Earlier this week the country was shocked to learn that a mall Santa had been laid off (see earlier post, “Sign of the times”). Outcry over the news has reportedly forced Tysons Corner Center, one of the biggest malls in the Washington, D.C. area, to reconsider.
Michael Graham, who had played Santa there for 18 years, reached an agreement with the mall to get his job back, according to the Associated Press. The surprise in the article, however, is that Graham makes $175 per hour as Santa!
That hourly wage is 10 times the going rate, AP reports. Where is the Professional Santa Claus Impersonators Association to comment on this?
Of course, being Santa can be hard work: The outfit is hot, the kids can be bratty and demanding, and their parents even more so. But if you’re good — and all accounts suggest that Michael Graham excels in the job — it could be the best seasonal job around that doesn’t require much training.
Even year-round full-time contractors (with degrees) don’t make close to that kind of hourly wage. Contract recruiters in California make between $80 and $100 per hour, depending on years of experience, according to Bob Hancock, senior recruiter at Electronic Arts.
“I don’t know anyone in my profession who makes $175 an hour, but then again,” adds Hancock, “we do not require candidates to sit on anyone’s lap during an interview!”
If you’re on a quest for a high-paying seasonal job, get busy! For some helpful hints, read this outlook on holiday hiring.
The talented Mr. Graham may still be a bargain for the mall, as they have averted a PR nightmare and a possible boycott that would have scrooged holiday earnings.
