Holiday Jobs 2026: How to Find Seasonal Work Before Christmas

With Black Friday less than three weeks away, retailers, delivery companies and major businesses are ramping up hiring efforts to prepare for the busy holiday shopping season. Thousands of seasonal positions are expected to become available across the United States, creating opportunities for people looking to earn extra money, gain work experience or secure temporary employment before the end of the year.

Holiday hiring traditionally accelerates in October and November as companies prepare for increased customer traffic, online orders, shipping demand and last-minute shopping. For job seekers, the window to secure a seasonal position is approaching quickly, making early applications especially important.

How Many Seasonal Workers Will Companies Hire?

Retailers are preparing for another busy holiday shopping season in 2026. The National Retail Federation expects retailers to hire between 325,000 and 375,000 seasonal employees during the holiday period.

The organization also forecasts that U.S. retail sales during November and December will reach approximately $1.013 trillion, representing a 4.2% increase over 2025. However, holiday hiring looks somewhat different this year. Some retailers are relying more heavily on existing employees, additional shifts and part-time workers rather than announcing massive seasonal hiring campaigns.

Major Companies Hiring Seasonal Workers in 2026

Several major companies have announced seasonal hiring plans for the 2026 holiday season.

  • Amazon: Plans to hire more than 300,000 seasonal, part-time and full-time employees across its U.S. operations. Positions support fulfillment centers, transportation, delivery and other operational needs.

  • Michaels: Announced approximately 10,000 seasonal positions for the holiday season.

  • Target: Plans to use additional hours for existing employees, its On Demand workforce and seasonal hiring across its stores and supply chain facilities.

  • Kohl’s: Seasonal opportunities are available across retail stores, Sephora at Kohl’s locations, distribution centers and e-commerce fulfillment operations.

  • Walmart: Offers employment opportunities across stores and operational facilities, including positions that may support increased holiday demand.

The number of openings varies by company and location. Amazon’s hiring announcement includes seasonal, part-time and full-time positions, meaning its total should not be interpreted as 300,000 temporary holiday jobs.

What Types of Holiday Jobs Are Available?

Seasonal employment is not limited to working as a cashier or sales associate. Companies need additional workers across several departments to keep stores, warehouses and delivery operations running during the holiday rush.

Common seasonal positions include:

Retail Sales Associates: Help customers find merchandise, answer questions, restock shelves and maintain store displays.

Cashiers: Process purchases, handle transactions and assist shoppers during busy shopping periods.

Warehouse Associates: Pick, pack, sort and prepare merchandise for shipment.

Delivery Drivers and Helpers: Support package deliveries and transportation operations as online shopping increases.

Customer Service Representatives: Handle customer questions, order issues, returns and complaints.

Fulfillment Associates: Prepare online orders for pickup or delivery, helping retailers meet holiday shipping deadlines.

Gift Wrapping and Seasonal Support: Assist customers with gift wrapping, merchandise displays and other holiday-related services.

Some positions offer evening, overnight and weekend shifts, making seasonal work an option for people balancing another job, school or family responsibilities.

How to Land a Seasonal Job Before the Holidays

With Black Friday approaching, job seekers should avoid waiting until Thanksgiving week to start applying. Many companies begin recruiting well before the busiest shopping days, and some positions may already be filled by the time holiday demand peaks.

A few practical steps can improve the chances of getting hired.

1. Apply Directly Through Company Career Websites

Start with the official employment websites of major retailers, shipping companies and local businesses. Search for terms such as seasonal, temporary, holiday associate, part-time and fulfillment.

Applying directly can also help applicants avoid fraudulent job advertisements.

2. Keep Your Resume Short and Updated

For entry-level seasonal positions, employers generally need to see relevant experience, availability and basic job qualifications.

Include previous retail, customer service, hospitality, warehouse or administrative experience. Applicants without much work experience can highlight communication, organization, teamwork and reliability.

3. Be Flexible With Your Schedule

Availability can make a difference during the holiday season. Employers often need workers during evenings, weekends, early mornings and major shopping events.

Applicants who can work Black Friday, weekends and additional holiday shifts may have access to more opportunities.

4. Apply to Multiple Employers

Do not rely on one company to provide a job. Apply to several retailers, delivery businesses, grocery stores and local employers to increase the chances of receiving an interview.

5. Prepare for a Quick Interview

Seasonal hiring can move quickly. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their availability, previous experience, customer service skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.

6. Ask About the Possibility of Staying After the Holidays

Some temporary positions can lead to permanent or longer-term employment. Applicants interested in keeping their jobs should ask whether the company considers seasonal employees for regular positions.

How Much Can Seasonal Employees Earn?

Pay depends on the employer, position, location and shift. Some seasonal jobs offer hourly wages, while others may include additional benefits or employee discounts.

Amazon reported that seasonal employees earn an average of approximately $20 per hour during the 2026 holiday season.

Target lists a starting wage range of $15 to $24 per hour, depending on the position and location. The company also offers certain benefits to eligible seasonal employees.

Applicants should review individual job listings carefully because advertised wage ranges do not guarantee the same starting pay at every location.

Can a Seasonal Job Turn Into Permanent Employment?

Although many holiday positions are temporary, seasonal employment can sometimes become a pathway to a longer-term job. Companies may evaluate seasonal employees based on attendance, reliability, customer service, performance and staffing needs after the holidays.

Target reported that more than half of its seasonal store employees continued working for the company after the 2025 holiday season. Amazon also offers seasonal workers opportunities to transition into full-time positions. Anyone interested in staying beyond December should communicate that interest to management and ask about permanent openings before the seasonal assignment ends.

Watch Out for Seasonal Job Scams

The increase in holiday hiring also creates opportunities for scammers to target people looking for quick employment. Job seekers should be cautious of unsolicited text messages, suspicious emails and advertisements promising unusually high pay for little work.

Legitimate employers should not require applicants to pay upfront fees to secure a position. Applicants should also avoid sharing banking information, Social Security numbers or other sensitive personal information through unverified websites or messages.

The safest approach is to apply through an employer’s official careers website and verify that any interview invitation or employment offer comes from a legitimate company representative.

The Bottom Line

The 2026 holiday season is creating opportunities for Americans looking to earn additional income through temporary and part-time employment. Although retailers are taking a more measured approach to seasonal staffing, major employers are still recruiting workers for stores, warehouses, fulfillment centers and delivery operations.

With Black Friday approaching, applicants should begin searching immediately, update their resumes and remain flexible about scheduling. For people who want extra money before the end of the year, a seasonal job could provide more than a temporary paycheck. It could also offer valuable work experience and a potential opportunity for permanent employment.