Work & Travel Jobs — The best opportunities abroad
- Waiters in restaurants, cafes and bars: $20–27 per hour
- Working in the Outback: 15 dollars per hour plus free accommodation and meals
- AU Pair: $350 a week plus accommodation and meals
- Cleaning in the hostel: approximately 2 hours daily for free accommodation
- Plastic factory: $22 per hour — 12 hours a day, 6 days a week
Contents of this post10 chapters
Nobody knows what they can do until they have tried.
Waiters in restaurants, cafes & bars
Definitely one of my favorite jobs while traveling. When I arrived in Australia, I could barely speak a word of English, let alone understand the Aussie accent 😳! Through constant customer contact, I quickly learned the language & made new contacts ☀️
Salary: $20 - $27 per hour 💰
Travel insurance for work and travel
For longer trips there are international health insurance plans that can be canceled monthly.
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Cleaning staff in motels & hostels
The most common job for backpackers! In the hostel, I had to clean for about 2 hours a day & got free accommodation for it. Definitely not the best job… It's smarter to work in a hotel or motel, as you usually get an hourly wage there! 😉
Salary: $20-23 per hour. Hostels -> free accommodation
Working in a plastics factory
Oh, I hate factory work. Never again! My task was to click the clips onto the bread box lids all the time, 12 hours a day, 6 days a week 😅. But I could make decent money there as a backpacker!
Salary: $22 per hour 💰
Working in the potato field
You wouldn't believe how fast the potatoes shoot through the machines. Here we had to quickly sort out everything that wasn't a potato. The best part: Listen to podcasts or music 🎶. Here, too, I worked at least 10 hours a day.
Salary: $20 per hour 💰
Working in the kiwi field
I had to pick the kiwis that didn't have the right measurements and drop them on the ground. Easy job! The best part: Occasionally, I could see nests with very cute little birds 😍. Plus, I could chat with other people about everything during work. Downside: Work gets canceled if it rains! ☔️
Salary: $19 per hour 💰
My driving job
Most of the time I got this job directly at the hostel. My task was to pick up the new guests from the bus stop. Again, easy! I had to drive 2 times a day for 10 minutes each, and in return, I didn't pay anything for my accommodation! Definitely better than cleaning 😂
Salary: Free accommodation 🛏
Working in the Outback
My absolute favorite job! Here, I gained the most experience! The Outback is beautiful & has so much to offer. I got to know handling cattle, shooting, quad biking, motorcycling, the "farmer culture," and so much more... You just have to experience it! 😍
Salary: $15 per hour + free accommodation + provisions
Working as an au pair
I didn't do my training as an educator for nothing! Working with children is still incredibly fun for me 🥰! Plus, my host family was super lovable & I felt completely comfortable!
Salary: $350 per week + accommodation + meals
Promotion Job
In a hostel, I did advertising at the bus stations & picked up the new guests immediately afterward. A great way to meet new people right away!
Salary: Free accommodation
Fact is:
"I learned incredibly much on my travels, and I wouldn't want to miss any of the jobs. The time was incredibly exciting & thrilling! Of course, I also had to get my hands dirty from time to time – but it was worth it! I would do it again anytime!"
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which work and travel job pays the best?
I earned the most waiting tables: $20 to $27 per hour. Next came cleaning motels at $20 to $23, the plastics factory at $22, the potato field at $20, and the kiwi orchard at $19. In the Outback, it was $15 per hour, but room and board were included.
How can I get free accommodation?
About the hostel. I had to work about two hours a day cleaning, but in return, I lived there for free. For the shuttle service, I picked up new guests from the bus stop twice a day, a ten-minute drive, and in return, I didn't pay for accommodation—definitely better than cleaning. The promotional job at the bus stations was the same.
Which job has benefited me the most?
Working in the Outback was my absolute favorite job. I learned how to handle cattle, shoot, ride quads and motorcycles, and get to know the farming culture.
Is factory work worthwhile?
For the money, yes, otherwise never again. My job was to snap photos onto lunchbox lids for 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. As a backpacker, I could make decent money there.
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“Life is too short for ‘someday’.”
Janet Dannehl
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