Summer jobs in Malta are mostly in hospitality and tourism: hotels, bars, restaurants and beach clubs, English language summer schools, events and festivals, boat trips and tour operators, and retail in the busy resort towns. The season runs roughly from June to September, recruitment starts in spring, and English is enough for most roles. Pay is usually at or a little above the minimum wage, so the best summer jobs are the ones that add tips, accommodation or useful experience.
If you are a student looking for work during term time as well, our guide to part-time jobs for students in Malta covers the rules and options. This article focuses on the summer season.
Summer jobs Malta: the main types
| Job type | Typical roles | Where | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels and resorts | Front desk, housekeeping, waiting, pool bar, kids’ club | St Julian’s, St Paul’s Bay, Mellieħa, Gozo | Some offer staff meals or accommodation |
| Bars, restaurants and beach clubs | Waiting, bar, kitchen, hosts, runners | Paceville, Sliema, St George’s Bay, beaches in the north | Long, late shifts; tips can be significant |
| English summer schools | Teachers, activity leaders, group leaders, residence staff | Sliema, St Julian’s, Gżira and beyond | Teaching needs an ELT permit; activity roles usually do not |
| Tourism and boats | Boat crew, ticket sales, reps, excursion staff | Sliema ferries, harbours, Comino trips | Licensed tour guiding requires a qualification |
| Events and festivals | Bar staff, stewards, set-up crews, promoters | Across Malta | Short contracts; good for networking |
| Retail | Shop assistants, cashiers, sales | Resort towns, malls, Valletta | More regular hours than hospitality |
Overview of common seasonal roles; last checked November 2026.
English summer schools
Malta’s English language schools receive large numbers of junior students in summer, and they hire extra staff every year. Teachers need an ELT permit, as explained in our guide to teaching jobs in Malta. Activity leaders, group leaders and residence staff are recruited separately and are a popular choice for students and young graduates who enjoy working with teenagers.
Lifeguarding and specialist roles
Lifeguards, diving staff and skippers need recognised qualifications. If you already hold one, check whether it is recognised in Malta before the season; if not, plan training well in advance.
Pay, hours and the minimum wage
Most entry-level summer jobs pay at or slightly above the national minimum wage. For adults in 2026 that is €229.44 a week, according to WageIndicator; lower rates apply to younger workers. Our full guide to the Malta minimum wage explains how it is calculated and how it changes each year.
- Tips: in busy bars, restaurants and beach clubs, tips can add noticeably to take-home pay, but they vary from week to week.
- Hours: hospitality shifts are long and often late, with weekend work standard. Ask how overtime and days off work before you accept.
- Contracts: insist on a written contract, even for a short season, and make sure your employer registers the job with Jobsplus.
- Benefits: staff meals, transport or accommodation can be worth more than a small difference in hourly pay.
Be wary of anyone offering cash-in-hand work without a contract. Unregistered work leaves you without protection if something goes wrong and can cause problems with your residence status.
Who can work: EU and non-EU rules
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work in Malta without a work permit. If you stay longer than three months, register your residence.
- Non-EU students already studying in Malta need permission to work, and student permits come with conditions on hours and timing. Rules are updated, so check with Identità and Jobsplus before accepting a summer job.
- Non-EU visitors cannot work on a tourist visa or visa-free stay. A seasonal job needs the appropriate permit, arranged with the employer before you start.
Jobsplus is also where many seasonal vacancies appear; see our guide to Jobsplus Malta for how the portal and employment registration work.
When and how to apply for summer jobs Malta employers advertise
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January to February | Decide your dates, check permits, update your CV |
| February to March | Apply to English summer schools, hotels and tour operators |
| April to May | Interviews and offers; arrange accommodation |
| May to June | Walk-in applications at bars, restaurants and beach clubs |
| June to September | The season; keep an eye out for mid-season vacancies |
How to stand out:
- Keep your CV to one page and put your availability dates and right-to-work status at the top.
- List your languages. Italian, German, French and Spanish speakers are in demand with tourists and summer school groups.
- Apply in person for bars and restaurants, ideally mid-afternoon when it is quiet.
- Ask about trial shifts, and make sure any trial is short and agreed in advance.
- Follow up a week after applying; managers in peak season are busy and often hire whoever stays in touch.
Where to live for the summer
Summer is peak season, and short-term rents rise accordingly. Options include staff accommodation (common in hotels and some summer schools), a room in a shared flat, or student residences that let rooms over the summer. Our guide to student accommodation in Malta compares the main options and costs.
Live close to work if you can. Late shifts end after the last convenient buses on some routes, and a long night journey home quickly eats into your earnings.
A simple summer budget
Before you accept an offer, write down four numbers: weekly pay after tax and social security, rent for a room, weekly transport and food. In the resort towns, rent alone can take a large share of a minimum-wage income, which is why staff accommodation or a shared room close to work makes such a difference. If the sums only work with tips, treat tips as a bonus rather than part of the plan, and aim to save a fixed amount from every pay packet from the first week. Keep a small reserve for the gap between arriving and your first pay day, which can be two to four weeks.
Making the season work for you
A summer job in Malta can be exhausting or brilliant, and the difference is usually how you plan around it.
- Protect your days off. Plan a beach, a boat trip or a Gozo day on your free days, or the summer disappears into shifts and sleep.
- Build a summer crew. Colleagues on the same rota are your social life; suggest a swim or a meal after a quiet shift.
- Save from week one. Rent and eating out are expensive in the resort towns.
- Think beyond the summer. Good seasonal workers are often offered year-round roles, and a summer can be the first step towards an internship in Malta or a longer stay.
- Get a reference from your manager before you leave.
Many seasonal workers arrive knowing no one. Making the first plan yourself, even something as simple as a sunset swim with two colleagues, is often what turns a working summer into the best one you have had.
Want to turn this into an actual plan? Open MeetNow and see the plans posted in Malta. It is free and works in your browser: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins, starting in Malta.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
When should I apply for summer jobs in Malta?
Start in February or March. English summer schools and hotels recruit for June to September in spring, and many roles are filled by May. Bars, restaurants and beach clubs keep hiring into June, often through walk-in applications.
How much do summer jobs in Malta pay?
Most entry-level summer jobs pay at or a little above the national minimum wage, which is €229.44 a week for adults in 2026 according to WageIndicator. Tips can add to pay in bars and restaurants, and some roles include meals or accommodation.
Can foreign students get summer jobs in Malta?
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens can work in Malta without a permit. Non-EU students need permission to work, and student permits come with conditions on hours and timing, so check the current rules with Identità and Jobsplus before accepting a job.
Do I need to speak Maltese for a summer job?
No. English is enough for most hospitality, tourism, retail and summer school roles, because the customers are often tourists and students. Other European languages such as Italian, German, French or Spanish are a real advantage.
Where can I live during a summer job in Malta?
Some hotels and summer schools offer staff accommodation. Otherwise, a room in a shared flat is the usual option, but book early, because summer is peak season and short lets are more expensive.
.jpg){kind=link}