New Survey Reveals The Coolest Summer Jobs Across America: For most people, summer means sunshine, long days, and a well-earned break. But for young people, it also means landing a once-a-year dream job. Just like the festive rush of December gigs, summer opens the door to quirky, coveted, and sometimes downright unbelievable temporary roles.
Career.io, an all-in-one platform for career guidance and success, surveyed 3,016 young people (ages 18-25) to uncover the coolest temporary jobs of summer 2025 – the ones that people don’t just take for the paycheck, but for sheer enjoyment too.
Some of the coolest temporary summer jobs in the U.S. include:
Food Sampler at Cheese Louise (Maine)
Grill cheese. Walk the streets. Win hearts. That’s the vibe at Cheese Louise, where your job is to hand out melty sandwich samples to hungry pedestrians in Portland’s Old Port. You’ll work weekends, make people smile, and smell like buttery heaven. Ideal for extroverts who love cheese and don’t mind being a walking sandwich ambassador. $25/hour to charm strangers with carbs? Not a bad way to spend a summer.
Lifestyle Show Co-Host (North Dakota)
Ever wanted to co-host a lifestyle show? KX News is giving you the mic (and a camera crew). As part of Studio 701, you’ll interview guests, write scripts, manage socials, and keep the show running with energy and flair. It’s 25 hours a week and tailor-made for someone who thrives on creativity and camera time. Great gig for aspiring media personalities or content creators looking to make the leap from TikTok to TV.
Safari Guide (Oregon)
If you’ve got a loud voice, a big smile, and a secret dream of driving a train and a safari Jeep, this job has your name on it. Wildlife Safari is hiring seasonal Safari Guides to greet guests, answer questions, drive the park train, and shuttle people around animal encounters. Pay is $14/hour and the vibe is full-on safari chic. Bonus: You’ll memorize more animal facts than David Attenborough by summer’s end.
Seasonal Aquarium Diver (Missouri)
Yes, you read that right. You can get paid to dive inside one of the most acclaimed aquariums in America. At Wonders of Wildlife, divers scrub tanks, wave at guests through glass, and keep underwater habitats in shape. There’s gear, training, and a fish-eye view of conservation in action. If you’ve got your dive cert and love working behind-the-scenes in a blue-lit wonderland, dive in-literally.
Pool DJ (Wisconsin)
Get paid to DJ poolside at one of Wisconsin’s oldest resorts. Lake Lawn Resort is hiring someone to spin family-friendly tunes, MC poolside games, and keep the summer energy high. When you’re not dropping bangers, you’ll help with activities and ensure the fun never stops. It’s part DJ, part hype crew, all vibes. If you can bring the party and work a playlist, this gig might be your poolside dream job.
Infographic showing the coolest jobs this summer across America
Career.io decided to dig a bit deeper. Beyond the job titles and paychecks, they wanted to understand what really drives Gen Z when it comes to summer work. The answers reveal a generation that values adventure, flexibility, and flair over just cold hard cash.
What Really Motivates Gen Z to Take a Summer Job in 2025?
Turns out, it’s not all about the money. While decent pay is still important, young job seekers today are chasing experiences over spreadsheets.
Experience over earnings? Absolutely.
A whopping 75% of respondents said they’ve taken a summer job purely for the experience, not the paycheck. Whether it’s working at a festival, guiding in the mountains, or just getting access to cool people and places, the vibe matters more than the bank balance.
Top motivators for summer job seekers:
- Adventure or travel opportunities: 41%.
- The paycheck: 23%.
- A unique experience to talk about later: 14%.
- Free access to festivals, beaches, or parks: 11%.
- Making new friends: 7%.
- Resume building: 4%.
Where do they want to work? Preferences were split, but the outdoors won overall:
- 23% said the beach or waterfront is their ideal setting.
- 21% prefer the mountains or forests.
- Another 23% lean toward urban/city events.
- A small but passionate 10% want indoor jobs with air-con and zero bug spray.
- The rest were drawn to theme parks, historic sites, or entertainment venues
So, how long would they stick with a dream job if money weren’t an issue?
Nearly one-half (49%) said they’d stay all summer. Only 9% wanted just a one-week hit of fun, while the rest aimed for somewhere between two weeks and two months.
When asked about perks that matter most, the results leaned toward the practical, but not boring:
- Free travel or accommodation: 41%.
- VIP access to concerts, parks, or events: 23%.
- Tips or bonuses: 20%.
- Networking or mentoring: 8%.
- Free food or gear: 4%.
- A chill work vibe: 4%.
One of the standout findings?
Seventy-two percent said they’d take a 50% pay cut if it meant landing the most ‘Instagrammable’ summer job in the country. Whether it’s dressing up as a theme park character or leading paddleboard yoga on a scenic lake, aesthetic clearly matters.
Finally, when it comes to choosing between fun and funds:
- 54% opted for a $25/hour remote job.
- 27% chose a lower-paying but more exciting gig at a music festival.
- 9% said they’d take $10/hour to work with dolphins.
- 8% said ‘forget the paycheck;’ they’d happily work for free if it meant travel and adventure.
“Today’s summer job isn’t just about earning cash – it’s about curating memories,” says Amanda Augustine, career expert at Career.io. “Young people are willing to trade a better-paying role for one with purpose, scenery, or just a great story to share. The most desirable summer jobs now come with sunsets, selfies, and social capital baked in.”
