As the 2025-2026 year is almost finishing, many students are excited and ready for summer. Some students might want to join a summer job and earn some money before the new school year starts. The summer job you pick depends on your goals. While some people prioritize high hourly wages, others look for outdoor adventures, fast food or drink places, or jobs that provide professional experience in a specific field.
These jobs can include camp counselors, babysitters, or hospitality as a server, resort staff, or tour guide. For students interested in outdoor or professional jobs, you could seek paid internships or tutoring. Let’s start with STEM and education jobs. You can be a STEM camp counselor, leading activities like games or engineering for kids in tech or science camps. Another job is a sports instructor or coach, where you can work with athletes for seasonal coaching at parks or recreation districts. Another job you can pursue in education or STEM is a media internship with large media groups that offer structured summer internships for journalism or marketing students. STEM – OregonASK says, “Such opportunities help spark curiosity, especially for those who might not think of themselves as ‘math and science kids.’” If you are interested in working in STEM or education, sites like Oregon Ask will help you find one!
Another opportunity that you can take as a summer job is a summer camp counselor. Working as a summer camp counselor is a great opportunity for high school students in Oregon, especially in cities like Portland, where there is high demand for staff. Organizations like YMCA or Coyle actively recruit teens who are typically aged 16 and older. Camp counselors can step into leadership roles and guide multiple camp activities. In addition to gaining valuable leadership experience, students can expect very good pay, ranging from $14 to $24/hr or more. Trackers Earth Portland says, “We help children feel like a group of kids wandering country backyards 100 years ago: independent, tired, muddy, and happy from the woods and wild.” If you like being outside and spending time with others, you can visit their website or Indeed to find the right camp counselor job for you.
For people seeking more traditional retail and food-service roles, Oregon offers several options considered classic summer staples. Popular regional chains like Dutch Bros and Burgerville are frequently hiring, providing a fast-paced environment for students to get and develop customer service skills. Beyond these local places, plenty of other popular spots, including Panda Express, Taco Bell, and coffee shops, are constantly looking for seasonal help to handle crowds. These jobs are a great way to make some money and meet a ton of new people before school starts again. Careerglider.com discusses the skills and lessons you learn as a fast-food worker. For example, regarding customer service, they say, “People expect you to deal with problems no matter who’s in the right. But learning that lesson puts you ahead of others without customer service experience.” If you want to work in a fast-food place, Indeed is a good place to look.
In a couple of weeks, the 2025-2026 school year will be over, and some students will look to work during the summer. Whether you’re aiming to build your resume at a close place like Burgerville or spending your days outdoors leading kids with YMCA, Oregon has something for everyone this summer. If you are interested in STEM or looking to dive deeper into education, you might want to mentor younger kids at STEM camps, which can connect you with real-world experience in fields like engineering or healthcare. Whatever you choose, it’s a great chance to balance making some money with making the most of your summer.
