Join the Team!
Live and work on an amazing island park in the middle of the San Francisco Bay!
Angel Island State Park is frequently looking to fill seasonal park positions, and is looking for people who would love to work in one of the most beautiful and historic settings in California. Surrounded by the San Francisco Bay, Angel Island offers the unique opportunity to work in a California State Park that is rich in both human and natural history. Additionally, positions on Angel Island come with the opportunity to live on the island in a dorm setting in a historic home. The cost of living the in the Bay area has skyrocketed in the past few years, housing on Angel Island works out to be around $80 per month including utilities!
Can't make the time commitment for a paid position? We have volunteer opportunities too!
If any of the following sound interesting to you...
- Preserving immigration history at the historic barracks
- Baking bread in a Civil War-era bakehouse
- Costumed interpretation in the WWI-WWII era chapel and guardhouse
- Habitat restoration and park beautification
...then you should volunteer at Angel Island State Park! Contact tours.angelisland@parks.ca.gov or (415)435-5537 for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "seasonal" mean?
Despite the implication of the word, "seasonal" positions do not only have to work a specific season! "Seasonal" park employees can only work a maximum of 1500 hours in a year. In other words, seasonal employees on the island tend to work 4 days a week throughout the whole year, or work "full-time" for nine months and take three months off.
What is the pay range?
Pay varies between positions and updates continually as time goes on. For the most up-to-date pay range, find a current or recent CalCareers job posting of the position you're interested in. You'll find the pay range under "Position Details". New employees start at the lowest end of the pay range.
For reference, these were the pay ranges of the following positions in 2024:
- Park Aide: $16.87-$19.32
- Park Interpretive Specialist: $17.21-$20.87
- Maintenance Aide: $16.92-$19.77
- Lifeguard I: $19.88-$22.08
How do I get the uniform?
Seasonals must purchase and obtain their uniform with their own money. There is a uniform cache on the island, but sizes and availability are continually changing.
How can I get housing?
Seasonals must work a minimum of 3 days a week in a year to qualify for housing. Otherwise, availability is limited and depends on how many rooms are open in the dorms.
What isn't permitted for employees?
Employees support staff boat operations by deckhanding, so per U.S. Coast Guard regulations, employees have mandatory enrollment in the random drug testing program and are not allowed to use marijuana. Additionally, for seasonals seeking housing, dogs are not allowed on the island. Cats are only permitted if they're fully indoor and consent is given by every dorm resident.
How do I get groceries?
Angel Island State Park is a true island and there are no grocery stores until you get to the mainland! Traveling on and off the island is dictated by the schedules of the public and park vessels. Without a place to stay off the island, the latest islanders can stay on the mainland is usually around 5pm. Night life is a coyote howling at the moon, an owl hooting or whatever is playing on your personal computer.
Seasonal Positions
Park Aide
Work on the dock greeting and assisting visitors. Make someone's day by welcoming them to the biggest natural island on the bay.
Duties include, but not limited to: Greeting visitors, handing out maps, answering questions, aiding visitor trip-planning, managing ferry queuing and loading, collecting fees, checking campers in, monitoring restrooms, performing light maintenance and cleaning, deckhanding on State Park vessels, and supporting emergency response.
Minimum qualifications: Valid driver’s license with clean driving record. Complete and pass required background check and fingerprint scan. Basic computer skills and basic cash handling skills including making change. Effective verbal and written English communication. Enrollment in random drug testing program and USCG deckhand program.
Desirable characteristics: Ability to work weekends & holidays. Experience with public speaking in large group setting. Good organizational skills and pro-active attitude. Multilingual skills.
Park Interpretive Specialist
Guide visitors through the Detention Barracks Museum, students through a historic living program, and lead other programs.
Duties include, but not limited to: Leading tours at the U.S. Immigration Station, supporting the Civil War historic living program, scheduling tours, coordinating volunteers, answering visitor questions, opening and closing museums, collecting fees, performing light maintenance and cleaning, greeting visitors at the dock, deckhanding on State Park vessels, and supporting emergency response.
Minimum qualifications: Valid driver’s license with clean driving record. Complete and pass required background check and fingerprint scan. Basic computer skills and basic cash handling skills including making change. Effective verbal and written English communication. Enrollment in random drug testing program and USCG deckhand program.
Education: Equivalent to graduation from college (1) with major work in natural sciences or human history, or (2) with major work in education with specialization in natural science or human history. Full-time paid work performing duties similar to those listed under "Typical Tasks" may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the required education.
Desirable characteristics: Ability to work weekends & holidays. Experience with public speaking in large group settings. The ability to handle questions about sensitive topics. Good organizational skills and pro-active attitude. Multilingual skills, especially Chinese and Spanish.
Maintenance Aide
Work outside in a beautiful park with temperate weather, enhancing the visitor experience.
Duties include, but not limited to: Cleaning restrooms, trimming vegetation, and general landscaping with the proper use and maintenance of tools, supplies and equipment. Assisting with complex projects including construction, plumbing, and road work. Answering visitor questions and deckhanding on State Park vessels.
Minimum Qualifications: Valid driver’s license with clean driving record. Perform heavy sustained physical work, perform repetitive daily tasks such as restroom cleaning, trash cleanup, etc. Enrollment in random drug testing program and USCG deckhand program.
Desirable Characteristics: Ability to work weekends & holidays. Experience and skills in maintenance work. Ability to accept and benefit from training in maintenance work.
Lifeguard
Maintain safety and well-being on the island — be an emergency first responder.
Duties include, but not limited to: Detecting and rescuing persons and vessels in distress, taking command in emergencies, performing first aid and resuscitation procedures, instructing Junior Lifeguards, and deckhanding on State Park vessels. Greeting visitors, answering questions, managing ferry queuing and loading, and collecting fees.
Minimum Qualifications: Valid driver’s license with clean driving record. Meet training and physical qualifications. Pass lifeguard tryouts. Enrollment in random drug testing program and USCG deckhand program.
Desirable Characteristics: Ability to work weekends & holidays. Experience and skills in first aid. Good organizational skills and pro-active attitude. Multilingual skills.
How to Apply
Seasonal and, occasionally, permanent positions are intermittently available at Angel Island State Park. See the following two methods on how to apply for a position at Angel Island State Parks.
CalCareers
CalCareers is the most streamlined way you can apply for positions. You must create an account to apply on CalCareers. Find the latest job postings at https://calcareers.ca.gov/
CalCareers also has:
- The most updated pay range for each position.
- Instructions on setting up job notifications.
- Job listings for other state positions throughout California.
Direct Application
Sending an application directly to Angel Island State Park is a less reliable way to apply since a position may not be immediately available upon receiving your application. Regardless, applications are always welcome.
1) Complete a standard state application form (STD 678). Download one here. *Please be sure to indicate on the application which jobs you would be interested in.
2) Email to: kevin.selna@parks.ca.gov, michael.dolan@parks.ca.gov, and casey.lee@parks.ca.gov
OR
Mail to:
Angel Island State Park
ATTN: Seasonal Hiring
PO Box 318
Tiburon, CA 94920