The national average pay for a mall Santa is around $24 an hour, but depending on the gig, some pros bring in as much as $60 an hour, according to ZipRecruiter.
If you have a knack for playing St. Nick, you could ride your sleigh all the way to the bank this holiday season. With the right locale and a holly-jolly costume, you could secure a well-paying Santa gig this season.
4 Factors That Impact Your Professional Santa Salary
Before you don your red suit, consider these major factors that often influence how much you earn as a pro Santa.
1. Location: Where You Land Your Sleigh
As with most jobs, where you work significantly impacts how much you make as a Santa Claus. We dug into how much Santas make across the U.S. and where they earn the most.
Highest-Paying Cities for Mall Santas
1. $28.23/hr – Green River, WY
2. $27.15/hr – San Mateo, CA
3. $27.10/hr – San Francisco, CA
4. $26.87/hr – Sunnyvale, CA
5. $26.75/hr – Santa Clara, CA
6. $26.67/hr – Fremont, CA
7. $26.44/hr – Daly City, CA
8. $26.31/hr – Berkeley, CA
9. $26.29/hr – San Jose, CA
10.$26.23/hr – Santa Rosa, CA
States With Lowest Average Pay
1. Florida
2. North Carolina
3. Louisiana
4. New Mexico
5. Missouri
6. Illinois
7. Utah
8. Michigan
9. Pennsylvania
10.Alabama
Base pay isn’t everything, though. Before you pack up your sleigh and head to the West Coast, consider the cost of living. For example, California is among the states with the highest cost of living expenses, while Missouri is among the lowest.
Always check out your local average pay and compare it against factors like housing, food, and utility costs when making your decision.
2. Job Opportunities: Not All Santa Gigs Are Created Equal
When people think of a Santa actor, many immediately imagine the classic “Mall Santa.” While mall Santas (actors hired directly by the mall they’ll be working at) are probably the most common option, event or photography companies often contract with Santa actors for other gigs, too.
Instant Photo Corporation of America (IPCA) is one such company. You can apply directly to their site to be considered for Santa positions when the holiday season rolls around.
Places to Check Your Resume Twice (to Land a Santa Role)
You aren’t limited to being a professional Santa for malls or event companies. Many Santas freelance because they can earn more than they would working at a mall for an hourly wage.
Highest-Paying Cities for Santa Actors
1. $74.55/hr – Nome, AK
2. $73.58/hr – Berkeley, CA
3. $72.40/hr – Sitka, AK
4. $70.80/hr – San Francisco, CA
5. $70.80/hr – Redmond WA
6. $70.58/hr – Santa Clara, CA
7. $70.53/hr – Sunnyvale, CA
8. $70.49/hr – Livermore, CA
9. $70.43/hr – San Jose, CA
10.$69.63/hr – Daly City, CA
According to ZipRecruiter, the average Santa Claus performer’s salary is $60 per hour.
Beyond the mall, professional Santas often book gigs for:
- Office parties
- Community centers
- Homeowners Associations (HOAs)
- Home visits
- Church pageants
- Holiday parades
- Christmas tree lightings
You shouldn’t expect to make hundreds of dollars per hour impersonating Jolly Old St. Nick, but freelancing helps you build a name and reputation for yourself in the business. Keep in mind, freelancing probably comes with more overhead costs (more on that, next).
3. Start-Up Expenses: Your Costs to Become Santa
Overhead and startup costs for professional Santas can be surprisingly high, so it’s essential to weigh these expenses against how much you can make in a season.
The price tag varies from $180 to $560 for a high-quality suit alone. Add in gloves, glasses, boots, a fake beard, and a belly full of jelly (if needed) — that’s several hundred dollars more. If you’re just starting, you can get a Santa Claus costume ranging between $40 and $123+ on Amazon.
If you want to become the best professional Santa you can be, consider investing in Santa School. The Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Michigan charges $620 for three days of classes covering the history of Santa Claus, how to dress and apply makeup, and Christmas-themed sign language phrases.
Other in-person and online classes include:
- The Worldwide Santa Claus Network’s Online Santa School (Basic, Gold, and Platinum levels) starting at $37/year
- School4Santas, aka International University of Santa Claus, provides in-person classes at designated locations and at-home study courses starting at $355
- The Santa Claus Workshop offers custom online classes and workshops with three pricing plans: Santa Helper ($16), Santa Apprentice Patron ($55), and Santa Ambassador Patron ($120)
While not a mandatory expense, these classes help you “look” the part, teach child psychology, and how to act as the beloved character.
Pro Tip: Is becoming Santa at the top of your wishlist? We break it all down in our blog on How to Start a Santa Business!
4. Business Expenses: Make Your Santa Claus Biz Legit
As fun and fulfilling as being a part- or full-time Santa Claus can be, you still need to set up your business and safeguard against common risks. The more seriously you take your business, the better your chances of booking lucrative gigs.
Here are some ways to build your credibility as a professional Santa:
- Get required licenses and permits: Get your state business license and any local permits needed to work as a Santa
- Use contracts: Create a contract template for your freelance gigs — it can prevent problems and misunderstandings later
- Pay taxes on your earnings: Get your free Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS to file and pay taxes on your earnings
- Get liability insurance: Spreading joy can come with major financial risks, so it’s essential to protect your business with Santa Claus insurance
Why do Santa Claus performers need Insurance? Claims like these could be financially catastrophic, reducing your profits, ruining your holly jolly holiday season, and potentially damaging your reputation:
- A child trips over an unsecured cord near your set and fractures their wrist. The family claims you were negligent and sues you.
- A decorative sleigh prop collapses during a photo, injuring a parent’s knee as they fall. They expect you to cover their medical bills.
- Dye from your suit transfers onto a shopper’s coat during a hug, permanently staining it. They want you to cover the cost of replacing it.
Insurance Canopy offers comprehensive general liability insurance tailored to Santa performers like you! It protects you from holiday fails with coverage for slips, trips, and property damage.
Spread the joy year-round with an annual policy starting at just $18.50/month, or get coverage for 1–3 days for $59 per event.
P.S.: You can even level up your annual coverage with gear and equipment insurance that protects your suit, props, and other business essentials.
FAQs About How Much Santas Make
Do Santas Make Good Money?
Yes — Santas can make good money, but like most jobs, salaries and wages vary by region and demand. Per ZipRecruiter, the average wage for mall Santas is $24 per hour, and full-time Santa Claus performers make around $60 per hour.
What Training Do I Need to Make Money as a Santa Claus?
You don’t need a certification or formal training to make money as a Santa Claus. But if you want to level up your resume and improve your chances of landing more rewarding gigs, in-person or online Santa schools can help you earn more as Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick.
How Can I Find Work as a Seasonal Santa?
You can find work as a seasonal Santa Claus by checking out job boards, such as:
- North Pole – Santa’s Workshop
- HireSanta
- Instant Photo Corporation of America (IPCA)
- Real Santas (via email newsletters) — and more
