This year’s holiday season is shaping up to be one of the busiest on record. Companies, shopping centres, Christmas markets and event organisers launched recruitment as early as the beginning of November, offering a wide range of seasonal jobs. The highest earnings go to Santa Claus – his hourly rate can reach as much as PLN 700 gross for work on Christmas Eve after 4:00 p.m. in major cities. Also in demand are elves, Christmas market vendors, gift wrappers and cashiers in shopping malls, according to analysis by Grupa Progres.
The intensive search for staff for the Christmas and New Year period began at the start of November. As Grupa Progres reports, growing demand for seasonal workers is visible not only in large metropolitan areas, but also in smaller towns where local markets and festive stalls are popping up. Compared with the end of last year, the number of seasonal job offers has risen moderately – by 20–35% on average, depending on the sector and company size.
Santa Tops the Earnings Ranking
One of the most sought-after figures remains Santa Claus, who – according to Grupa Progres data – can earn up to PLN 700 gross per hour for work on Christmas Eve after 4:00 p.m. in big cities such as Warsaw, Kraków or Wrocław. Standard December rates for Santas range from PLN 60 to 120 gross per hour, but during peak days – 6 and 24 December – they increase several times over.
Requirements typically include a cheerful personality, sense of humour, good manners, ease in working with children and – for travelling Santas – a driving licence and access to a car. Employers often provide full costumes, scripts for visits and reimbursement of fuel costs.
“November and December are the hottest months for seasonal jobs. During this time, companies need extra hands more than at any other point in the year. For many people, it’s a great opportunity to combine something fun with something useful – earn money quickly, work on a flexible schedule and try their hand at a new seasonal challenge,”
says Iwona Wieczyńska, Regional Director at Grupa Progres.
Right behind Santa in the earnings ranking are his helpers – Snowflakes, Elves and Holiday Animators, who in December can earn PLN 35–75 gross per hour. Their responsibilities include running animations, workshops and games for children, helping to distribute gifts, looking after groups of participants and creating a festive atmosphere. The season for animators and elves usually starts between 19 November and 1 December and lasts until 23 or 24 December, with most working hours falling on weekends and afternoons.
Cinnamon in the Air – and Solid Earnings at Christmas Markets
Another group of roles in constant demand involves work at Christmas markets. In cities such as Gdańsk, Poznań, Wrocław or Kraków, employers are looking for staff to sell mulled wine, hot chocolate, desserts, churros and popcorn, as well as to run stands with decorations, sweets and gifts. Hourly rates typically range from PLN 30 to 47 gross, and the best salespeople can earn up to PLN 330 gross per day.
Work usually starts around 21 November and runs until 23 December, although in some cities markets operate until 7 January 2026. Requirements often include a valid sanitary book (health certificate), basic English, a positive attitude and customer service skills. For students, this is one of the most popular ways to earn extra money – many offers are targeted at people aged 16–26 with pupil or student status.
“Anyone planning to work over the holidays should prepare the necessary documents in advance, especially an up-to-date sanitary book. In many cases it’s a condition of employment, and the process of obtaining it can take up to two weeks. Employers usually choose candidates who can start immediately, so it’s worth checking that your certificate is still valid – typically it’s issued for two years, though sometimes for just one,”
notes Wieczyńska.
There is also strong demand for cleaning and maintenance staff for markets and shopping centres. The rate is around PLN 30.50 gross per hour, with work starting in mid-November and ending just before Christmas. Tasks include keeping areas clean and tidy, clearing tables and maintaining outside spaces.
Gift Wrapping, Christmas Tree Sales and Outdoor Work
Gift wrapping is also high on the list of seasonal jobs and has become an integral part of Christmas preparations in shopping centres and e-commerce warehouses. Rates generally range from PLN 29 to 35 gross per hour, with work typically running from late November until 23 December. Key skills include attention to detail, a sense of aesthetics and the ability to work in a team.
There will also be plenty of offers for Christmas tree sellers, a job that involves working outdoors and requires resilience to low temperatures. The peak season runs from 1 to 24 December. In Warsaw, Kraków or Łódź, rates are around PLN 33 gross per hour, with duties including customer service, netting trees and keeping the selling area in order.
Unusual Jobs: Window Displays, Charity Work, Food Trucks and Reindeer Care
The job market also offers less typical seasonal roles. People with an artistic flair may find work creating Christmas decorations and city scenography, with pay at around PLN 30–40 gross per hour, usually from 5 November to 20 December.
Another category includes volunteers and charity collectors in shopping centres, who dressed as angels or elves sell Christmas sets and collect donations for charitable causes. Here, pay typically ranges from PLN 30 to 50 gross per hour, with work between 26 November and 23 December. The most important requirements are openness, communication skills and positive energy – previous experience is not required, and schedules are often flexible.
This category also includes such positions as:
- Driver of a Christmas food truck – PLN 35–45 gross/hour
- Children’s photographer in shopping centres – PLN 40–60 gross/hour
- Reindeer or live nativity animal handler – PLN 30–38 gross/hour
- Hostesses promoting Christmas brands – PLN 33–42 gross/hour
- Window display decorator – PLN 32–48 gross/hour
All these jobs share one key feature: employers expect availability from the second half of November until Christmas Eve, with peak workloads on weekends and evenings.
Tills, Kitchens, Warehouses – the Classic Holiday Jobs
Beyond strictly Christmas-themed roles, large retail chains and logistics companies are also recruiting additional staff to handle the pre-Christmas surge in demand. The good news is that this season temporary and seasonal wages are higher than last year, having risen on average by 10–20%. This is driven by an increase in the minimum wage as well as competition for workers.
- Warehouse workers and order pickers can expect PLN 30–40 gross per hour.
- In e-commerce, packers and warehouse operators earn around PLN 32–38 gross per hour.
- Cashiers and sales assistants receive PLN 25–35 gross per hour, depending on location and experience.
- Couriers and driver’s assistants can earn PLN 33–45 gross per hour, or work on a commission basis linked to the number of deliveries.
- In gastronomy (waiters, kitchen assistants, event service), hourly rates range from PLN 30 to 42 gross.
Many employers additionally offer attendance bonuses, weekend and holiday allowances and Christmas vouchers, which together can increase real earnings by 10–15%.
During the pre-Christmas period, seasonal jobs stand out not only for their fast pace but also for faster payment schedules. In many cases, wages are paid almost immediately after the job is done – the same day, within seven days, or at the latest by 30 December. This has been standard practice in the industry for several years and is highly valued by younger workers who want to have money in hand before New Year’s Eve.
Although hourly rates in many roles hover around the minimum wage (approx. PLN 30.50 gross), the quick access to earnings makes seasonal work in December particularly attractive.
“For many people, working in December is a way to finance Christmas gifts, but also an opportunity to boost the household budget with flexible, temporary work that can be combined with study or other responsibilities. There is no shortage of candidates: students and pupils keen on short-term jobs, foreigners – especially from Ukraine – who provide vital operational support in peak season, and people aged 50+, who return to the labour market for tasks requiring precision, patience and responsibility, such as product packing, quality control or customer service. Thanks to this diversity and employers’ openness, anyone who can share a smile – whether as Santa, an elf, cashier or animator – can look forward to a very generous season in December,”
sums up Iwona Wieczyńska, Regional Director at Grupa Progres.
All rates mentioned in this article are gross amounts. For students, the rule is that the gross wage is equal to the net amount.
Source: CEO.com.pl
