Awesome Summer Jobs - Lifeguard

Lifeguard

The summer job has become a staple of the American economy. Every year, thousands of high-school and college students apply for jobs ranging from hay baler to landscaper to sales person in hopes of scoring one or two jobs to occupy the summer months. But what is the perfect summer job? What job has fun times and good money? Here’s our top 5 best summer jobs, in no particular order.

Server
Serving ultimately has the most potential for the highest pay in the shortest amount of time. But nobody ever said it was easy work. Servers have to deal with the best and the worst the public has to offer. Good customers are just as common as bad ones.

A good rule of thumb when looking for restaurant work is to aim for chains. Franchises are usually a good bet for some decent money. This is a perfect job for somebody who likes people, doesn’t mind being a slave for a table, is smart and can sell themselves just short of prostitution.

Average Pay: $70-$120 a shift
Pros: Quick Money, Free Food, Short Shifts
Cons: Dealing with the Public, High Stress, Low Hourly Pay

Cruise Ship Employee
Duh! This just sounds amazing, right? Cruise ships travel all over the world in luxury. The coolest thing about working on a cruise ship? You’re always going someplace different!

Cruise ships need just about every kind of employee you can think of. Ships need servers, bartenders, maintenance crews, stewards and beauticians. Remember, customer service is of the utmost importance. Jobs vary from cruise ship to cruise ship but the basic premise is the same: the customer is always right. Get your sea legs ready because you’ll be spending the summer in the Caribbean!

Average Pay: Varies by Position
Pros: Sunshine, Great Atmosphere, Life Experience, Something for Everybody
Cons: Pirates, Sea Sickness, A Whole Summer Commitment

Summer Camp Counselor
Remember the “Friday the 13th” movies? Yup, that happens. Just kidding! Counselors are pretty awesome people and summer camps are as diverse as hobbies can be.

Counselors spend their summers mentoring school-aged kids. They can be in charge of crafts, water safety, archery, hiking, teaching about local wildlife and many other responsibilities. Many camps provide living quarters, meals and transportation to the outside world. If you’re a fan of wildlife or have a particular skill you would like to teach others, try counseling.

Average Pay: $300-$500 a week
Pros: Teaching Others, Working with Kids, Experiencing Wildlife, Free Meals
Cons: Remote Areas, One Day off a Week, Must Stay Whole Season

Landscaping
Landscaping is good hard work. If you’re the type of person who enjoys getting dirty while spending the whole day in the summer sun, check out landscaping. It’s more than just cutting grass and trimming bushes. Landscaping can also include planting trees, maintaining gardens, cutting branches, cleaning ponds and checking out the most attractive residents of the swimming pool.

But landscaping isn’t for everybody. The pay isn’t great and many times jobs can be rain or shine. Landscaping can also be dangerous, depending on the job.

Average Pay: $9-$15 an hour
Pros: Spending Time Outside, Laid-back Work, Breaks, Keep in Shape
Cons: Allergies, Sunburns, Long Hours, Average Pay

Lifeguard
What could be better than sitting around a pool all day getting a tan and getting paid for it? Although life guards are the safety measure standing between your children and drowning, it’s a pretty sweet gig.

There is some training involved, however. Courses can cost $200-$300 but the certification lasts for three years. Also, lifeguarding can vary greatly depending on the location, the type of water and the people you are protecting. Guarding does take a good physical condition and mental discipline. But think of the benefits! You get a fantastic tan and you’re attracting all the men and women you could possibly hope for!

Average Pay: $9-$20 an hour
Pros: Getting a Tan, Three Year Cert., Keep in Shape, Baywatch-Type Mystique
Cons: Stressful, Boring at Times, Pay Varies Greatly Based on Location

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