Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Summer worker salary
Average summer worker salary
$15.11
Average Summer Worker Salary
The average salary for summer workers in the United States stands at $31,419 annually, or about $15 per hour. This salary can vary based on location, experience, and the specific industry in which one is employed.
How Much Does a Summer Worker Make?
In general, summer workers can expect to earn different amounts depending on their job type. For instance, roles in fields like hospitality and retail tend to offer competitive wages, while internships in specialized sectors may provide higher pay.
Where Can a Summer Worker Earn More?
Regions with a high demand for seasonal labor, such as major urban centers, often offer better compensation. Cities like New York and Los Angeles typically provide higher wages compared to smaller towns.
Average Summer Worker Salary by State
- California: $33,000
- New York: $32,500
- Texas: $29,000
Highest Paying Cities for Summer Workers
Salary opportunities can also differ significantly by city. Top-paying cities for summer workers include:
- San Francisco: $35,000
- Seattle: $34,000
Overall, summer work not only provides valuable experience but also offers competitive pay, especially in certain regions and industries, making it a viable option for students and young professionals.
Let Zippia find your next summer worker job
Let Zippia find your next summer worker job
Where can a Summer Worker earn more?
Average summer worker salary by state
The average summer worker salary in Alaska, Mississippi, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average summer worker salary states are Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for summer workers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Virginia | $38,734 | $18.62 |
| 2 | California | $41,399 | $19.90 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $40,117 | $19.29 |
| 4 | Oregon | $38,092 | $18.31 |
| 5 | Washington | $37,083 | $17.83 |
| 6 | Mississippi | $41,864 | $20.13 |
| 7 | South Dakota | $34,093 | $16.39 |
| 8 | Alaska | $52,373 | $25.18 |
| 9 | Idaho | $35,232 | $16.94 |
| 10 | Maine | $36,938 | $17.76 |
| 11 | District of Columbia | $38,164 | $18.35 |
| 12 | Montana | $35,062 | $16.86 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $36,618 | $17.60 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $32,990 | $15.86 |
| 15 | New Hampshire | $32,865 | $15.80 |
| 16 | North Dakota | $35,131 | $16.89 |
| 17 | Nebraska | $31,999 | $15.38 |
| 18 | Vermont | $34,497 | $16.59 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $34,949 | $16.80 |
| 20 | Arizona | $34,188 | $16.44 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $33,770 | $16.24 |
| 22 | Connecticut | $32,854 | $15.80 |
| 23 | Colorado | $33,369 | $16.04 |
| 24 | Delaware | $32,701 | $15.72 |
| 25 | New York | $36,321 | $17.46 |
| 26 | Alabama | $30,756 | $14.79 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $32,984 | $15.86 |
| 28 | Florida | $27,619 | $13.28 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| 30 | South Carolina | $28,283 | $13.60 |
| 31 | Michigan | $30,852 | $14.83 |
| 32 | Hawaii | $34,786 | $16.72 |
| 33 | Utah | $26,646 | $12.81 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $29,308 | $14.09 |
| 35 | Missouri | $25,859 | $12.43 |
| 36 | Ohio | $27,195 | $13.07 |
| 37 | Maryland | $29,593 | $14.23 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $25,228 | $12.13 |
| 39 | Illinois | $30,570 | $14.70 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $26,192 | $12.59 |
| 41 | Virginia | $27,046 | $13.00 |
| 42 | Iowa | $26,807 | $12.89 |
| 43 | Texas | $26,034 | $12.52 |
| 44 | Nevada | $27,142 | $13.05 |
| 45 | Louisiana | $20,905 | $10.05 |
| 46 | Kansas | $25,524 | $12.27 |
| 47 | Georgia | $23,793 | $11.44 |
| 48 | New Jersey | $28,397 | $13.65 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $24,299 | $11.68 |
| 50 | Indiana | $25,228 | $12.13 |
| 51 | Kentucky | $25,323 | $12.17 |
Highest paying cities for summer workers
The highest-paying cities for summer workers are Portland, OR, Portland, ME, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portland, OR | $38,137 | $18.34 |
| 2 | Portland, ME | $37,031 | $17.80 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $36,317 | $17.46 |
| 4 | Austin, MN | $35,749 | $17.19 |
| 5 | Hilo, HI | $34,335 | $16.51 |
| 6 | Appleton, WI | $33,696 | $16.20 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $33,390 | $16.05 |
| 8 | Raleigh, NC | $33,129 | $15.93 |
| 9 | Flint, MI | $31,174 | $14.99 |
| 10 | Addison, IL | $30,658 | $14.74 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $29,747 | $14.30 |
| 12 | Medina, OH | $27,687 | $13.31 |
| 13 | Lynchburg, VA | $26,621 | $12.80 |
| 14 | Oklahoma City, OK | $26,176 | $12.58 |
| 15 | Austin, TX | $26,098 | $12.55 |
| 16 | Bloomington, IN | $24,819 | $11.93 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $23,803 | $11.44 |
Summer worker salary details
A summer worker's salary ranges from $23,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $41,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a summer worker's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 75th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| Average | $31,419 | $2,618 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $23,000 | $1,917 | $11 |
Highest paying summer worker jobs
The highest paying types of summer workers are senior counselor, program lead, and group leader.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orientation Leader | $33,848 | $2,821 | $16.27 | 32,073 |
| Recreation Leader | $30,040 | $2,503 | $14.44 | 35,684 |
| Activities Leader | $30,329 | $2,527 | $14.58 | 35,544 |
| Program Lead | $100,727 | $8,394 | $48.43 | 61,632 |
| Activities/Volunteer | $32,875 | $2,740 | $15.81 | 4,126 |
| Group Leader | $100,480 | $8,373 | $48.31 | 56,173 |
Top companies hiring summer workers now:
Which companies pay summer workers the most?
Summer worker salaries at CHI - Cultural Homestay International and Instacart are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average summer worker salary at companies like Cargill and Jelly Belly are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHI - Cultural Homestay International | $37,895 | $18.22 |
| 2 | Instacart | $37,516 | $18.04 |
| 3 | Cargill | $35,900 | $17.26 |
| 4 | Jelly Belly | $35,800 | $17.21 |
| 5 | Lifesteps | $35,359 | $17.00 |
| 6 | H.P. Associates | $34,837 | $16.75 |
| 7 | CARE | $34,076 | $16.38 |
| 8 | St. Lawrence University | $33,628 | $16.17 |
| 9 | International Paper | $33,503 | $16.11 |
| 10 | Ldr | $33,492 | $16.10 |
| 11 | Post Holdings | $33,423 | $16.07 |
| 12 | Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES | $33,298 | $16.01 |
| 13 | Amazon | $33,261 | $15.99 |
| 14 | Messiah College | $33,214 | $15.97 |
| 15 | Ryan Lawn & Tree | $33,195 | $15.96 |
| 16 | Canton Township, Michigan | $33,171 | $15.95 |
| 17 | Woodstock, Georgia | $33,155 | $15.94 |
| 18 | Addison Trail High School | $33,130 | $15.93 |
| 19 | Selmet | $32,591 | $15.67 |
| 20 | GlobalFoundries | $32,570 | $15.66 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Summer Worker salary by industry
The average summer worker salary varies across industries:
- The average summer worker salary in the manufacturing industry is $31,585, the highest of any industry.
- The average summer worker salary in the finance industry is $31,407.
- Summer workers in the hospitality industry earn an average salary of $28,209, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for summer workers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $31,585 | $15.19 |
| 2 | Education | $31,407 | $15.10 |
| 3 | Government | $30,803 | $14.81 |
| 4 | Hospitality | $28,209 | $13.56 |
High paying summer worker jobs
Summer worker salary trends
The average summer worker salary has risen by $6,971 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average summer worker earned $24,448 annually, but today, they earn $31,419 a year. That works out to a 19% change in pay for summer workers over the last decade.
Compare summer worker salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average summer worker salary over time
Compare summer worker salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Summer worker salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,400 | $15.11 | +7.3% |
| 2024 | $29,100 | $14.00 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | $27,700 | $13.31 | +2.1% |
| 2022 | $27,100 | $13.03 | +2.7% |
| 2021 | $26,400 | $12.68 | +2.3% |
Recently added summer worker salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce Manufacturing | Assembler-Summer Worker-1St. Shift | Riceville, IA | 06/28/2025 | $38,610 |
| HCC Service Company | Summer Temp-Document Generation Platform Conversion | Bowne, MI | 06/27/2025 | $37,566 |
| Albany County Government | Summer Laborer | Laramie, WY | 06/27/2025 | $35,479 |
| Polywood | Rotating Shifts | Extrusion | 7A-7P or 7P-7A | Summer Work | On The Job Training | Roxboro, NC | 06/25/2025 | $33,392 |
| Polywood | 2Nd Shift Fabrication | Summer Work Start Next Week P + OT | Long-Term Potential | Syracuse, IN | 06/25/2025 | $41,740 |
| Campbell County Schools | Summer Worker-Maintenance | Alexandria, KY | 06/24/2025 | $25,044 |
| Siena College | Events Worker-Summer Temporary-Siena College | Albany, NY | 06/24/2025 | $34,477 |
| Killington Pico Ski Resort | Summer Grounds Laborer | Killington, VT | 06/23/2025 | $35,479 |
| Vulcanmat | Summer Laborer-Ready Mix-Edsall RD | Springfield, VA | 06/22/2025 | $39,653 |
| Vulcan Materials Company | Summer Laborer-Ready Mix-Edsall RD | Springfield, VA | 06/21/2025 | $39,653 |
Summer worker salary FAQs
Search for summer worker jobs