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Does this job/career exist?

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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
I love skiing. It is what makes me happiest. I really do not want to get a job where I work all year long and can only ski 3 days a week or less in the winter time.

So, is there a job out there that allows you to work from basically Memorial Day to Thanksgiving while making a somewhat decent income? I know that I would not make $100k+ in just 6 months, but I still want to try to make $65k+ in those months if possible... I currently fight wild land fire in the summers to help me get through school. I enjoy it, but I just don't think it is something I want to do for a very long time.

So are there any other jobs out there that basically allow you to work the 6 months of the year when snow isn't on the ground? One where you make a decent income? And where you have the majority of your winters free? Thanks guys.
Mar 6 2018 2:47PM
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zues
Posts: 6434 - Karma: -5,330
If you really want to be able to have 6 months off at a time (which is unlikely unless you're filthy rich) I advise you suck it up and get a job in your major. Once you have some experience under your belt, become and entrepreneur and start your own business in order to be your own boss. If you are successful you can take time off to ski.
Mar 6 2018 2:55PM
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AndrewGravesSV
Posts: 3083 - Karma: 15,098
I think Logan Imlach did it for a while by working on an oil rig. Maybe try deep sea fishing or crabbing too because they're seasonal? Ideally I feel like you could work year round but have a flexible schedule or work remotely at odd hours.
Mar 6 2018 3:08PM
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Casey
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 24,308
Short answer is no. Seasonal labor is probably the best you can do with that criteria.
Mar 6 2018 3:14PM
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TrickyDick470
Posts: 443 - Karma: 2,350
I don't know how it works in other states, but you could be a construction technician / inspector. You test concrete, soils, and asphalt. In places that actually have winter, construction on heavy jobs usually stops for the winter and people in that field will often take unemployment for the winter.

However, the money in this job is usually made by doing overtime and a lot of people who do well are working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or maybe Sundays off if they are lucky. I met some people who ski bummed this way. I could have done it but would rather have a balance so I can mountain bike in the summer.
Mar 6 2018 3:19PM
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zues
Posts: 6434 - Karma: -5,330
I know a lot of ppl who work construction / carpentry in the spring summer fall, then take unemployment in the winter... but you can't do that forever as unemployment runs out.
Mar 6 2018 3:49PM
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strayln_Skier
Posts: 451 - Karma: 1,182
TrickyDick470I don't know how it works in other states, but you could be a construction technician / inspector. You test concrete, soils, and asphalt. In places that actually have winter, construction on heavy jobs usually stops for the winter and people in that field will often take unemployment for the winter.

However, the money in this job is usually made by doing overtime and a lot of people who do well are working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week. Or maybe Sundays off if they are lucky. I met some people who ski bummed this way. I could have done it but would rather have a balance so I can mountain bike in the summer.


I feel like this is the only way to make it work.
Working long shifts and weekends..
You can do that if you start your own business.
Mar 6 2018 4:04PM
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Casey
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 24,308
strayln_SkierI feel like this is the only way to make it work.
Working long shifts and weekends..
You can do that if you start your own business.


The problem with starting your own business is you gotta be all in to make it work. I've never met an entrepreneur that would be willing to just shut down for 6 months a year to ski bum it. They are all obesessed or they fail. Sometimes they fail anyway.
Mar 6 2018 4:11PM
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strayln_Skier
Posts: 451 - Karma: 1,182
CaseyThe problem with starting your own business is you gotta be all in to make it work. I've never met an entrepreneur that would be willing to just shut down for 6 months a year to ski bum it. They are all obesessed or they fail. Sometimes they fail anyway.

True.
Mar 6 2018 4:14PM
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TACO-DOG.exe
Posts: 11988 - Karma: 12,261
the past two summers i ran heavy equipment for a big construction company in the city. working 12 hour days and every day it doesn't rain, I made more than enough over the summer to work at a ski hill last winter (doesn't pay much) and ski bum/travel for most of the winter this year. the timing for the end of the work season to the start of the ski season is almost perfect since they can't move dirt with snow on the ground. i'd do it again but i think i need to focus on buying a house now

like someone else in here said if you want to make big money at a seasonal job get into testing or surveying. it's all the pay/hours without the heavy lifting.
Mar 6 2018 4:15PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51626 - Karma: 162,067
.Dadthe past two summers i ran heavy equipment for a big construction company in the city. working 12 hour days and every day it doesn't rain, I made more than enough over the summer to work at a ski hill last winter (doesn't pay much) and ski bum/travel for most of the winter this year. the timing for the end of the work season to the start of the ski season is almost perfect since they can't move dirt with snow on the ground. i'd do it again but i think i need to focus on buying a house now

like someone else in here said if you want to make big money at a seasonal job get into testing or surveying. it's all the pay/hours without the heavy lifting.


I'll probably move into operating in the summer in a few years. I still dig the ski industry despite the pay. I wanna either work in the southern hem winter or work odd jobs and travel in the summer. But if I ever lock down year round to one spot that's probably what it will be. Sure pays a fuck ton better than the ski industry.
Mar 6 2018 4:46PM
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Lonely
Posts: 6741 - Karma: 61,663
.lenconI love skiing. It is what makes me happiest. I really do not want to get a job where I work all year long and can only ski 3 days a week or less in the winter time.

So, is there a job out there that allows you to work from basically Memorial Day to Thanksgiving while making a somewhat decent income? I know that I would not make $100k+ in just 6 months, but I still want to try to make $65k+ in those months if possible... I currently fight wild land fire in the summers to help me get through school. I enjoy it, but I just don't think it is something I want to do for a very long time.

So are there any other jobs out there that basically allow you to work the 6 months of the year when snow isn't on the ground? One where you make a decent income? And where you have the majority of your winters free? Thanks guys.


Keep working in fire. Forest service and all other natural resource departments are in desperate need of people working in fire.

It helps if you have at least a bachelor's degree to come in a little higher on the gs scale, but if you work for 18 months seasonally you not only get moved up in the gs scale but also have a very good chance of getting a fulltime job.

You'll probably have to move a lot, and do shitty jobs but you'll be in the government system and there's a lot of room to move up in the usda. You'll get to get some good skills, and if you don't get burned out you'll make some decent money.

I would recommend going to college and working summer's for the usda. When you graduate you'll have a degree and close to 18 months of experience depending on what you do during the school year.

--literally just talked to the usda Midwest Forest management chief about this today
Mar 6 2018 5:13PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
The answer is no. Thanks for applying.
Mar 6 2018 7:27PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
But I will say a lot of places offer sabbaticals after you’ve put in five years. So you work 5 years then take a year off unpaid and do whatever you want. Rinse, repeat.
Mar 6 2018 7:34PM
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WBY
Posts: 332 - Karma: 136
Fighting wild fires in Cali. They pay you for 12 months and you work 6. Apparently the 6 months you work is brutal but you make around 60k and save all of it cus you have limited access to the outside world. look into it op.
Mar 6 2018 7:53PM
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SendyMcSendyface
Posts: 2729 - Karma: 22,981
.lenconI love skiing. It is what makes me happiest. I really do not want to get a job where I work all year long and can only ski 3 days a week or less in the winter time.

So, is there a job out there that allows you to work from basically Memorial Day to Thanksgiving while making a somewhat decent income? I know that I would not make $100k+ in just 6 months, but I still want to try to make $65k+ in those months if possible... I currently fight wild land fire in the summers to help me get through school. I enjoy it, but I just don't think it is something I want to do for a very long time.

So are there any other jobs out there that basically allow you to work the 6 months of the year when snow isn't on the ground? One where you make a decent income? And where you have the majority of your winters free? Thanks guys.


I know you already work fire on the ground, and if you're really serious about a career, get your pilot's license, then your commercial, fuck around doing entry level flying shit (instructing, skydiving, cropdusting, basic cargo work in Alaska), and then come back to the fire industry. As an alternative, if you want to fly helis, join the army, and fly helis for a few years, use the GI bill to get your civie license, and then go fly helis for the fire industry. The dudes I know who fly fire are all making upwards of 70k/season, and have the winters off. Of course, these dudes have all done their time at low paying, entry level flying jobs to get there.
Mar 6 2018 9:12PM
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evaroni
Posts: 3895 - Karma: 3,776
Do ski lift construction. You will be so sick of being in the snow and at a resort by the end of each project you won't even want to ski and that alone will save you thousands.
Mar 6 2018 10:13PM
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Govygen_gourmet
Posts: 380 - Karma: -477
Auntie is not college educated, drives one of those gravel trucks for a road paving company, pulls in 59k/y alone in 6 months. Sure it's not as much as you are looking for but it's still damn good. Her family doesn't ski, they are doing quite well.. this is in WA and i'm just going to go out on a limb and guess you would earn more in another state, say California. You do need a CDL of a higher level to drive these trucks, room for advancement if you are solid so 59k salary would be just a start.
Mar 6 2018 10:44PM
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Rum_Ham
Posts: 1449 - Karma: 4,482
Why not get a patrol job for the winter and work construction or something in the summers
Mar 7 2018 1:18AM
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Auzy
Posts: 569 - Karma: 1,827
Door to door sales
Mar 7 2018 12:38PM
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yungQ
Posts: 178 - Karma: 842
lobster during the summer you can make 100 k easily in a summer once you get your license. then go shred all winter.
Mar 7 2018 12:48PM
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Lyricsylvan
Posts: 104 - Karma: 1,111
marine biology
Mar 7 2018 2:07PM
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Sno.
Posts: 12155 - Karma: 6,152
WBYFighting wild fires in Cali. They pay you for 12 months and you work 6. Apparently the 6 months you work is brutal but you make around 60k and save all of it cus you have limited access to the outside world. look into it op.


This is literally OPs current job
Mar 7 2018 5:33PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
Lyricsylvanmarine biology


How would this work?
Mar 7 2018 5:42PM
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OregonDead
Posts: 6890 - Karma: 24,544
There is an old guy that is a regular at Mt Hood who is a commercial fisherman. Seems like he does very well working seasonally. Don't know any details but the guy has very nice late model cars very nice skis and sent his daughter to a very nice private college here in Oregon. He doesn't work at all from October-May so he skis whenever he wants. Sounds like the huge downside is moving away from his family to work non-stop for 4 months every year and it sounds like very hard physical work.
Mar 7 2018 7:02PM
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Lyricsylvan
Posts: 104 - Karma: 1,111
.lenconHow would this work?

Look up Adam U. He works all summer on a boat and skis all winter.
Mar 7 2018 7:05PM
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gnarRat
Posts: 106 - Karma: 993
Know some people who work on a boat all summer fishing and they rack in like 30k in 4 months
Mar 7 2018 11:07PM
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daannnnieel
Posts: 5163 - Karma: 4,293
oilfield work pops into my mind..?
Mar 7 2018 11:21PM
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_blee
Posts: 22 - Karma: 93
Lawn care professional
Mar 8 2018 1:52AM
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PowPirate
Posts: 437 - Karma: 621
I've thought about similar things before. there's the obvious high pay seasonal/ 2 weeks on 1 week off jobs. oil fields, fishing, mining etc similar to what your doing now i guess but honestly i'm not sure how sustainable those jobs are. Don't get me wrong, when i was living in BC and doing a season in fernie you would see all the guys making a load of cash in the mines around the elk valley or all the guys working tar sands up at fort mcmurry, driving monster rigs with a couple of sleds to play on for the week. all looked pretty good.
I've decided the way to go for me is consultancy or contract work. but first you need to get really really good at something build up some experience etc. i'm not to far from becoming an architect still some years to go but its the only way i can think of maximizing the ski time in a 9-5 office job. work all summer ski all winter or at least get a solid 6 week vacation out of it.
Mar 8 2018 8:46AM
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skierman
Posts: 8332 - Karma: 7,766
Just win the lottery.
Mar 8 2018 10:35AM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
skiermanJust win the lottery.


Skier man always has the best advice.
Should I go for the PowerBall or what?


The marine biology gig sounds kinda cool, it seems like there are some seasonal biology jobs that could potentially pay decently well, and since I'm halfway through my biology degree it makes sense..


And for people recommending the oil industry, I am pretty sure I do not want to go that route. Although I do have a buddy who works 2 weeks on/2 weeks off and makes $100k a year. Only downside is having to be in Texas on an oil field away from you family for half the year.
Mar 8 2018 11:32AM
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philipc
Posts: 6651 - Karma: 1,286
.lenconSkier man always has the best advice.
Should I go for the PowerBall or what?


The marine biology gig sounds kinda cool, it seems like there are some seasonal biology jobs that could potentially pay decently well, and since I'm halfway through my biology degree it makes sense..


And for people recommending the oil industry, I am pretty sure I do not want to go that route. Although I do have a buddy who works 2 weeks on/2 weeks off and makes $100k a year. Only downside is having to be in Texas on an oil field away from you family for half the year.


The biggest downside is being surrounded by republicans
Mar 8 2018 12:36PM
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Govygen_gourmet
Posts: 380 - Karma: -477
Sell Vaccum Cleaners
Mar 12 2018 9:01PM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5070 - Karma: 43,007
Fishing, Fire, or Oil.

The big three, I've had friends do all three to varying levels of success.

Why such a high bar? $65k a year is a lot, let alone for 6 months!
Mar 13 2018 5:48PM
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Casey
Posts: 7847 - Karma: 24,308
cydwhitFishing, Fire, or Oil.

The big three, I've had friends do all three to varying levels of success.

Why such a high bar? $65k a year is a lot, let alone for 6 months!


Yeah High salaries and being expendible enough to be able to leave for half the year generally don't go together
Mar 13 2018 6:43PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,183
cydwhitFishing, Fire, or Oil.

The big three, I've had friends do all three to varying levels of success.

Why such a high bar? $65k a year is a lot, let alone for 6 months!

Really don't wanna do oil. Not sure if I want to make a career out of fire.. and I guess fishing would be okay..

Those wildlife biology gigs would be cool. If there are enough seasonal wildlife biology jobs out there that pay decent that would be sick.

I mean, if I found something for a little less I could be down. I just think it would be nice to make that for comfortable living situations, setting myself up for a family down the road, etc. Right now if I wasn't going to work seasonal my career choices would have me at least $80k+ for the year. I'm not trying to be greedy nor unrealistic, it would just be nice and make living comfortable.
CaseyYeah High salaries and being expendible enough to be able to leave for half the year generally don't go together

Yeah I know. Like I said, I am not trying to be unrealistic or greedy, it would just be nice.
I think I just need to talk to some people in wildlife biology and see if its realistic. I could see myself spending summers observing/tracking animals. I did a quick google search on salaries and while none of them were $65k a year, some definitely approached that number.
Mar 13 2018 7:58PM
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Nickc88
Posts: 630 - Karma: 2,074
You could work night shifts at Amazon for half of the year
Mar 14 2018 10:32PM
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will_powder
Posts: 3194 - Karma: 5,445
TREEPLANTING IN BC
Mar 15 2018 10:17AM
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fries
Posts: 2978 - Karma: 7,518
will_powderTREEPLANTING IN BC


Where do we sign up
Mar 15 2018 12:33PM
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