The holidays are officially in full swing, which means two things: panic-buying gifts we swore we’d get early…and realizing our bank accounts were not prepared for this level of festivity.

Between travel, dinners, and everyone suddenly deciding we need matching pajamas, December gets expensive fast.

So if you’re looking for ways to fund the holiday chaos, today’s newsletter is for you!

• Seasonal Support Driver, UPS: $23/hr (Multiple locations)

• Santa Claus, HireSanta.com: Pay varies (Multiple locations)

• Seasonal Gift Wrapper, Anderson Auto: $20/hr (Raleigh, NC)

• Personal Shopper, Bloomingdale’s: $49K-$87K (Long Island City, NY)

• Office Assistant, Beaver Mountain: $15/hr (Logan, Utah)

6 High-Paying Holiday Jobs In Demand (& Where To Find Them)

Not all holiday jobs are created equal, some actually pay shockingly well. And no, we’re not talking about stressful, minimum-wage retail shifts. Most of these roles offer the ability to work for yourself, set your own hours, and in some cases, charge much higher hourly rates.

Let’s walk through the six highest-paying holiday gigs, how much they really make, and where to find them so you can boost your income without sacrificing your holiday cheer!

1. Santa Claus

Turns out the real Christmas miracle is how much Santa charges per hour (hope the elves are asking for raises).

• Opportunities: Corporate events, mall photos, private parties, brand activations (even virtual Santas are still a thing). Agencies recruit earlier every year.

• Pay: Around $60/hr on average, but premium Santas at private events can make $200–$500/hr. Some full-timers earn $10k+ in December alone!

@gabriel.desanti

@Santa Claus I promise I’ve been good this year 🥺 . Salary: Santa doesn’t make money #salary #santa #fyp #contentcreator

2. Holiday Resort Staff

Get paid to spend your December in a snow globe! Perks may include mountain views and discounted lift passes.

• Opportunities: Ski resorts, destination hotels, winter lodges, holiday-themed pop-ups. Roles include servers, shuttle drivers, front desk, cooks, and housekeeping.

• Pay: Around $39/hr, depending on role, location, and tips. Ski instructors can earn even more with certifications.

@danielandlizzy

Ski Resort, Seasonal Work, Colorado Winter ❄️ perks of working on the mountain ⛷️ #1 getting to ski / Snowboard every single day Would y... See more

3. Holiday Decorator

For people who already start decorating on November 1st, congratulations! You can actually bill for it now.

• Opportunities: Home decorating, retail window displays, corporate holiday setups, in-store merchandising, and tree installations.

• Pay: Around $33/hr on average, with pros charging premium rates for large homes or commercial jobs.

@mikeandbo

Christmas Lights Make Him $300,000 in 6 WEEKS🎄🤑 • Click the Link in Our Bio to Scale Your Business📲 #christmaslights #christmasmoney #entrepreneur

4. House / Pet / Plant Sitter

Remember when half the country bought pets and plants during COVID? Now everyone’s traveling again… and needs responsible humans to keep them alive.

• Opportunities: Travelers need someone to watch their homes, water plants, and spoil their pets. Demand spikes from Thanksgiving all through the New Year.

• Pay: Around $22/hr, but top sitters on Rover and Meowtel can make $35–$45/hr, plus holiday surcharges.

@salarytransparentstreet

#DogSitters in Denver, CO📍#salarytransparentstreet #salarytransparency #paytransparency #howmuchdoyoumake #talkaboutyourpay #dogsitter #do... See more

5. Gift Wrapper

If your wrapping skills make people ask, “Did you work at a boutique?”, this is your moment to shine, and profit!

• Opportunities: Malls, hotels, boutiques, corporate gifting teams, and private clients wanting Instagram-worthy wrapping.

• Pay: Around $18/hr, but luxury retail and in-home wrapping services can pay more, especially for rush jobs.

@somo.mama

#greenscreen I love to earn money doing things with my hands instead of being in front of a computer screen all the time. Wrapping present... See more

6. Personal Shopper

For everyone who treats errands like a competitive sport, personal shopping is basically monetizing your main character energy.

• Opportunities: Gift shopping, grocery runs, last-minute errands, holiday party prep, and high-net-worth clients who want zero stress.

• Pay: Around $16/hr, but platforms like Instacart and Shipt add surge pay during peak weeks, boosting earnings.

@itsmeelas

Successful day 🛍️ #personalshopper #personalshopping #bicestervillage #bicestervillagehaul #rarejob #dreamjob #shopping #designer

Whether you want to deck the halls, walk the dogs, wrap the gifts, or step into the big red suit, there’s real money on the table this season! Read the full list: 6 Highest-Paying Holiday Jobs and Where to Find Them

Looking for a side hustle to help you get through the holidays, or want to make some extra cash on your own schedule? We broke down the top holiday gigs worth checking out! Tune in on YouTube below, or on your preferred podcast platform here!

• Which jobs did we miss? 🎄 More of the best seasonal jobs here

• Are we in a recession? 🎅 What professional Santas can tell us

• Check your application twice ⚠️ Beware these seasonal job scams

• Where should you look for seasonal jobs? 👀 These retailers are hiring

• A ‘boring’ job is the hottest holiday job 🔢 Why the talent shortage crisis?

See you next week for more career tips, money moves, and transparent advice! 💚