Workamping Jobs for RVers
Workamping jobs for RVers are out there and come in all shapes in sizes!
But the information available about Workamping Jobs, Seasonal Jobs, or even Remote Jobs for RVers is often given in bits and pieces. Don’t worry- you finally found the information you’ve been looking for, all in one place.
If you’re thinking about becoming a working RVer then RVing jobs can be a big piece of the puzzle. Seasonal Jobs for RVers and Workamping can be your ticket to travel!
- Workamping Jobs for RVers
- Let’s Go Workamping
- Workamping Jobs For RVers
- What Is Workamping (Work Camping)?
- Work for RVers: Workamping Jobs Have Benefits
- Workamping Jobs: Why Choose One
- 6 Big Misconceptions about Workamping Jobs
- #Workamping Jobs
- Work for RVers: Things to Know
- Seasons of Workamping Jobs
- Spring/Summer Workamping Jobs:
- Popular Summer Workamping Jobs
- Fall/Winter Workamping Jobs:
- Plan One Workamping Season at a Time
- Planning Summer Workamping Jobs
- Planning Winter Workamping Jobs
- Read more about winter workamping jobs in this post which includes an easy route to your first job plus tips and job ideas!
- #WorkampingJobs
- Where Can I Go Workamping?
- Work for RVers: Workamping Jobs On Your Terms
- Workamping Jobs You Need to Know!
- How Much Do Workamping Jobs Pay?
- How Does Workamping Really Work?
- Workamping Jobs: 2 Tips For You Working RVers
- Websites for Workamping Jobs
- Workamping Jobs Free Websites
Let’s Go Workamping
Let us show you the way!
You have a few options, but the main two are to either get a job in the RVing and Camping industry, where you work on-site at a campground job or you go remote and work from your RV as a digital nomad.
We’ve got you covered either way!
Ready to start your workamping journey?
this Ultimate Guide is for you!
It covers the basics of workamping and seasonal Jobs for RVers and the details of what you need to know to get started and get going! Don’t waste another minute searching the internet or paying to see job listings (yuck!!!!).
Start here and we’ll teach you all about workamping, camp hosting, and seasonal RV jobs.
Workamping Jobs For RVers
Tips & Advice on Workamping for Those Interested in Making Money While RVing
One of the biggest mind hurdles for people who are contemplating traveling full-time (with or without kids) is how they can make money while traveling. Some people move their entire lives for a job or career. What happens when you want job options that follow you?
This happens to be one of the most interesting topics for people who are just interested in the full-time RV lifestyle.
The big question is…
Are there really jobs for RVers?
The answer is Yes! Working RVers make money in all types of ways and it’s a lot simpler than you would think!
Regardless of how much you’ve saved to start the RVing adventure- you will likely need or want to have supplemental income while on the road. You can do this easily with just a little creativity, a lot of flexibility, and an adventurous spirit with regard to jobs for RVers and Workamping (Work Camping)!
In this Ultimate Guide to Workamping for RVers, I’ll answer those questions among many others for a complete and comprehensive guide to Workamping & Seasonal jobs and work for RVers, right now.
What Is Workamping (Work Camping)?
Workamping is most easily defined as working while RVing.
It’s the lifestyle of people who travel by RV and pick up monthly, seasonal, part-time, and full-time jobs along the way. The jobs come in a variety of positions ranging from sales to outdoor hospitality and they offer a variety of different compensation structures that will include a basic trade of hours for a free RV site, free sites + pay, straight pay, as well as many others.
Workamping has been around for decades and over that time it has developed beyond its initial roots of retired professionals who worked for low wages or free camping.
It now includes a younger demographic of wanderlust RVers who love the freedom it affords them to travel slowly throughout the USA while still earning an income to take care of bills and expenses.
Work for RVers: Workamping Jobs Have Benefits
The number one benefit of the Workamping and the Live Camp Work lifestyle is the ability to travel when and where you please while making money along the way.
Can you imagine the ability to go wherever you want, do whatever you want, and stay for however long you want without having to consider things like the cost of the accommodations in the area? Seasonal, Part-time and full-time jobs for RVers provide this freedom to RVers all year long!
For people who wish to travel and see the country without starting a small business or taking on remote jobs while on the road- RVing Jobs or Workamping is the answer to your travel income source.
You keep all the benefits of regular work while taking with you none of the burdens of having a location-dependent job in one place for many many years and only getting to travel during your vacation time.
Need some help getting started on your RV journey? Check out these 3 ways to prepare for full-time RV living.
Workamping Jobs: Why Choose One
People make the decision to go Workamping (Work Camping) for many different reasons, just as RVers make the decision to go full-time for many different reasons.
Sometimes this is a way to escape the hustle of the 9-5 world of jobs and careers that do not allow for location independence. Sometimes this is to make money and travel while living in an RV full-time and for others it’s an easy way to earn money after retirement.
For those who are not in it for the additional income opportunity, you might be more intrigued by the opportunity to meet like-minded travelers, form a community on the road, and benefit from volunteering in some of the greatest places the US has to offer!
Volunteering for RV Parks & Campgrounds has great benefits for RVers who just want to see and do, in great places across the map. And we mean, across the map! Here are just some of the different State Parks that hire seasonal volunteer Camp Hosts across the US.
6 Big Misconceptions about Workamping Jobs
There are many common misconceptions about Workamping.
• Work Campers are all retirees.
• Work Campers are hobos, gypsies, vagrants, or homeless.
• Work Campers are destroying the American dream.
• Work Campers have to live in RV’s because of the economy.
• Work Campers are usually taken advantage of by employers.
• Work Campers are forced to work for less than minimum wage.
#Workamping Jobs
Some people assume one type of individual goes workamping. Many others assume there is only one type of Workamping job.
This couldn’t be further from the truth!
Over the years, Workamping and working RVers have evolved to include a wide variety or people and jobs! In fact, there are many different Types of Workamping Jobs available to fit your style and needs.
Work for RVers: Things to Know
There are two things to keep in mind when considering Workamping and deciding which RVing Jobs are the perfect for you.
1. Not all Workamping jobs are the same.
Workamping jobs may seem similar, such as working as a camp host or volunteering at state parks. Depending on the state parks you are looking into, the jobs can actually be quite different.
Each job will have its own unique destination and that alone is worth doing research to look into whether the location is somewhere you want to spend a month or a full season, but other key differences will include things like the pay, job responsibilities, additional benefits, and on site amenities.
2. Free Site Doesn’t Equal Trade For Hours Worked.
Some Workamping employers will ask for a specific number of hours to cover your RV site rent. This is a common practice, and although it doesn’t always prove to be the best compensation for Work Campers wanting to cover additional expenses, it is something to keep in mind if it works for the particular situation.
But working for an RV site is not the same as being provided a free RV site. So make sure if you agree to work for your site that you calculate the number of hours you’re working for it and see how much you’re really being asked to pay.
Seasons of Workamping Jobs
Many Workamping Jobs for RVers are offered year-round. Others depend on a season.
As a matter of fact, Workamping has 2 distinct seasons with their own set of characteristics, employer recruiting activities, etc…
Knowing which workamping season you need to start looking and which you need to work is a key part of the big picture.
Spring/Summer Workamping Jobs:
Also known as the camping season, the spring/summer is hands down the best and easiest time of the year to grab a great job in a great place. Spanning from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the camping season opens its doors to a flood of Workampers scattered throughout the country at different employment opportunities for time spans of 1- 6 months each.
During this time, employer recruiting is usually very low, as they are dealing with the day to day operations of running their businesses and many will only post ads if looking for winter hires.
While at your spring/summer job, you will need to actively interview and apply for fall/ winter employment to make sure your seasons are lined up in a way that allows for seamless travels. Keep your eyes open!
Popular Summer Workamping Jobs
- Yellowstone Workamping Jobs by Delaware North
- Workamping Jobs with Alaska X
- Workamping Jobs at Theme Parks
- DigiKey Workamping Jobs
- Workamping at the Grand Canyon
- Workamping Jobs at Campgrounds
Fall/Winter Workamping Jobs:
During the fall and most usually right after Labor Day, the camping season for many comes to an end. Many Workampers will head to big employers like the Sugar Beet Harvest and state parks in desirable locations, as opportunities are scarce at campgrounds and RV parks unless they are in warm climates.
Many Work Campers (Working RVers) take the winter months off and retreat to warmer places like Florida, Arizona, Texas, or California, where they can either relax or snag a highly sought-after job in a snowbird destination, but you can choose to find winter workamping jobs if you prefer!
While you might not snag a winter position if you don’t plan far in advance, this is the main recruiting season for summer, so applying for your next job will help fill your time!
Employers will be actively recruiting and hiring for the next camping season, so Work Campers should have their resumes active and be on the continuous lookout for jobs in the places they wish to travel.
Plan One Workamping Season at a Time
Planning each season one at a time is the best way to start planning your Workamping adventures!
This will allow you to line up your travels in a route that not only makes sense on the map but one that works out financially as well. Skipping around the map, trying to find jobs in places you end up, with will not work long-term and might lead to the financial stress of not finding a job once you’ve arrived someplace really great.
It may not work short-term either, depending on where your travels lead. So before you hit the road, take some time to properly plan out your adventure for 3 seasons of travel with at least 1 employer for each season.
Planning Summer Workamping Jobs
The easiest season to plan for is the camping season.
And it is for that reason that I always suggest people who are starting out in Workamping, start with a position that begins in the spring/summer. These positions will be advertised with starting dates from April 1-June 1st and snagging one will lead to a quick and easy start.
- Summer recruiting is heaviest from January through mid-March, but it can actually start as early as the end of the prior year’s camping season back in September.
- When you see an RVing job being advertised for a summer position, you should apply asap. When you see the ad, make sure you are able to meet the requirements and that it’s a good fit. Fine-tune your resume, and then apply!
- The sooner you get your information to the employer the better chance you have of being high on the list of possible hires! Since the recruiting season spans the holidays, make sure to concentrate your efforts before Thanksgiving or after the New Year planning to follow up with at least 1 email and/or phone call!
- Once you have your summer job booked, you’ll know your end date for the camping season and can now move on to booking your Fall/Winter gig next.
Planning Winter Workamping Jobs
Because Fall/Winter positions are always a bit harder to grab, I suggest new people starting out make it easy on themselves and just head to big employers like the Sugar Beet Harvest and then State Parks which are both relatively easy to get a position for.
Planning to join one of these two programs in year one will again allow you to start Workamping much sooner than trying to narrow down employers who fit your specific needs. Saving this for year two after you’ve had a chance to test the waters and have more time to plan is also an easy win!
#WorkampingJobs
With this advice, you will be one step ahead of the game, as you only have two seasons to plan for. It gives you more time upfront to get yourself prepared for traveling with fewer worries about where your income will be coming from.
One thing to remember is that the farther in advance you plan, the easier it will be to secure jobs. Some State Parks and other popular destinations book out 1-2 years in advance.
Some people find it easier to stick with the routine of returning to the big employers in the fall and just changing up their summer jobs, so they have less work to do.
If in the next year you decide not to go back to the Sugar Beet Harvest or the State Park, you will have some Workamping work history under your belt and look more favorable to employers who need seasoned Work campers on their team.
Where Can I Go Workamping?
You can go anywhere in the USA.
Technically you can also go to Canada and Mexico although I’m pretty sure you can’t work legally in either place but they’re pretty to visit!
Many folks just starting out will plan to test the waters of RV life by renting an RV and Workamping by trying a short Workamping assignment while still in their sticks & bricks homes at a location nearby. Other folks go for the gusto and decide their first stop is going to one for the bucket list and venture out to places like Yellowstone National Park and even Alaska!
Work for RVers: Workamping Jobs On Your Terms
Work Campers have the unique opportunity to choose to work as much or as little as they please, in positions they choose. There are jobs for couples, and families, as well as those who need workamping jobs for singles.
Campground jobs are extremely popular, so if you are willing to do your homework, you can find a full spectrum of companies offering jobs for RVers in areas from maintenance and housekeeping to Park Rangers & Customer Service.
This will range from State & National Parks to privately owned and franchise campgrounds.
While many positions in the Workamping (Work Camping) community center around the Outdoor Hospitality industry, there are plenty that don’t!
As a Work Camper, you can find jobs in retail, sales, marketing, writing, blogging, customer service, camp hosting, as a tour guide, shuttle bus driver, park ranger, resort manager, activities director, lifeguard, crafter, entertainer, and much much, more!
Wherever you decide to Workamp, just know your options are not limited! Thousands of employers are hiring RVers to fill seasonal, short-term, part-time, and full-time positions!
Workamping Jobs You Need to Know!
Workamping Jobs are flooding the internet and RV Facebook groups. It seems like everyone is hiring RVers and that means when it comes to workamping, the doors have just been opened!
Don’t mistake this for meaning that grabbing a job is easy. No. In fact, this makes things a bit more competitive in both the camping season and the off-season, because Employers are now fighting for the best candidates who want to be in the best places during the best times of the year.
And while we feel this makes for better offers and pay for working RVers, it also means you have to put your best foot forward at all times, to make sure you capitalize on the time you have with employers during interviews as well as when they are viewing your resumes!
Check out these Workamping Jobs that have been tied and true throughout the years! Their programs are well respected and the opportunities are quite versatile.
Workamping Jobs at Delaware North: Yellowstone National Park
Who doesn’t want to visit Yellowstone, America’s oldest National Park? Well, how about the chance to live and work in this amazing location for a whole summer? Delaware North at Yellowstone provides jobs for RVers in several General Stores inside the park. They also staff a few hotels as well! Compensation includes an hourly wage, RV sites range from about $30-70 per month, and they offer an employee meal plan for on-site eats!
Click here to read about Workamping at Yellowstone this summer!
Workamping Jobs at Adventureland Theme Park
Adventureland is known as one of the few theme parks that currently hire Workampers. Their program was actually designed and developed to hire thousands of RVers each summer to help fill gaps in their recruitment activities. Adventureland Park offers jobs inside the amusement park, including retail, food service, and ride operators. They offer an hourly wage, RV sites, and if I’m not mistaken free entrance to the park.
Click here to read about Workamping at Adventureland Theme Park!
Workamping Jobs at the Sugar Beet Harvest
Who hasn’t heard of the Sugar Beet Harvest? If you haven’t just do a quick search on Google or YouTube to see the many different opinions about this Workamping opportunity. Express Employment staffs for jobs at a few harvest locations offering the ‘Unbeetable Experience’ of making $2K in 2 weeks! While not the most glamorous of Workamping jobs, the Sugar Beet Harvest draws a large number of returning campers to their program. They pay for every hour worked, provide ample overtime and provide FHU sites for FREE.
Click here to read about Workamping at the Sugar Beet Harvest!
Workamping Jobs at Southern Cross Inc.
Southern Cross hires mobile leak survey technicians whose main job responsibility is to inspect gas lines to make sure they are working properly and then report the findings. They offer one of the best paying Workpaming gigs available with a large RV site per diem, pay for every hour worked, as well as career benefits!
Click here to read about Workamping for Southern Cross!
How Much Do Workamping Jobs Pay?
I need to be as upfront as possible with you about the income you can expect from Workamping jobs.
To be frank, it’s not the best and if you are considering the traditional Workamper jobs centered around outdoor hospitality, it’s definitely not the highest wages you’ll likely have made in your life.
Working RVers can expect a modest reliable income that can help get them on the road faster than they thought possible, with added benefits like being immersed in a great location for longer than typically feasible for tourists. Not to mention the on-site benefits like campground amenities, discounted activities both on-site and sometimes in the surrounding towns, as well as many others.
A combination of paid positions, non-paid, and volunteer positions, as well as those that offer a combination, are what you will typically find from Workamping employers.
Many positions are noted for paying minimum wage or something slightly higher, but in my own personal experience, I found that there are many Workamping jobs that offer between $10-$14 per hour with free sites. These were the positions that I sought out and applied for. They include things like reservations, activity director, store inventory manager, and even park general manager.
Other positions in housekeeping, landscaping, grounds crew, light maintenance, cash register operations, and check-ins are also typical for campgrounds. You can also find a variety of non-campground jobs paying higher wages with companies such as Kitchen Craft, AGS, and Lt. Blender.
“While I love to negotiate, it just doesn’t work in every situation. I’ll give you a heads up from one Workamper to another… negotiating with larger employers with well-established programs that typically hire hundreds of Workampers is a waste of time.” –Sharee Collier
How Does Workamping Really Work?
While every Workamping job will be drastically different, there are a few common traits that we have experienced:
- Specific employment period (Ex. Memorial Day-Labor Day), with specific job title, description, and pay rate.
- Negotiate if you are required to work a certain number of hours, pay a reduced amount for your site, or if your site will be provided totally free of charge.
- You’ll work your pre-arranged position and enjoy perks like using park amenities, free Wi-Fi, the same days off as your spouse, and more.
Work Camping: FREE RV site or work-for site?
So you’ve found the perfect location for your next Workamping position and are ready to send over your resume. You read through the ad, which states you’ll be working near Yellowstone National Park! They’re looking for Campground Hosts as well as Maintenance, which is perfect for you and your husband/wife. You’ll work 25 hours a week, combined, for the site. All other hours at $7.25.
Before you go any further- you may want to reread that advertisement…
“Work 25 hours per week, combined, for site. All others paid at $7.25”.
What does that really mean? How much are you really paying to live on-site? Is this a good deal for you or for the employer? It’s time to break out your pen, paper, and your handy dandy calculator!
Okay, You’ll work 25 hours per week for your site:
This means every week. You and your husband/wife will collectively need to work 25 hours minimum to pay for your site. The ad doesn’t specify how the 25 hours will be split. So, make a note to ask about this when you speak with the employer.
Think about this for a minute- If the site charges $350 per month for long-term guests. That means by working 25 hours per week to pay for your site, with 4 weeks in a month, your work is being valued at $3.50 per hour!
Some working RVers will argue that when living onsite, it is acceptable to value the exchange of labor at a lesser rate.
I’m not one of those people!
Last time I checked the Federal minimum wage was $7.25- but if you feel comfortable working for less than half of that… that’s up to you and your own budget!
Moving on.
Next, All other hours paid at $7.25:
Once you have met the 25-hour requirement to pay for your site, any additional hours you work, will be paid at $7.25. The ad didn’t specify that additional hours were guaranteed or how many to expect if any.
So make a note to ask the employer how many hours each of you should expect to work on a weekly basis. They may not have a guaranteed number- but they should be able to give you a close estimate.
Think about this for a minute- If the employer says they will pay you $7.25 per hour for all hours over the first 25- then why not calculate the number of hours needed to pay for the site at the same rate?
If that were the case, you would only need to work 12(ish) hours per week to pay for your site (which in my opinion is much more reasonable). Requiring 25 hours each week- if calculated at $7.25 would mean you’re paying $725 for the same monthly site other guests are paying just $350 for.
Gosh! I hope that includes electricity, propane, laundry, store discount, a meal allowance, and free amenities…
Seems to me- that you are being undervalued!
Workamping Jobs: 2 Tips For You Working RVers
Apply for Workamping Jobs early and always follow up!
Send your resume by email or fax. Wait 1-2 days, then give the employer a direct phone call. Introduce yourself and let them know you sent your resume and hope they had time to review it.
Try to move forward with setting up an interview where you can discuss and go over the details of the position.
Negotiate your way to the perfect Workamping position!
Employers are advertising Workamping jobs that have their best interests in mind. It may or may not be the perfect fit for you.
With this in mind try to find easy ways to tweak the position so that it’s great for you and the employer! Handle these negotiations in your interview and make sure you list them in a clearly worded work agreement!
Websites for Workamping Jobs
Once you have the information you need and fully understand the basics of Workamping and Jobs for RVers, all you really need to know is where you can find the information about what jobs are now available.
Websites for Workamping jobs will vary from paid to non-paid and offer a range of benefits from just basic job info to a full arsenal of tools and resources. Decide which sites suit you best and don’t be afraid to ask their support team specific questions, if you have them.
Workamper job listings are easy to find all across the web and I’ve listed 11 links below to help you get started.
Workamping Jobs Free Websites
- RVer Job Exchange: This is where you head to find all Jobs for RVers! Remote jobs, workamping, camp hosting, volunteer positions, gigs from other RVers, and opportunities to work with RV brands- the RVer Job Exchange has it all!
- WorkampingJobs: Another resource of Workamper jobs that is completely free for RVers and employers.
- Cool Works: A cool site to use, they provide a variety of jobs for RVers as well as those without an RV just looking for meaningful work in a variety of different places to explore. They also offer their own social media network called My Cool Works.
- Workers on Wheels: Jobs for RVers and campers with temporary, seasonal, and mobile jobs that pay. It also includes RV-based businesses, online jobs, remote careers, and volunteer positions.
- Happy Vagabonds: A very basic web listing of Workamping job information that has a good list of Workamper jobs by state!
- Working Couples: A site for couples looking for jobs together, including house parent gigs, property management, and more. They send an email with new job alerts and allow for resumes to be posted for employers to view.
- Recreation Resource Management: Offers camp host positions, as well as those managing stores, marinas, canoe rentals, boat ramps, and horseback riding facilities.
- RV Park Store: Really a site for selling and buying RV parks, campgrounds, and lots but it also includes a good amount of RV help wanted ads for Workamper jobs as well.
- American Land & Leisure: A recreation management service offering Jobs for RVers in multiple states at multiple locations.
- RV Property – Job Listings: Just a small space for campground job listings on a larger site that includes RV lots for rent and sale as well as other information.
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