60 paths tracked · nothing here is sponsored
Search every gap year we know of
Alaska Commercial Fishing Deckhand
Independent vessel owners (salmon seine, gillnet, longline, troll); placement help via ALFA and BBRSDA
Pays, amount varies
$500–$2,000 upfront to start
Alaska Fishing Lodge Crew
Remote Alaskan sportfishing lodges (e.g. Whalers Cove, Kingfisher Charters, Wilderness Place Lodge)
Pays, amount varies
$400–$1,500 upfront to start
Alaska seafood processing
Various Alaska processors
$18–$27/hr
Alaska Seafood Processor (North Pacific Seafoods / Alaska General Seafoods)
northpacificseafoodsinc.hrmdirect.com
Pays, amount varies
Alterra Mountain (Ikon) — Lift Operator
alterramtn.co
Pays, amount varies
Antarctic Support Contractor (McMurdo / South Pole / Palmer)
KBR Mission Technology Solutions (prime contractor since June 2, 2026, replacing Leidos) and subcontractors including Gana-A'Yoo Services Corporation
$648–$829/wk
$0–$1,000 upfront to start
Aramark Destinations — Denali National Park
aramarkcareers.com
Pays, amount varies
Aramark Destinations — Yosemite National Park
aramarkcareers.com
Pays, amount varies
Aspen Snowmass — Basic Ski Patrol
jobs.smartrecruiters.com
Pays, amount varies
Aspen Snowmass — Lift Attendant
jobs.smartrecruiters.com
Pays, amount varies
ATTRA / NCAT Sustainable Agriculture Internship Listings
ncat.org
Pays, amount varies
Au pair in the United States (J-1)
State Department-designated J-1 sponsors
$196/wk
Australia Ski Resort Seasonal Work (via subclass 462)
immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
Pays, amount varies
Australia Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
Australian Department of Home Affairs
Pays, amount varies
Big Sky Resort — Lift Operator / Ski Instructor
bigskyresort.com
Pays, amount varies
BLM Call-When-Needed (AD) Firefighter
blm.gov
Pays, amount varies
CAL FIRE Seasonal Firefighter (Fire Fighter I)
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
$19–$26/hr
$0–$600 upfront to start
Canada IEC (International Experience Canada)
canada.ca
Pays, amount varies
Catholic Worker Houses (live-in volunteer)
catholicworker.org
Pays, amount varies
Contract Wildland Fire Crew (Type 2 IA)
Private contractors, e.g. Grayback Forestry, PatRick Environmental (Oregon/Idaho/Montana)
$18–$29/hr
$0–$900 upfront to start
Copper River Seafoods — Seafood Processor
copperriverseafoods.com
Pays, amount varies
Delaware North — Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite
careers.delawarenorth.com
Pays, amount varies
Dude Ranch Wrangler / Guest Ranch Staff
Independent guest ranches (Dude Ranchers' Association members) across WY, MT, CO, AZ
$16–$18/hr
$200–$1,000 upfront to start
Federal Wildland Firefighter (Seasonal)
USDA Forest Service / DOI (BLM, NPS, FWS, BIA)
$21–$25/hr
$0–$800 upfront to start
Forever Resorts / Aramark Destinations — Grand Canyon North Rim
careers.aramarkdestinations.com
Pays, amount varies
Global Work & Travel (Australia, New Zealand, Canada)
globalworkandtravel.com
Pays, amount varies
InterExchange Work Abroad (Australia, New Zealand)
interexchange.org
Pays, amount varies
Ireland Working Holiday Authorisation (J1 WHA)
ireland.ie
Pays, amount varies
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort — Ski Instructor
jacksonhole.com
Pays, amount varies
MOFGA Farm Apprenticeship (Maine)
mofga.org
Pays, amount varies
National Park Concession Work (Aramark Destinations)
Aramark Destinations — Yosemite Hospitality, Denali, Mesa Verde, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon, Olympic
$19/hr
$150–$800 upfront to start
National Park Concession Work (Delaware North)
Delaware North — Yellowstone General Stores, Kennedy Space Center, Sequoia, Shenandoah, Grand Canyon
$17–$18/hr
$150–$700 upfront to start
National park concessioner (Xanterra and peers)
Xanterra Travel Collection and other NPS concessioners
$11–$14/hr
National Park Service Seasonal (via USAJOBS)
National Park Service, US Department of the Interior
$17–$22/hr
$150–$1,000 upfront to start
New Zealand Farm and Hospitality Work (WHV)
immigration.govt.nz
Pays, amount varies
New Zealand Working Holiday Visa (US scheme)
immigration.govt.nz
Pays, amount varies
Oregon Farm Corps — Rogue Valley Regenerative Farming Fellowship
oregonfarmcorps.org
Pays, amount varies
Oregon Farm Corps (Rogue Farm Corps)
oregonfarmcorps.org
Pays, amount varies
Oxbow Farm Integral Ecology Apprenticeship (Catholic Worker)
catholicworker.org
Pays, amount varies
PADI Divemaster / Instructor (Domestic Resort)
divejobs.padi.com
Pays, amount varies
Pursuit Collection — Glacier Park Lodge
tbw.pl
Pays, amount varies
Reforestation Tree Planting (US)
Private silviculture contractors in the Pacific Northwest; some agency/conservation-corps hourly crews
$15–$22/hr
$200–$1,000 upfront to start
Remote Camp Support (Alaska / North Slope)
NANA Management Services (NMS) and comparable Alaska Native corporation camp-services contractors
$15/hr
$100–$800 upfront to start
Residential Summer Camp Counselor
ACA-accredited overnight camps (independent, YMCA, Scouting, nonprofit)
$325–$500/wk
$50–$600 upfront to start
Seasonal Agricultural Harvest Work
Fruit and vegetable growers, primarily Washington, Oregon, California, Michigan
$17–$19/hr
$100–$1,200 upfront to start
Seasonal Ski Patroller
Ski resorts nationwide (independent and corporate)
$19–$22/hr
$600–$2,500 upfront to start
Singapore Work Holiday Programme (WHP)
mom.gov.sg
Pays, amount varies
Ski / Mountain Resort Seasonal Housing Exchange
Unknown
Pays, amount varies
Ski resort seasonal work (Vail / Alterra)
Vail Resorts, Alterra Mountain Company, and independents
$18–$22/hr
South Korea Working Holiday Visa (H-1) — US WEST Program
koreaworkexpert.com
Pays, amount varies
Traveling Carnival / Fair Worker
Butler Amusements, Reithoffer Shows and similar traveling carnival companies
$12–$15/hr
$50–$400 upfront to start
UniSea — Seafood Processor (Dutch Harbor)
unisea.com
Pays, amount varies
US-Flag Small Ship Crew (Deckhand / Steward)
American Cruise Lines and comparable US-flagged domestic operators
$1,000–$1,400/wk
$200–$600 upfront to start
Vail Resorts (Epic) — Lift Operator
jobs.vailresortscareers.com
Pays, amount varies
Whitewater Raft Guide
Independent outfitters (e.g. Nantahala Outdoor Center, Colorado and West Virginia outfitters)
$15–$22/hr
$300–$850 upfront to start
Work and save at home
No operator — the DIY path
$16/hr
Xanterra — Grand Canyon South Rim
xanterrajobs.com
Pays, amount varies
Xanterra — Painter, Yellowstone
coolworks.com
Pays, amount varies
Xanterra — Yellowstone National Park Lodges
xanterrajobs.com
Pays, amount varies
Yacht crew (after STCW certification)
Private and charter yacht industry
$1,500–$2,500/mo
$900–$2,800 upfront to start