Every holiday season UPS hires tens of thousands of seasonal workers — around 100,000 in recent years — to handle the peak rush. These jobs are fast to land, need no experience, and for many people become the door into a permanent UPS career. Here’s how UPS seasonal hiring works, the main roles, the pay, and how to apply.
This is an independent guide. Pay, roles and availability vary by location and year — apply and confirm details on the official UPS Jobs site (upsjobs.com / jobs-ups.com). We are not affiliated with UPS.
When does UPS hire seasonal workers?
Seasonal hiring ramps up for peak season — roughly October through January, built around the holiday shipping surge. Driver helper roles in particular are usually offered only in October, November and December.
The main seasonal roles
- Driver Helper: you ride along with a package driver and carry packages to the door — lots of walking and lifting, plenty of customer contact, and no driving or CDL required. A great option if you don’t want to drive.
- Package Handler (Warehouse): you load, unload and sort packages inside a hub. It’s physical, part-time work with shifts at various times — sunrise, day, twilight or night/preload.
- Seasonal Support Driver: these roles do drive and deliver, so they require a valid license and meet additional requirements.
How much do UPS seasonal jobs pay?
Pay varies by role, shift and location, but recent figures give a rough idea:
- Package handlers: around $21/hour, in some cases up to about $23.
- Driver helpers: in the high‑teens (roughly $17–18/hour and up).
- Seasonal support drivers: typically higher, varying widely by area.
UPS pays weekly, and shift premiums may apply. Always check the live posting for your location’s exact rate.
Requirements
- Be at least 18 years old and legally able to work in the U.S.
- Able to lift up to 70 pounds.
- Reliable and detail-oriented — and good, sturdy work shoes help a lot.
- Driver helpers also need solid communication skills for customer contact.
How to apply
Apply online at the official UPS Jobs site. The process is fast — the digital application takes most people under 20 minutes, and about 80% of seasonal positions don’t require an interview. You can often go from application to a job offer in a single sitting.
From seasonal to permanent
This is the big one: a seasonal job is a well-known foot in the door at UPS. In a recent year, roughly 35,000 seasonal employees — about a third — moved into permanent roles after the holidays, and a large share of UPS’s U.S. workforce started out seasonal. Convert to permanent and you unlock the union pay scale, health benefits and pension, and seniority.
To stand out: show up on time every shift, work safely, keep a good attendance record, and let your supervisor know you want to stay.
Frequently asked questions
When does UPS hire seasonal workers?
Mainly for peak season, roughly October through January, with driver helper roles usually offered October to December.
Do UPS seasonal jobs require experience or an interview?
No experience is needed, and about 80% of seasonal positions don’t require an interview. The online application takes most people under 20 minutes.
What does a UPS driver helper do?
A driver helper rides with a package driver and carries packages to customers’ doors. There’s no driving or CDL required — just lots of walking, lifting and customer contact.
Can a UPS seasonal job become permanent?
Yes — about a third of seasonal employees move into permanent roles after peak, which unlocks the union pay scale, benefits, pension and seniority.
Related: UPS Careers & FAQs · UPS Pay Schedule · UPS Benefits & Pension.