Backpacker Travel Jobs – What Are They + How To Find One

by | Last updated Dec 26, 2023 | Work Abroad Backpacker Jobs

So you want to quit your current job to travel the world, but you are worried you might run out of money. Well don’t worry, I’m here to tell you that you can pick up backpacker travel jobs to top up your money as you travel. Many people make money traveling the world by doing a backpacker travel job – now you can join them!

I’ve been working and traveling the world on and off for many years and I have never run out of money because I find paying work before I do. Work I have done has varied from working in an office in London while on a UK Working Holiday Visa, having a live-in job as an Au Pair and being a disability support worker in Melbourne to name a few. I’ve even exchanged work for my accommodation in a hostel. If you have always wanted to travel, but didn’t have enough money, that is no longer an excuse. In this post I will explain ways to find a backpacker travel job and help you know what jobs are out there so you can work and travel the world. 

Can I just say from the beginning, I am not a recruitment agent and cannot give you a job. The point of this post is to let you know what travel backpacker jobs are out there and how to find one. Getting a travel job will help you continue travelling the world. Knowing you can find work abroad will help alleviate some worries you might have about living and working abroad. And most of the jobs mentioned in this post are physical jobs not online digital nomad jobs. You can read about those jobs here.

The first part of this post is about how you can find a job abroad.  And the second part of this post is an A-Z listing of suggested travel job opportunities. So when you know what jobs are out there and how to get them, you can hit the long road of travel with confidence.

 

How to find a Backpacker Travel Job

 

There are a number of ways to find a backpacker job while you work and travel the world. These jobs are physical jobs where you will go to a work place like an office or restaurant. And you will need the appropriate work permit, work visa or working holiday visa to do these jobs. So how to find a backpacker travel job? If I’m looking to get a travel job I consider the following:

 

  1. Look at the area you are in and adapt your skills accordingly. Are you in a tourist town, then there will be waiting work in cafes and restaurants, bar tending in bars and work in hostels and small hotels on reception or cleaning. Are you in a farming area, work may be available as a farm hand or picking fruit and vegetables.
  2. Ask at your accommodation if any work is going, particularly if staying in a hostel. You may be able to work for your accommodation. Caravan Parks may also need casual staff for maintenance work and cleaning cabins. There are jobs that include accommodation as part of the employment package. 
  3. Register with an agency of the type of work you are seeking, ie. nursing, accounting, farming, office administration, etc.
  4. Check out hostel boards and community boards. You never know what job you may find on one of these boards. 
  5. Search Internet on-line recruitment sites of the country you are in such as Seek, Indeed.
  6. Join Facebook groups of the local area you are in that advertise jobs. For instance, Jobs in Melbourne, London Jobs, Jobs for Foreigners living in Japan.

 

Tip to finding a Backpacker Job: I’m often asked if skills are needed to get a travel job as you travel the world. Well, it depends on the travel job. Some employers don’t mind providing on the job training while others prefer you have some skills to bring to the job. The biggest tip I can offer you so you can find a backpacker job as you travel is to gain some skills before you leave on your trip, or pick them up on the road as you travel. I suggest having skills pulling pints, making coffees, typing, etc. You may also want to do some courses such gaining a TEFL (Teaching English Certificate) then you could get a job teaching English abroad or teaching English online.

 

A-Z of Travel Jobs

 

Here are some of the best jobs backpackers find as they travel the world.

 

Agriculture Jobs

Female Picking Fruit. Fruit Picking Is a Popular Working Holiday Job.

Picking fruit and vegetables is a great backpacker job

 

Fruit and Vegetable Picking

 

Every country grows fruit and vegetables and at harvesting time farmers need help to harvest their produce. And the packing sheds also need sorters. The work can be backbreaking and pay minimal, but you can meet a lot of people while you make some money to continue working and travelling around the world. The problem with fruit and vegetable picking is knowing when harvesting time is! This is when you look at the area you are in and see what work is available. Also check hostel noticeboards as many farmers will post an ad for workers. There are even some specific work hostels such as in Australia where farmers and hostel owners work together to offer a job and accommodation.

 

Farm Hand

 

Fancy working on farm? Farmers are in need of people to help plough fields, mend fences, harvest crops and look after livestock. If this is of interest, then a job on a farm may be for you! Up early to milk cows or mend fences. Riding horses or motorbikes to move livestock to a different paddock. Shearing sheep. There is always something to do when working on a farm.

 

Au Pair / Nanny / Mother’s Help

 

You don’t necessarily need to love kids to look after them, but it does help! Families around the world need help with childcare and are on the lookout for an Au Pair, nanny, manny or mother’s help. To explain the difference in the child care terminology:

  • Au Pairs are usually people who go to a country to study or learn the language. The job as an Au Pair is usually an assistant to the parents looking after the children and doing light housework.
  • Nannies are often fully qualified child carers. They have sole charge of the children and look after everything related to them.
  • A mother’s help is just that. A person there to help the mother. Your duties can vary widely from looking after the kids, doing housework and running errands.

The best part about an Au Pair, nanny or mother’s help job is that it is live-in. This takes care of accommodation and a job in the one hit.

A number of friends who were nurses got nanny jobs on their UK working holiday. This was because they didn’t want to go through the nursing registration process to nurse in the UK.

Resources for Working Abroad as a Nanny, Mother’s Help or Au Pair:

Lady Magazine – An English publication that mostly has jobs in the UK, but sometimes positions abroad, particularly in Europe.
There are many recruitment agencies that can introduce you to families in need of childcare help including: Au Pair, Au Pair World, JC Au Pairs and Nannies.
Also check out Facebook pages such as Nannies in London.

 

READ MORE: How to live and work abroad as an Au Pair or Nanny

 

Barista

 

Who doesn’t love a good coffee? Probably tea drinkers, but that’s another story! Every city or city has a coffee shop or restaurant or some sort of eatery where you can get a coffee. Many of these places keep a look out for good baristas. And if you have barista skills then you could get a job as a barista abroad. Barista skills are highly regarded, especially in high tourist areas. So if you know how to make a decent flat white, cappuccino or latte, consider using these skills to top up your travel money. Possibly consider getting a job traveling the world making money on a cruise ship with your barista skills!

 

Bartender

Male Bartender In A UK Pub On A Working Holiday.

Pouring beers is a great skill to have and can help land you a travel job in a pub!

 

Every town or city has a bar or two! And most of them are on the lookout for a bartender. This is one typical backpacker job that you can often get without having any previous skills. Though skills of being able to pull a beer and mix drinks will come in handy. Having an outgoing personality can also help. A bar job can be found through agencies, though most are easiest found by walking in and asking if there are any jobs going. I’d be wary of the bars that ask you to ‘do a work trial’ of a couple of hours to ascertain if you get the job, because sometimes it doesn’t lead to a job! But hopefully it will. Barwork can be fun as you get to meet loads of people. But the hours can be unsociable. So arm yourself with your CV, put a smile on your face and you should be serving drinks in no time!

Some bar jobs can be live-in, like in the UK. Having a live-in bar job means you will have a job and accommodation sorted. You may have to share the accommodation and it may only be a room upstairs from the bar, but hey, you will be able to save for future travels.

Bar Work Resource:

UK Pub Co – for bar jobs in the UK

 

READ MORE: Work and Travel Abroad as a Bartender

 

Busker or Street Performer

 

Do you have a special artistic skill that you could perform outside on a street? Can you sing, play an instrument, juggle, dance, mime, be a statue or draw? Then you may want to consider busking or street performing to make money to help you travel the world. Check firstly if any permissions are required before you perform. This can be done at the local council or town hall. Then choose your spot where there is a lot of foot traffic and ply your trade. Don’t forget to put your hat! Another option is to get a job as an entertainer on a cruise ship and get paid to travel the world.

 

READ MORE: Work and Travel Abroad Busking or Street Performing

 

Camp Counselor Job in the USA

 

If you want to work in America, being a camp counselor in a USA summer camp is one way to legally work. Every summer, kids all around America go on summer camps and these summer camps require camp counsellors. Camps vary but are mostly a way to get kids into the great outdoors by teaching them hiking, canoeing and learning camping skills. Plus there are plenty of specialist camps for kids with special interests such as much or technology. If you don’t mind spending a summer with kids of varying ages then being a camp counsellor in the USA might just be the travel job for you. There are plenty of agencies who can help you gain the required J1 Visa and place you in a position. After camp is over you are allowed to travel for a few months in the USA.

Resources to find a Camp Counselor Job in the USA

There are a number of organisations that can help you get a job in a summer camp. They include:

CCUSA 
Camp America
International Exchange Programs (IEP)

Resources to find a Camp Counselor Job in the United Kingdom

The UK has holiday camps for school kids which need camp counsellors. Check out

PGL Young Adventures

 

READ MORE: Spend a Summer in the USA as a Camp Counselor

 

Cruise Ship Jobs

Cruise Ship Deck Chairs overlooking the ocean.

Travel the world and get paid for it when you get a cruise ship job.

 

As recently as 50-100 years ago, people endured long sea voyages as a means to reach other countries. Nowadays people go on a cruise for sheer pleasure and indulgence. Today’s ocean liners are referred to as ‘floating hotels’. And they require a vast number of people to provide sufficient services on these hotels on the sea. Some of the larger cruise ships require around 2000 staff to run smoothly. There are many departments you could work on a cruise ship. From entertainment, hospitality, retail, child care, medical, health and beauty, in the kitchen, maintenance, domestic services, office support and the officers. In general, you do not need to have had experience working on a boat to get a job, however, experience in a particular field is. If you want to get a job on a ship, you will have more success if you apply for a particular position. Most of the cruise lines have sections on their websites about ‘careers’ with them. Once you know the area you would like to sail – Mediterranean, Pacific, the Caribbean – find out which cruise lines sail these waters, then apply to those cruise lines.

 

READ MORE: How to Get a Cruise Line Job + 15 Cruise Lines Contact Details

 

Digital Nomad Jobs

 

Not really a typical backpacker job but many backpackers are becoming digital nomads by working online and living abroad in other countries and travelling. If you want to travel full-time as a digital nomad here is how to become one. Read the following two posts to start your life as a digital nomad.

Digital Nomad Resourses

How to Become a Digital Nomad
18 Digital Nomad Jobs for Beginners
Countries with a Digital Nomad Visa

 

Dog Walker / Carer

 

Many people love dogs and sometimes, they just don’t have time to care for them like they’d want to. So they employ someone who can look after their fur baby. To walk them, feed them or tend to their grooming. Even if you don’t have animal experience you could find yourself making money by looking after them. And you are often paid in cash! You could advertise your services or consider doing house and pet sitting. Also check out hostel notice boards and local Facebook groups. In most cases you aren’t paid to house and pet sit but are provided with free accomodation in return for looking after someone’s home and their pets. House sitting is also a great way to travel the world and save on accommodation expenses. There are a number of great websites you can register with to find house and pet sitting opportunities.

Resources for Working Abroad as a Dog Walker

Rover Dog Services
Trusted Housesitters

 

READ MORE: How to Housesit and Petsit and Never Pay for Accommodation Again

 

Backpacker Hostel Jobs

 

Backpacker hostels and some budget hotels are often staffed by travellers. So if you like the place you are staying ask at the front desk if they are hiring. This is how I got my hostel job. They just may need staff to run the front desk, clean out the rooms, serve in the coffee shop or drive guests to and from the airport. The pay is usually small but can be negotiated. If you don’t have the appropriate work permit, then you may choose to exchange work for a free bed and food. Most find a job in a hostel or hotel by asking at reception however, you could use hostel accommodation booking sites like HostelWorld to your advantage. From this website you can obtain the contact details of a hostel which you could contact in advance to see if any jobs are available.

Resources for Working Abroad as a Hostel Worker

Hostel Jobs

 

READ MORE: How to Get a Hostel Job

 

House Sitting

 

Not actually a job, but a great way to save money and this is why I have included it on my list of backpacker travel jobs. By house and pet sitting you can get free accommodation in exchange for looking after someone’s house and pet/s. My first house sit was a beach house. It had the best view over the beach which was a 5 minute walk away. There were no pets to look after, just a few plants to water. I have done a few house sits now and I find them through Trusted Housesitters. There are are also house and pet sitting Facebook groups you can check out for a position.

Resources for House Sitting

Trusted Housesitters

 

Office Work

 

Many young travellers on a working holiday visa often get a temporary job working in an office. From data entry, to photocopying, answering phones to being a personal assistant or accountant, temporary office jobs can offer a good hourly rate. When I worked in the UK on a working holiday visa I found temporary office work. As I can type about 80 wpm, I was offered lots of jobs doing typing and data entry.

Office Work Resources

There are many agencies you could register with for temporary office work. Some large agencies with offices world-wide include:

Adecco
Manpower
Randstad
Robert Half

 

Scuba Diving Instructor

 

If you have a passion for being in the underwater world then why not make it your profession and become a scuba diving instructor. Teaching others to scuba dive is one of the more accessible entry-level positions where you could work for a dive shop on an island resort or even a super yacht. And there are many fabulous scuba diving sitesp people like to dive so jobs can be found all around the world. With a scuba diving qualification you can find others jobs besides working in a resort such as in underwater photography, public safety diving, scientific diving, and even as an underwater stunt diver on a movie or tv show! How cool would that be!

 

READ MORE: Work and Travel Abroad as a Scuba Diving Instructor

 

Ski Resort Jobs

 

There are many ski resorts around the world. Well, wherever there are high mountains, you usually find snow! And where there is snow, you will find a snow resort. And if you love to ski or snowboard why not work a season in a resort. Some resorts are bigger than others but most will have chalets, coffee shops, restaurants and bars, ski rental and ski schools.

 

Resort Jobs

 

Ski resorts require lots of staff so they run efficiently. Jobs can be found in food and beverage, in hospitality, in hotel reception, ski rental and outside ploughing the snow or maintaining the equipment. Most employers start their recruitment process months in advance however, it is not uncommon to find a job by arriving at the resort and doing some door knocking of businesses. In return for working in a ski resort you will receive a wage, sometimes staff accommodation and usually a free or reduced cost ski lift pass.

 

Snowboard and Ski Instructor Jobs

 

To be employed as a snowboard or ski instructor you will need to be fully qualified to teach. If you have this qualification you could work and ski all around the world having an endless winter!

 

READ MORE: Work and Ski Australia – Canada Europe Japan New Zealand United Kingdom (Scotland).

 

Teach English Abroad

Anglo Saxon Female Teaching English To A Japanese Female

Japan is one of the most popular countries to get a job teaching English

 

Teaching English abroad has long been a way for travellers to live and work in another country. This is because the school you get a job at will sponsor your work permit. Most positions are in English language conversational schools where students of all ages come to practice their conversational English. Although positions to teach English arise without a qualification, it is advisable to get one as you will get a better paying job as the schools now do like you to have one. There are three ways to get a job teaching English. Arrange a job beforehand through the school you did your course or on one of the many online job boards. Arrive in the country and approach schools directly. Or advertise your skills yourself. During covid many schools closed and students were taught online. Many people continue to Teaching English online and use this as a digital nomad job.

Teach English Abroad Resources

Dave’s ESL Cafe
Berlitz English Language Schools
EF Education
International House

 

READ MORE: How to Teach English in Japan

 

Yacht crew – work your passage

 

WWOOFing

 

WWOOFing stands for Willing Workers on Organic Farms and this organisation exists in many countries around the world. It is basically a link between hosts and guests. Hosts have an organic farm which they need workers for. Guests, in return for their work are provided with accommodation, all meals and experience the hosts way of farming. As no money is exchanged, and this isn’t really a paid work opportunity, in theory, you don’t need a work permit to WWOOF – though this does depend on the different countries visa regulations. There is the main WWOOF website you can get details from however, if you are interested to WWOOF in specific country, you will need to get membership through their country website. Country websites can be accessed from the main website. This is a great backpacker travel job.

 

READ MORE: How to WWOOF Your Way Around the World

 

Yacht Crewing

 

Get a Yacht Job and Sail the World as Crew.

Get paid to sail the seas with a job on a yacht

 

Fancy spending your time island-hopping in the Caribbean or sailing around other exotic locations of the world? Well many backpackers have been able to do just that by either catching a lift, delivering a yacht or by finding a position as a crew member on a boat. Wherever there is open water you will find some kind of yacht. The best way to catch a lift on a yacht is to frequent the local yacht clubs and speak to the captains moored or leave or answer an ad on the yacht club’s noticeboard. These jobs aren’t always paid and sometimes the captain wants you to chip in with costs. Others will let you work your passage – so in exchange for working in the yacht, you will get a free lift. There are paying yacht jobs and you could be doing different things depending on the size of the yacht. Some superyachts have positions for chefs, massage therapists, scuba diving instructors plus wait staff. If the ocean is calling your name, it is good to know, you could secure a job on a yacht to sail you away!

Yacht Job Resources

Crewfinders International
Crewseekers International
Nauti Crew Delivery and Crewing Agency

 

Are You Ready to Work and Travel?

 

There are a number of ways to work and travel the world, and picking up a physical backpacker travel job is just one of them. For more inspiration read these work and travel tales by those who have done what you are planning to do. I’d love to hear what work you have done while traveling around the world in the comments.

 

Are You Over 30 and Don’t Qualify for a Working Holiday Visa? Don’t worry, there are still opportunities to travel, live and work abroad – read Travel and Work Abroad When You are Over 30.

 

A Backpacker Working As A Waiting At A Beachside Bar.

Thanks for sharing!

Just so you know: some of the links in this post might be affiliate links, which earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. No pressure to use my links, but I REALLY appreciate when you do! Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 


My favourite tools to Travel Live and Work Abroad

 

🏠 Where Will You Be Sleeping Tonight? – Get a bed in a hostel dorm through HostelWorld or for a hotel room check out Booking.com. Get free accommodation house and pet sitting through Trusted Housesitters – this has saved me thousands on accommodation, no joke!

✈️ Need a cheap and flexible airfare – head to Skyscanner.

 🚙 Car Rental – search and compare vehicles at DiscoverCars.

 🚆 Train Travel: I love riding the rails. For a rail pass in Europe head to Raileurope. And Japan has a great one too – JapanRail Pass.

🚌 Travelling by bus is often the cheapest way to travel. Compare and get a ticket or a pass at Busbud.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Jump-the-queue entrance tickets and day tours: I book these through GetYourGuide.

 🌏 How to pick a country to live and work abroad in? Check out my Working Holiday Visa Country Guides and Digital Nomad Visa Country Guides to see where you can live work play travel abroad.

 🚑 Should you buy travel insurance? Absolutely Yes! SafetyWing is great digital nomads and long-term travellers and World Normads has policies for general and adventure travel.

 

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Sharyn McCullum Travel Writer and Founder Of Live Work Play Travel, Work Abroad, Work Online, Travel Blog Enjoying At Beer At The Coldstream Brewery In The Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia.

Sharyn McCullum – Travel Writer / Blogger, Remote On-line Worker, sometime Digital Nomad and Travel, Live and Work Abroad Expert. Is a chocoholic, coffee connoisseur and lover of ’80s music. Been travelling all her life thanks to her dad who worked for an airline. Lived in London 4 years on a working holiday. Has holidayed in Hawaii over 15 times and currently calls Melbourne, Australia home. Is inspiring others to live work play travel around the world with this blog. Read more about Sharyn here.

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