. Pets, snow, friendship, weekend activities
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I always recommend pet sitting as a side hustle because it's generally easy to do and something that anyone can get into. Pet sitting is a year-round job, but you may notice a stronger demand for pet sitters during the holidays because of large family gatherings and other events that people can't bring their pets to.

If you're not a fan of pet sitting throughout the year, you could always pick it up during the holiday season. It will pay more toward urban centers, but you ultimately determine how much you charge. You can bring even more in if you consider elder care or child care.

3. Photographer

Young cheerful woman traveler in a denim jacket with a backpack holds a camera in her hands while standing on the shore of the mountain lake
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Photographers are in higher demand during the winter because of all the events that happen during the holidays. Whether you're someone who wants to freelance or you're looking to work with nearby studios in your area, see what kind of work people are looking for.

Also, don't forget about weddings. Many people choose to marry in the winter to save money. Others get engaged around the holidays, so you might be able to get jobs as an engagement photographer.

4. Operations Manager

factory-worker
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Warehouse jobs are among some of the top recommended seasonal jobs out there. But I've noticed that most of them don't seem to pay too well. More than that, you may not be satisfied with work conditions or the level of training provided to you.

But there's so much more going on behind the scenes that warehouses and similar facilities need support with. Operations management is one such example. Many facilities need operations managers during the holiday season to keep everything from devolving into chaos. If you have any experience in this department, reach out to nearby warehouses to see if they need extra hands on deck during the winter.

5. Distribution Manager

Storage unit, moving.
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Storage and distribution management is another in-demand area during the holiday season. Whereas operations managers oversee everything, storage and distribution managers focus mostly on what's happening inside the warehouse and whether it's getting out efficiently.

If taking on an operations manager role would entail biting off more than you can chew, you could always consider an alternative like this role.

6. Ski Instructor

Ski instructor trains people
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I love the winter season, and I've noticed that very few jobs out there get you in direct contact with what makes winter so special. There are a few that stand out, however. One great job worth looking into if you love winter is becoming a ski instructor.

Ski instructors can make upwards of $25 an hour or more, which can be great if you're a fan of the snow and teaching others how to safely navigate it. As with some of the other jobs here, you're going to find these types of jobs at nearby resorts.

7. Tutor

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Winter is often seen as a time of rest. But that's not always true for students. End-of-the-year testing is quite common, meaning students have a bit more studying to do before they can kick their feet up and relax.

If you have a degree and the patience to teach others complex topics, being a tutor during the holiday season could offer a serious cash infusion for your winter income. Generally, you set the rates, although some school districts looking for tutors may pay an hourly rate.

8. Bartender

bartender talking to woman customer
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Bartender is another year-round position people seem to need to fill during the holiday season. This can be due to an influx of tourists in certain areas, which outpaces the current staff on hand. Or it could be at high-end parties that some people throw around during the holidays.

If you have past bartender skills or even want to get started so that you can tap this opportunity in the future, consider bartending!

9. Seafood Processing

Samutprakarn, Thailand- FEBRUARY 16, 2016: Workers are preparing shrimp in a line in a seafood factory in Thailand.
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When I think of seasonal jobs, I think of those hard and dirty jobs you see on TV that they make reality shows about. Those can be relatively difficult to get into, but they're still worth considering if you want to make good money and don't mind work that's less than ideal.

One job that I recently came across is seafood processing. Seafood processing tends to pay fairly highly and will allow you to work overtime for more pay. Just be prepared for rigorous interviews and the physical demands of the work required.

10. General Laborer

People work on the railway. February 20, 2019 Baranovichi, Belarus, Labor
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General laborers are needed all year, which means that you can easily find a job during the winter. However, certain seasonal laboring jobs, like working on railroad tracks, could earn you good money quickly.

Explore what kind of laboring options they have out there to see what you could achieve and what appeals to you most in terms of both work and pay.

11. Event Planner

event planner
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If there's one thing that the holiday season is known for, it's events. I love throwing parties at home and visiting friends and family, but others may have grander events in mind, like weddings, work parties, and so on.

Because there's an increase in events during the holiday season, becoming an event planner could help you tap into some steady income.

12. Interior Decorator

woman holding a photo canvas on the background of a Christmas interior. Holiday decor
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Event planners aren't the only people in need during the holiday season. Interior decorators are in demand, too.

Interior decorators may be needed to help set up the events above, take care of decorations in homes for those who might not be so savvy with holiday decor, or even stage homes that people plan on selling over the winter season.

Interior decorating will likely be a gig that you have to secure on your own, but there may be companies around you hiring interior decorators so that you have less hassle to deal with on your end.

13. Front Desk Clerk

Female-employee-checking-in-a-couple-to-a-hotel
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Somebody needs to welcome all the guests to their hotels and similar accommodations, and that falls to the front desk clerk. A front desk clerk isn't exactly the epitome of a well-paying career path, but don't discount it so soon. Being a front desk clerk can be an easy seasonal job to take on and can pay well in certain conditions.

The trick to making the most money during the holiday season is looking for front desk clerk positions in city centers. These positions might be a bit more competitive, but they'll also pay you more because of your location.

14. Snowplow Operator

Tractor loader machine uploading dirty snow into dump truck. Cleaning city street, removing snow and ice after heavy snowfalls and blizzard. Snowplow outdoors clean pavement sidewalk road driveway
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If you live where snow comes every winter, few jobs are as necessary and steady as being a snowplow operator.

Snowplow operators are essential to cleaning pathways for vehicles so that people can get to work and manage other necessary daily activities. According to certain sites like Indeed, snowplow operators can generally make around $24 an hour or more.

It's not the most thrilling work, but it is a reliable job that will help you pad your income once winter makes an appearance. More than that, depending on the length of the season, you could be making some serious extra income that will support you long after the holidays are over.

15. Personal Shopper

Young Female Customer Shopping in Clothing Store, Retail Sales Associate Helps with Advice. Diverse People in Fashionable Shop, Choosing Stylish Clothes, Colorful Brand with Sustainable Designs, Personal Shopper
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I know I'm the first to let out a sigh when I'm greeted by a host of employees who are flocking to help me find something in the store. But they have their uses, especially when you're in an unfamiliar environment and looking for a particular item or suggestions.

Becoming a personal shopper is another job in demand during the winter as people start trying to find the right gifts for friends and family.

Keep in mind that this is not the same as a personal shopper who would shop on your behalf on the Instacart app, for example. Stores like fashion outlets hire personal shoppers to help customers find the perfect item. Consider this if you have an eye for detail and are naturally friendly.

Author: Jon Dulin

Jon Dulin is a personal finance writer for 15 years. Jon has a Masters degree in finance and a certificate in financial planning. He also writes for the AP Wire and MSN.

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