Vail Resorts hires through one careers site, jobs.vailresortscareers.com, for Vail and every other mountain the company runs. You search by resort, department and shift type, and the shift types are the first decision: winter seasonal, summer seasonal, or year-round, including 10-month and 11-month schedules. The company advertises a $20 per hour starting wage, a free pass and lessons for employees, and housing at many of its resorts.
Where the jobs are
Vail Resorts went public in 1997 with four Colorado resorts and now runs more than 40 resorts, so a search covers far more than Vail Mountain. The location filter includes Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and the company's headquarters, and Epic Mountain Express and Epic Mountain Gear appear as separate employers. The company's own history is in the resorts Vail Resorts owns and who owns Vail ski resort.
| Type of work | Departments on the careers site |
|---|---|
| On the mountain | Mountain Operations, Base Area Operations, Ski and Ride School (instructors) |
| Food, lodging and guest service | Restaurant Operations, Food & Beverage, Hotel Operations, Lodging Operations, Guest Services |
| Shops and rentals | Store Operations, Retail/Rental Operations, Retail/Rental Corp |
| Getting people around | Transportation, including driver roles |
| Corporate and specialist | Analytics, Finance & Accounting, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal & Compliance, Marketing, Sales & Account Management, Maintenance and Trades |
Postings change daily, so search by resort and shift type rather than working from a list. Winter roles carry a season label such as Winter Seasonal 2026/2027, and Vail's mountain opens November 13 for that season; when Vail opens has the season dates. Paid time off applies to year-round full-time employees, which is one reason to look at the year-round shift types as well.
Pay and perks
The $20 per hour is the company's headline starting wage, with health and wellness benefits and training through its Epic Service development program. For what instructors earn, see how much Vail ski instructors make. The company's perks and benefits page names:
- A free ski or snowboard pass and lessons for employees, free or discounted passes for dependents of full-time and part-time employees, and discounted tickets and lessons for friends and family. The Epic Pass is the pass Vail Resorts sells to the public.
- A 40 percent retail discount at Epic Mountain Gear and other Vail Resorts stores, plus discounts on food, lodging, transportation and mountain activities.
- Medical, dental and vision insurance, a mental-health program with free therapy for employees, their roommates and dependents, and a 401(k) plan that eligible employees can join on the first of the month after hire.
- Paid time off for year-round full-time employees, and up to 160 hours of paid parental leave for eligible year-round employees.
- A $300 bonus when a friend you refer is hired, for eligible roles.
The benefits are summarized and can change, so a recruiter confirms specifics once you apply.
Housing
Employee housing is offered at many of the company's resorts, but cost, amenities, proximity and parking differ by location, and most of it is shared space, so expect roommates. Because demand is high at many resorts, housing goes first to employees who are working or planning to work for the company that season, which makes the job the first step and the bed the second. The Employee Housing website linked from the careers page has the locations, options and application. For what it costs to live in the valley, see the cost of living in Vail and what living in Vail is like.
Preparing an application
Many roles are shift-based service work, such as cooks, drivers and rental and retail staff, so the strongest applications are specific. Match the resume to the role you are applying for, state your availability for the whole season, and lead with guest-facing, food service or outdoor experience. Each posting sets its own requirements, so read the one you are applying for: a ski school role and a kitchen role ask different things of you.
Applicants from outside the United States
The company offers a limited number of international opportunities in summer and winter seasonal roles through work visa programs:
- BridgeUSA Summer Work Travel (J-1) for full-time university students abroad, applied for through the approved sponsors CCUSA, CIEE and Greenheart Exchange. These postings are not on the careers site.
- BridgeUSA Intern (J-1) for culinary or service internships, through International Trainee Network.
- BridgeUSA Specialist (J-1) for certified level 3 and above ski instructors, through CIEE.
- H-2B temporary non-agricultural worker visas for summer and winter seasons. Eligible positions are posted on the careers site, and roles can include advanced housekeepers, advanced cooks, dishwashers, ski instructors and janitors.
The company does not accept Summer Work Travel applications from other exchange sponsors or from independent placements, so confirm a sponsor is on its approved list before you pay anyone. Other roles are applied for online at jobs.vailresortscareers.com.
