Whether you’re enjoying a bike trail on Schweitzer Mountain or one of the region’s restaurants, there’s a good chance you’re enjoying the handywork of a seasonal employee, like Sandpoint resident Sam Chin.

Chin has worked as a seasonal employee in the Sandpoint region for the last four years, holding positions at Schweitzer Mountain, The Dish at Dover Bay and more. As a young person in the region, he said that these positions are some of the only ones available that pay a living wage for the time he is employed. 

“It's very stressful,” Chin said. “We really don't get going until the Fourth of July, so if I'm working on the mountain, the second week of April until July 4 are times that I do not have a reliable income.” 

Leisure and hospitality employed around 15% of North Idaho’s population, or 19,000 residents in 2023, according to data from the Idaho Department of Labor. Regional economist for IDL Ryan Whitesides wrote in a 2025 report that average weekly wages for ski-related industries significantly lagged behind the statewide average weekly wage in 2024. 

Chin said that nearly everyone his age who works as a seasonal employee holds down two jobs to make ends meet, even during the busy tourist months. 

“I don't know if there's anyone in my age group that doesn't have two jobs to live in Sandpoint,” Chin said. “I typically worked two jobs to make ends meet. I would work a morning shift or an afternoon shift at the Dish and then drive over to Burger Bay out in Bottle Bay to go work the night shift there.” 

Seasonal employees often lack the guarantees that come with a traditional full-time position, including paid time off and sick days, according to Chin. That puts workers in precarious spots, Chin said, as they must decide between taking a sick day and losing around $200 of their seasonal income. 

Even when they work, the lack of guarantees continues. Chin said the positions are heavily dependent on tourists and tips. He said when the region has a bad snow year, like in the 2025 to 2026 season, him and his coworkers feel that hurt. 

Despite the drawbacks, Chin said he chooses to live an unpredictable lifestyle for several reasons, including access to skiing on Schweitzer Mountain. In his report, Whitesides echoed the sentiment, saying seasonal workers in ski jobs across the state see that as a massive benefit. 

“Working on the mountain, a huge influence is being able to ski, be on the hill, seven days a week and being able to ride kind of whenever,” Chin said. “No one's letting you sign a six-month lease or whatever, right? So, you’re just like, ‘Alright, well, I'll do something to make ends meet in the summer.’” 

So far, Chin has found a way to make ends meet, but asked residents to continue to support the seasonal workers so they can continue to be part of the community they uphold. 

“Tip your servers and your bartenders, we appreciate it. We need it to survive,” Chin said. “A lot of the regulars understand that. In fact, they'll tip very well at the end of the season, or throughout, but they keep us here. It's a beautiful place, and as much as the locals hate tourists, we can't live without them.”