Why St Anton?
St Anton am Arlberg is the resort where après-ski was invented, and it has spent the last century making sure no one forgets it. Sitting at the gateway to the Arlberg ski area, it shares 305km of lift-linked piste with Lech, Zurs and Stuben, making it one of the largest and most serious ski regions in Austria. The skiing is steep, long and snow-reliable, the off-piste is world class, and the village itself runs on a different energy to anywhere else in the Alps.
For seasonaires, St Anton offers something most resorts don't: a genuine party town that also happens to have a proper mountain. The Dorfstrasse is packed with bars and restaurants, the après starts at three and rolls into the early hours, and the resort pulls a truly international crowd. If you want a busy season working hard and playing harder, this is the one.
Roles & pay
St Anton's hiring mix sits between France and Switzerland. British chalet operators run properties here, but the bulk of jobs are with Austrian hotels, mountain restaurants and the army of bars that keep the après-ski machine running. Expect roles like these:
Typical monthly pay (net)
Hotel reception / front of house: €1,700–2,100
Waiting staff and bar: €1,600–1,900 plus tips
Kitchen & chef (junior to CDP): €1,800–2,800
Chalet host (British operator): €1,400–1,800 plus tips and ski pass
Accommodation and one or two meals per day are usually included on top. Austrian tips in bars and restaurants are real and worth budgeting in. Strong service staff can add €150–300 per month.
Austrian work permits
Austria is in the EU, so EU nationals can turn up and work without any visa paperwork. You will still need to register with the local council (Meldezettel) within three days of arriving, and set up a social security number, but that is all administrative.
UK nationals have two realistic routes post-Brexit. The Red-White-Red card for seasonal workers is employer sponsored, which means you need a job offer before you can apply. The alternative, and often the easier path, is the UK-Austria Youth Mobility Scheme, which gives 18 to 30 year olds a 12-month working visa with no employer sponsorship needed. Quota is limited and opens each year, so apply as soon as it opens if you qualify.
Visa tip for UK nationals
The Youth Mobility Scheme visa is the simplest option if you're under 30. It lets you arrive and job hunt on the ground, or chop and change employers mid-season. If you're over 30, you'll need an employer willing to sponsor a Red-White-Red card, so start the conversation early, ideally by July.
Living in St Anton
St Anton is more affordable than Swiss or top-tier French resorts but still pricier than smaller Austrian villages. Staff accommodation is almost always provided by hotels and chalet operators. Expect shared rooms or small apartments, sometimes in nearby villages like St Jakob or Pettneu with a short free ski bus ride in.
Supermarket shopping at Spar or MPreis is reasonable by alpine standards. A beer in a bar runs €5 to €7, a pizza €12 to €16. The Arlberg ski pass for staff is typically heavily discounted or fully included, and covers the entire linked area including Lech and Zurs.
Après-ski & nightlife
This is the bit St Anton is famous for. MooserWirt, a mountain hut at the bottom of Run 1, is statistically one of the highest-grossing bars in the world per square metre. At 3pm the music goes on, the tables become dance floors, and the ski boots stay on. Krazy Kanguruh, a few hundred metres below, runs the same playbook and the two together define the St Anton après-ski experience.
Down in the village, the Piccadilly Pub, Underground and Postkeller keep things going long after the mountain closes. The season's highlight is usually the Tanzcafe Arlberg music festival in early April, when live music takes over the slopes. As a seasonaire you'll see plenty of it, though pacing yourself is genuinely important: St Anton has burnt out more than a few first-timers by Christmas.
When to apply
Austrian hotels recruit from mid-summer onward for the winter. If you want a confirmed role with accommodation and visa support, aim to be applying between July and September. British chalet operators working in St Anton hire on a similar timeline to their French properties, typically running recruitment fairs in August and September.
- July–August: Austrian hotels post winter vacancies. Youth Mobility visa applications open.
- September: Peak hiring. Chalet operators finalise teams.
- October: Red-White-Red card applications should be in. Last reliable window for visa-dependent hires.
- November: Pre-season staff training begins.
- December: Season opens. Occasional late vacancies for walk-in hires.
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to work a season in St Anton?
EU citizens can work in Austria freely. UK nationals need a Red-White-Red card or can apply under the UK-Austria Youth Mobility Scheme if aged 18 to 30, which gives a 12-month working visa. Your employer typically helps with the Red-White-Red application, but expect a few weeks of paperwork. Start by late summer for a December start.
How much do seasonal jobs in St Anton pay?
Austrian minimum wage for hotel and restaurant staff is around €1,600 to €1,900 net per month, with accommodation and at least one meal per day typically provided on top. Chalet hosts with British operators earn similar figures plus tips. Chefs and experienced front-of-house staff can reach €2,200 to €2,800. Pay is lower than Switzerland but the cost of living is also much lower.
Is St Anton really as wild as people say?
Yes. The après-ski scene at MooserWirt and Krazy Kanguruh is genuinely legendary, and the town has more than 70 bars and restaurants in a relatively compact space. It is not unusual to ski down to MooserWirt at 3pm and still be there at 8pm. If you want a quiet season, this is not the resort for you.
How good is the skiing in St Anton?
Arlberg is one of the most serious ski areas in Europe. The lift-linked Arlberg (St Anton, Lech, Zurs, Stuben) covers 305km of marked piste and vast amounts of off-piste terrain. Snow reliability is excellent thanks to the altitude and aspect, and the resort holds snow well through April. Freeriders rate it alongside Chamonix and Verbier.
Do I need to speak German?
Not strictly, but it helps a lot. Many British chalet companies operate in St Anton with English-speaking teams, and Austrian hospitality staff typically speak good English. For hotel front-of-house roles working with Austrian and German guests, basic German will strengthen your application significantly.
How long is the season?
The Arlberg season typically runs from early December to the end of April, with some years extending into early May if snow allows. Seasonaire contracts usually start mid-November for staff training and end late April. That gives you five full months of work, which is longer than many French resorts.
Ready for a season in St Anton?
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