Servers in Glacier NP - good money?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Lewis on October 18, 2009 at 7:32pm

There's one overriding rule about national park/resort/etc. summer jobs: you won't make diddly squat. Expect to be worked half to death and be paid next to nothing; it's the nature of the beast as your true compensation is supposed to be the "privilege" of working in those places. This is still true if you work for tips, as your base wage will be subminimum (U.S. law allows a very low "service" minimum wage, which is what you'll get). The people you serve will have their budgets stretched already, and thus won't tip you much, as Glacier is EXTREMELY expensive as a tourist destination if you do anything other than camp out.

The above said, this is still worth doing. Expect your supervisor to be curt, brusque, harrassed, overworked, and to have a very short fuse. Be prepared to be so exhausted at the end of the day that you can't enjoy the surroundings. Be prepared for, uh, "rustic" accomodations (read: primitive). But on your days off----!!!! You're in Glacier Park!!! This will make up for the rigor, the abuse, the low pay, the horrid living conditions, and even the expense and hassle of getting there.

Your stated goal of $400/week is doable, although remember, that would be after taxes. Don't go there with the idea of recouping your expenses, though--you might fall into the trap of working 50 or 60 hours a week, just to "break even"--and what would be the point of that??

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Permalink Reply by Eva Busova on October 18, 2009 at 8:48pm

hi Kevin, thanks for your ideas. Yeah, you pretty much summed up the reality of working in national parks. I know all that, been there. And despite of /thanks to the above said I keep coming back :) It sounds like you've had some bad experiences - but from my own and others people's experience it's not all that bad. The work conditions depend on the management, the pay, although low, is still better than with other jobs and living conditions vary, too - I was lucky to live in really nice and newly refurbished rooms both in GC and YNP. I guess Glacier Park is no different. So really my only concern is to have a fair pay considering how much money I'll invest in this. I don't plan on working my pants off -like some of the people I've worked with did. I don't fly halfway around the world to be stuck in some restaurant day and night. I want to explore the park, do things, meet people, have fun - that's why I go there in the first place.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Lewis on October 18, 2009 at 9:57pm

Where I did work was at the Many Glacier store; and yes, the working part of the experience sucked, as every concessioner employee--not just my boss--treated me, and it looked like just about everyone else, like dirt. No, actually, not just dirt---WORTHLESS dirt. This was six years ago, though, and things might have changed. My living quarters were superior to a tent, and that's about all I can say for them. The employee food was pretty decent, though.

There's a big difference in the four areas you might be working in. The west side--Lake McDonald/Apgar--is the administrative/commercial center of the park, and because of its relative proximity to civilization, is much busier than other areas of the park. Peace and quiet, no--convenience, yes. St. Mary is much drier and more barren than the west side. East Glacier and Two Medicine are more isolated, and Two Medicine has great hiking. My favorite area is Many Glacier, because the scenery is fantastic and so is the hiking---but it's a loooooooong way to the nearest town of any size.

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Permalink Reply by Eva Busova on October 19, 2009 at 5:06am

Thanks for the insight, Kevin! I'm sorry to hear that you had such a bad working experience. I hope things have changed since then. Do you still work in seasonal business?

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Permalink Reply by Connie on October 18, 2009 at 8:54pm

WOW Kevin, .. perfectly stated! You are sooo right!

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Permalink Reply by Todd on October 18, 2009 at 8:38pm

Hi Eva, I worked in Glacier, years ago though. I was at Lake McDonald, one of the nicest areas in the park. Lowest elevation thus best weather, bigger crowds too. I hear Many Glacier is a nicer area/Lodge too. Living conditions weren't as nice as what I've seen in Jellystone. but I bet your $ goals are possible to reach I remember the Dinner servers making great tips. But there is certainly more employees in YNP, as far a social networking goes. Keep in mind too that this was a record breaking year in YNP, so anything next year will seem less! I hope I helped, good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Eva Busova on October 18, 2009 at 9:10pm

hi Todd, thanks for sharing:) just one comment on social networking in YNP - I lived in Grant Village, one of the smallest locations in the park with something like two hundred employees living in basically middle of nowhere - not too much fun when most of them were working at day and sleeping at night because they were tired from all the work:)) of course there were a few parties now and then - but because we were so small, RCs and rangers would always show up and ruin all the fun. so much for social networking ;))

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