Gig jobs can help you make extra money any time of year, but some jobs are more in demand during certain seasons. Holidays, summer travel spikes, and other trends increase consumer spending in different industries and require extra workers to help meet this demand.
Fortunately, that means gig workers can take advantage of these peak seasons to snag more jobs and even earn higher wages. Are you looking to earn extra cash to pay down debt, save for a wedding, or just boost your emergency savings? Learn more about the best seasonal gig jobs, what they pay, and how to break into the business.
Best seasonal gig work during the holidays
Holiday jobs, or those with more activity during November through the beginning of January, tend to cluster in retail, travel, and shipping/logistics. Any job that supports these industries can see an increase in demand, but not all are considered “gig” work. These seasonal side hustles for extra cash allow for more freelance or flexible scheduling.
Pet sitting and house sitting
When people travel out of town to see their family members for Christmas, they often have to leave Fido or their favorite fern alone. This creates an increase in gig jobs for responsible freelancers who are good with animals or who can reliably show up to check a home for a few days (or even weeks).
Pet and house sitting requires a lot of trust, so come prepared with some references. You may need to submit to a background check to get access to people’s homes or buy insurance to cover accidents or damage.
You can typically charge more per hour for last-minute drop-in visits than for long-term, overnight gigs. You may also consider a flat fee per overnight or for the week. Earnings can range from just $400 a week for basic house sitting to $1,000 or more if you include pet care, feeding, and medication administration.
Get started in this field by creating profiles on pet-sitting platforms and marketing locally through Facebook groups and word-of-mouth advertising. Let people know if you are licensed and bonded or can drive to rural areas, as this can help you stand out in a crowded market.
Retail merchandising
Stores need to quickly put up and take down holiday merchandise between Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. To do this, they often rely on third-party merchandising teams to handle the work rather than their own associates. Merchandising is often done by gig workers who can pick the stores closest to them and (sometimes) the hours that fit their schedule.
Merchandising work can also include price checks, arranging merchandise, putting up special signage, and even assembling display items. Pay averages $15.89 per hour for merchandisers of all types, with some companies reimbursing for fuel and travel costs.
You can find many of these jobs by searching “merchandiser” on Indeed.com or LinkedIn. Expect to use a smartphone or tablet with a camera or video to complete many of the jobs.
Gift wrapping and holiday helper
The holidays can be very stressful simply because there’s so much to do! If you have a cheerful spirit, a knack for wrapping presents, and the desire to lend a hand, you can make some extra cash this season.
Pay varies for these holiday gig economy jobs, with some paying by the hour and others by the gig. Expect to charge at least the minimum wage for gift wrapping or shopping, with higher fees for fancy decorative work (fireplaces, trees, porches) and jobs that require you to get on a ladder. You can also charge a premium for last-minute help, like wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve.
Find jobs through word-of-mouth advertising in Facebook groups, church groups, the local community center, or on TaskRabbit. The ideal client is often an older adult who has a harder time prepping for the season, but wants to impress family guests. Be sure to include “before” and “after” photos of your work to show off your special style.
Seasonal delivery and rideshare gigs
While you can make money driving year-round, seasonal delivery driver jobs do increase as people shop more. The surges create more demand for the work and often come with more generous tips and surge pricing. (Note: Surge pricing is offered by some delivery and ride-share apps and is based on demand at the time. The higher demand creates more high-paying seasonal gigs during rush hour, nights, and weekends.)
Because tips and surge pricing affect wages, there’s no set minimum or maximum for pay. Find jobs through the apps you use for your own delivery or rideshare needs, such as Lyft, Uber, InstaCart, UberEats, and Amazon Flex.
Best summer-season gig jobs
The summer is an ideal time for college students and teachers to catch up on their financial goals with some part-time gigs. But anyone with some time to spare can make money with these part-time seasonal work options.
Summer concert and festival staffing
People love outdoor concerts, fairs, and festivals during the warmer months, and these events usually need help with ticketing, seating, set-up, cleaning, and tear-down. Event organizers and food vendors need freelancers to be able to work a few hours during prime hours, as well as deal with crowds and intense heat on occasion.
If you’re up for the challenge, this high-intensity work can pay a decent wage while giving you access to the sounds of the stage. Just be sure to look for app-based hiring companies or local production companies that contract 1099 staff instead of hiring employees. You can find summer seasonal gig jobs by searching your local company listings or checking out job boards for college students.
Lifeguarding and swim instruction
It’s harder to find good lifeguards these days, partly because of the intense physical demands, long hours, and certifications needed to qualify. However, if you can get work as a lifeguard or swim teacher, the reward is time outdoors and a great tan (along with decent pay of around $17.20 an hour).
For both positions, you’ll need a strong swimming background, CPR, and first aid training. For lifeguarding, you'll also need state-required lifeguard certification. Have references ready and pre-set policies for how you’ll handle cancellations or bad weather.
A great way to find work as a lifeguard is to approach public pools, resorts, and staffed hotels directly. Summer camps often hire lifeguards during the summer as well. For swim instruction work, get the word out to your local parent group, preschool, or PTA. Since parents usually want their kids to know how to swim, they are often happy to pay someone who can work around their busy schedules.
Yard care
There are likely large yard service enterprises near you that serve properties year-round. However, there’s still an opportunity for small gig workers, especially for homeowners who just need a simple, budget-friendly mow or weed removal.
To start this business, you’ll need some equipment and lawn care knowledge. Getting jobs can be as easy as asking a neighbor if they need work done and setting a fixed price based on the size of their lawn, usually $40 and up per visit. You can also offer “jungle cleanups” — care of overgrown lots and areas that need last-minute TLC for realtors and property managers. (Charge much more for these!)
Be sure to also factor in costs like insurance, wear and tear on your lawn equipment, and fuel in any job you quote.
Using seasonal gigs to boost your financial stability
Summer and holiday jobs can be more than “extra cash” and can be part of a larger system for reducing financial stress the rest of the year. For example, you could give every seasonal dollar a place in your budget for longer-term goals. Make $20 mowing lawns, then save it for reducing credit card debt. Make $15 wrapping gifts, and split it between your upcoming birthday dinner and a vacation fund.
To help keep you on track with your financial goals, consider putting your gig earnings on a prepaid debit card. The Netspend® Prepaid Card is one option that makes it easy to cash out earnings from gig apps and stores your money safely until you’re ready to put it to work. Shop online, pay bills, and watch each purchase carefully without the need for a traditional bank account or credit card. Because prepaid cards only use money you have, you don’t rack up additional debt, either.
The simple-to-use prepaid card apps help you see where your money is going, so you know how spending affects your year-round goals.
Changing your future through seasonal gig economy work
Are you looking for flexible seasonal jobs for extra income? Many seasonal gig workers mix-and-match their jobs, doing more than a few types of work to fill their hours — and their wallets. However, it can take some initiative to jump into gig work, as you’ll have to find your own customers and build your reputation over time. Some jobs also come with an initial investment of equipment, training, or insurance.
However, the investment can pay off. And once you learn how to earn extra money seasonally, you could see a significant difference in your budget and your long-term financial goals.
