Wondering which companies are hiring seasonal workers? Yes? Here are some popular companies that offer seasonal jobs at $15 per hour or more.
Every fall, something predictable happens: the leaves change, pumpkin spice shows up everywhere, and a wave of “now hiring” signs pops up outside every big retailer and shipping hub in the country.
If you’ve ever wanted a quick, flexible way to pad your bank account before the holidays hit, seasonal work is one of the easiest doors to walk through.
But here’s the thing — not all seasonal jobs are created equal. Some pay barely above minimum wage and disappear the day after New Year’s. Others pay well, offer real perks, and sometimes turn into permanent gigs.
So let’s talk about who’s actually hiring, what they’re paying, and how you can put yourself in the best position to get hired quickly.
Why Seasonal Hiring Looks a Little Different Lately
A quick heads-up before you start applying: the last couple of holiday seasons haven’t looked like the hiring frenzies of 2020 or 2021. Employers have leaned harder into automation, and many retailers are choosing to give existing staff extra hours before bringing on brand-new seasonal help.
Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas tracked holiday hiring announcements coming in noticeably lighter for the 2025 season compared to prior years, with retail and warehousing companies both pulling back a bit as they watch consumer spending and costs more closely.
That doesn’t mean the jobs aren’t there — it just means it pays to apply early and be flexible about hours, location, and role type. Companies that do announce big seasonal pushes are still bringing on real numbers of workers, and plenty of them are worth your time.
Companies Hiring Seasonal Workers
Here’s a rundown of the retailers, shippers, and logistics companies that reliably bring on seasonal help each year, based on how recent hiring seasons have played out.
1. Amazon
Amazon is usually the single biggest seasonal employer in the country. In recent years, the company has announced plans to bring on roughly 250,000 full-time, part-time, and seasonal workers across its fulfillment centers, sortation centers, and delivery stations.
Roles range from warehouse packing and sorting to delivery driving, and Amazon has also put real money behind pay increases and benefits for its operations workforce. A meaningful share of seasonal hires each year end up getting invited to stay on afterward, so if you’re hoping for something longer-term, this is a solid place to start.
- Typical pay: Starting rates commonly land in the high teens to low $20s per hour, depending on location and shift.
- Apply: Amazon Career Portal
2. Target
Target tends to bring on around 100,000 seasonal workers each year for its stores and supply chain network, covering everything from stocking shelves to fulfilling Drive Up and Order Pickup requests.
One thing worth knowing: Target has said that more than half of last year’s seasonal hires were offered the chance to stick around afterward, which makes it a decent pick if you’re testing the waters for something more permanent.
- Typical pay: Starts around $15 per hour, with location-based variation.
- Apply: Target Career Portal
3. UPS
Package handlers, sorters, and seasonal drivers are the bread and butter of UPS’s holiday hiring. The company has run “holiday hiring spree” events in past seasons aimed at getting applicants from interview to job offer in under an hour.
UPS has also pointed out that a large share of its seasonal staff say they’d take a permanent role if offered one — worth keeping in mind if you’re hoping this becomes more than a few months of work.
- Typical pay: Package handler roles have started in the low-to-mid $20 range per hour in many markets, with added incentives during peak weeks.
- Apply: UPS Job Openings
4. Macy’s
Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Bluemercury together bring on tens of thousands of seasonal staff each year for stores, call centers, and distribution facilities, along with event staff for things like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Recent seasons have seen the company scale back slightly from past highs, but seasonal hiring is still a fixture of its holiday plan every year.
- Typical pay: Starts around $15 per hour, with merchandise discounts and referral bonuses in many locations.
- Apply: Macy’s Career Portal
5. Kohl’s
Kohl’s regularly brings on sales floor associates, stock associates, and distribution workers to handle the holiday rush. The company pays weekly, which can be a nice perk if you need cash flow sooner rather than later, and typically offers an employee discount on top of hourly pay.
- Typical pay: Generally in the $13–$15 per hour range to start.
- Apply: Kohl’s Jobs
6. JCPenney
JCPenney typically hires several thousand cashiers, sales associates, and backroom/operations staff across its store locations. Some stores offer a temporary pay bump during especially busy shifts, plus employee discounts and referral bonuses.
- Typical pay: Base rates around $13–$15 per hour, with premium-hour bonuses possible during peak periods.
- Apply: JCPenney’s Job Openings
7. FedEx
FedEx typically ramps up hiring for package handlers and delivery drivers heading into the holidays, with shifts available across mornings, days, evenings, and overnights.
It’s a solid option if you want flexibility in scheduling, since the company runs shifts around the clock during peak season.
- Typical pay: Commonly starts in the mid-to-high teens per hour, with incentive pay layered on top.
- Apply: FedEx Career Portal
8. Dick’s Sporting Goods, Burlington, Bath & Body Works, and Other Specialty Retailers
Beyond the household names, plenty of specialty retailers bring on seasonal staff every year — often in smaller numbers, but with less competition for the spots.
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Burlington, and Bath & Body Works have each announced holiday hiring in the thousands in recent seasons, usually for store associate and stockroom roles.
- Typical pay: Varies by role and region, generally landing near each retailer’s local minimum-plus-a-bit.
- Apply: Dick’s Sporting Goods Job Portal, Burlington Job Portal, and Bath & Body Works Career
9. Walmart
Walmart’s approach has shifted in recent years — instead of announcing a big specific seasonal hiring number, the company has leaned on offering current employees extra hours first and hiring additional help as needed throughout the year.
That means Walmart openings are often posted quietly and continuously rather than in one big fall announcement, so it’s worth checking their careers page directly rather than waiting for a press release.
- Typical pay: Wages have generally landed in the $15–$24 range depending on role and location.
- Apply: Walmart Career Portal
Tips for Actually Landing One of These Jobs
- Apply early. The best shifts and locations get snapped up fast, and some companies (like UPS and Amazon) have been known to make same-day or near-instant offers to qualified applicants.
- Be flexible on scheduling. If you can work nights, weekends, or on-call shifts, you’ll stand out. Retailers and shippers need coverage during their absolute peak hours, and flexibility is often valued more than experience.
- Don’t ignore the smaller names. Everyone applies to Amazon and Target first. Specialty retailers and regional chains often have less competition and can be just as good a fit, especially if you want a quieter, more predictable environment.
- Ask about conversion to permanent roles. Many of these companies openly say a portion of their seasonal staff get offered permanent positions afterward. If that’s your goal, mention it during your interview — showing interest in staying on can genuinely influence who gets asked back.
- Check for benefits, even in a temp role. Some companies offer things like free mental health resources, tuition assistance, or 401(k) matching even to seasonal employees who transition to longer-term roles. It’s worth asking rather than assuming a “temporary” job means “no benefits.”
Frequently Asked Questions
When do companies typically start hiring seasonal workers?
Most major retailers and shippers begin posting seasonal roles in September, with hiring activity picking up heavily through October and into November. Some companies keep hiring right up until mid-December if demand is still high.
Do seasonal jobs pay less than regular jobs?
Not necessarily. Many companies pay seasonal workers the same starting rate as regular part-time or full-time staff, and some even offer temporary pay bumps during the busiest weeks of the season.
Can a seasonal job turn into a permanent position?
Yes, quite often. Several major employers, including Target, Amazon, and UPS, have said that a meaningful percentage of their seasonal hires are offered permanent roles once the holiday rush winds down. It’s worth expressing interest in staying on if that’s what you want.
What kind of jobs are usually available seasonally?
Common seasonal roles include retail sales associates, cashiers, stock and warehouse workers, package handlers, delivery drivers, and customer service representatives. Some companies also hire for seasonal call center or online chat support roles.
Do seasonal employees get benefits?
It depends on the company and the length of employment. Some retailers offer perks like employee discounts, referral bonuses, and even limited access to health resources or tuition assistance programs, even for short-term seasonal staff.
How many hours do seasonal workers typically get?
This varies widely — some seasonal roles are part-time (10–20 hours a week), while others, especially at logistics companies like UPS or FedEx during peak weeks, can offer close to full-time hours with overtime opportunities.
The Bottom Line
Seasonal work isn’t just a way to make a little extra holiday cash — for a lot of people, it’s turned into an actual foot in the door for a longer career.
Hiring numbers have been more conservative the past couple of seasons, but that just means it pays to move quickly, apply to more than one company, and stay open-minded about which retailer or shipper you end up with.
Keep an eye on company career pages starting in early-to-mid fall, since that’s usually when the big seasonal hiring announcements start rolling in.
You May Be Interested In: