How to hire a mascot

How to hire a mascot, step by step

Here's a step-by-step mascot hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a mascot job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new mascot
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a mascot do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the mascot you need to hire. Certain mascot roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect mascot also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of mascot salaries for various roles:

   Type of Mascot	Description	Hourly rate
   Mascot		$11-51
   Entertainer	The primary responsibility of the entertainment coordinator is to make sure any event takes place smoothly. They plan the segments that might occur in the event, making sure that it is age-appropriate... Show more	$11-51
   Performer	A performer is responsible for entertaining guests by expressing their talents through different arts and expertise while earning. Performers must have excellent communication skills, especially that they regularly interact with people to showcase their capabilities for the audience's enjoyment... Show more	$11-51

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Community Appearances
   • Animation
   • Local Community
   • Athletic Events
   • Costumes
   • Customer Service
   • Promotional Events
   • In-Game Promotions
   • Public Events
   • Community Relations
   • Public Appearances
   • Community Functions
   • Private Parties
   • Fan Interaction

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Learned leadership responsibilities to accomplish goals.
   • Perform at numerous events including NFL games, charity events and fundraisers.
   • Assist in organizing and choreographing end-zone routines for the 2013 NFL season.
   • Experience positive cheerleader on varsity team that lead through competition and NCA summer camps.
   • Work with celebrities and alumni players during preseason, post season, and regular season.
   • Coordinate events; schedule necessary participants, facilities, props, costumes, music, and videos.

   More mascot duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your mascot job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A mascot salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a mascot in South Carolina may be lower than in Connecticut, and an entry-level mascot usually earns less than a senior-level mascot. Additionally, a mascot with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average mascot salary

   $51,600yearly

   $24.81 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level mascot salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average mascot salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$67,252	$32
   2	New York	$67,116	$32
   3	Pennsylvania	$61,203	$29
   4	California	$54,015	$26
   5	Maryland	$53,000	$25
   6	Michigan	$52,913	$25
   7	Arizona	$51,705	$25
   8	Indiana	$50,212	$24
   9	Wisconsin	$49,636	$24
   10	Florida	$41,925	$20
   11	Texas	$41,499	$20
   12	Alabama	$41,416	$20
   13	Tennessee	$41,171	$20
   14	Missouri	$39,512	$19
   15	Louisiana	$39,501	$19
   16	South Carolina	$38,580	$19
   17	Colorado	$38,243	$18
   18	Georgia	$34,883	$17

   Average mascot salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	PSEA	$84,433	$40.59
   2	Moraine Park Technical College	$68,089	$32.74
   3	Cumulus Media	$56,754	$27.29
   4	Howard Community College	$54,198	$26.06
   5	Guaranty Bancorp	$51,813	$24.91
   6	Quick Quack Car Wash	$48,384	$23.26
   7	Nexstar Media Group	$48,068	$23.11
   8	Randstad North America, Inc.	$39,230	$18.86
   9	City of Jacksonville, Florida - Government	$38,951	$18.73
   10	The Coca-Cola Company	$36,274	$17.44
   11	Detroit Zoo	$30,424	$14.63
   12	Springfield	$27,534	$13.24
   13	University of Montevallo	$26,556	$12.77
   14	Delaware North	$26,186	$12.59
   15	St. Clair County Community Mental Health	$25,888	$12.45	1

4. Writing a mascot job description

   A good mascot job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a mascot job description:

   Mascot job description example

   If you are interested in sports jobs with the New Orleans Pelicans,
   
   you're in the right place!
   
   The New Orleans Pelicans G League affiliate, the Birmingham Squadron, are seeking multiple individuals to play an important public-facing role. The mascot coordinators help bring the team's mascot to life for our fans and community. This costumed position does not require prior mascot experience; however, it requires a captivating personality and the ability to create special moments for people of all ages and abilities without saying a word. By appearing at Squadron's home games as well as potential community events, the mascot coordinators create goodwill for the team and help cultivate a new generation of basketball fans in Birmingham, Alabama.
   
   This part-time position is compensated on an hourly basis and requires a commitment for at least the duration of the 2021-22 NBA G-League season. This role does not require athletic ability, but it does require physical stamina. Its a great opportunity for college students or people who enjoy working in live entertainment.
   
   Core Responsibilities:
   
   * Serve as a positive community ambassador for the Squadron brand.
   * Appear at Squadron home games, which includes greeting fans, photo stations and seat visits.
   * Make community appearances as requested by the Squadron or their partners.
   * Adhere to all NBA G-League mascot performance guidelines and protocols.
   * Maintain the integrity of the mascot costume, including basic cleaning and repair.
   * Other duties as assigned
   
   Criteria/Qualifications:
   
   * Must be an outgoing, positive individual who can easily connect with fans of all ages and abilities.
   * Must be able to read social cues to understand the level of engagement each fan may want.
   * Must be in good physical condition and be able to wear heavy costumes and stand or walk for extended periods of time, as well as work in hot or inclement weather.
   * Must be able and willing to work irregular hours including nights, weekends and holidays.
   * Must have a valid driver's license, reliable transportation and the ability to travel for appearances throughout the Birmingham area.
   
   Applications must be submitted online. Please do not mail or email resumes to the Pelicans. All qualified candidates will be contacted by phone and/or by email. Please do not contact the Pelicans Human Resources or Hiring Manager to check the status of your application. When applying, please be sure your updated contact information is provided.
   
   The New Orleans Pelicans are committed to providing equal employment opportunities for candidates and employees regardless of their membership in any protected classifications. The Pelicans will not discriminate in violation of the law on the basis of race, color, age, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, and pregnancy), religion, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, and/or any other legally protected class under applicable federal, state, or local laws. This anti-discrimination policy applies with respect to all employment decisions, including but not limited to hiring, promotion, discipline, and discharge. The Pelicans are committed to equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in compliance with the Americans Disabilities Act and state law. If you feel you need an accommodation for a disability, please inform us. Requests for accommodation will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you request an accommodation, it is essential that you participate fully in the interactive process.
   
   Other details
   
   * Job Family Birmingham GLeague
   * Pay Type Hourly
   
   Apply Now
   
   * Birmingham, AL, USA

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find mascots for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any mascots they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level mascots with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your mascot job on Zippia to find and recruit mascot candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit mascots, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new mascot

   Once you've selected the best mascot candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new mascot. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a mascot?