Southwestern Region Ski Resort Jobs

Some of the world’s biggest and most popular ski resorts are located in the Southwestern United States. Famous for towering peaks, high elevations, and light fluffy champagne powder the skiing in this area is some of the best in the world and it attracts people from all over the globe.

There are over 50 ski areas in the Southwestern region, which includes the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Anytime you flip through a ski magazine you’ll see this region highlighted as a great spot for high-end ski experiences, unforgettable views, blower snow, amazing nightlife, and delicious dining. The region has a big reputation and it totally deserves it.

The Southwestern mountains of the United States are a great place to live and work. You have so many options. You can live in remote ski towns like Telluride or commute to the hills from big cities like Salt Lake or Denver. There are terrain park only resorts like Echo Mountain, scene-savvy places like Aspen, family skiing destinations like Vail, extreme terrain meccas like Snowbird, and plenty of hidden gems that you may never have heard of. It’s hard to go wrong in the Southwest.

Below is a list of some of the big ski resorts and employers in the Southwestern region. Scroll through the list and click on any employer to learn more about them. If you don’t see what you’re looking for in this list, you can also visit our Ski Areas page to find more resorts in each state.

Alternatively, if you already know where you want to work, search for ski industry jobs at JobMonkey’s Job Center.

Arizona Ski Areas

• Arizona Snowbowl

Colorado Ski Areas

• Arapahoe Basin – A Colorado classic, A-Basin has stuck to its roots as being a ski bum’s hill. Tucked in below the Continental Divide, it opens in October and sometimes doesn’t close until July.
• Aspen/Snowmass – Aspen Ski Co. has four resorts in the Aspen area (Ajax, Snowmass, Highlands, and Buttermilk), and all are on a single ski pass. They literally have it all – crazy steeps, endless bumps, huge park, family cruisers, posh mountain town, and endless nightlife.
• Beaver Creek – One of the most luxurious resorts in the world, this world class resort hosts guest and employees from all over the world. It is owned by Vail Resorts.
• Breckenridge – Another of the Vail Resorts destination resorts, Breckenridge is the perfect blend of small town charm and modern amenities.
• Copper Mountain – On I-70, outside of Frisco, Copper is a big mountain with both a regional and destination traveler appeal. Work here and you’ll most likely move here.
• Crested Butte
• Keystone – As a year-round resort, Keystone offers employees and guests a variety of recreational opportunities in the serene natural setting of the Arapahoe National Forest. It is also one of the world class resorts owned by Vail Resorts.
• Loveland
• Durango Mountain Resort aka Purgatory
• Ski Sunlight
• Steamboat – Known for deep, light snow, Steamboat is a great mix of mountain town and tourist resort making it a wonderful place to make a living.
• Telluride – With lots of expansions and improvements, Telluride is becoming one of the biggest resorts in the region.
• Vail – As the largest single ski resort in the US. Vail hires employees from all over the world. It is the namesake of several world class resorts owned by Vail Resorts.
• Winter Park – Not just the “Local’s Favorite” but “Colorado’s Favorite” as well. Why? More snow than any other Colorado Resort and just 70 miles from Denver makes Winter Park an ideal place to work where you play. Looking for a summer spot? Winter Park is also known as ‘Mountain Bike Capital, USA’, check it out for yourself.

New Mexico Ski Areas

• Sandia Peak
• Santa Fe
• Ski Apache
• Taos Ski Valley – After years of only allowing skiers, Taos is now snowboarder friendly. Taos has some of the steepest terrain in the country.

Utah Ski Areas

• Alta/Snowbird – Up the Little Cottonwood Canyon, Alta and Snowbird are super ski destinations and great employers.
• Brian Head
• Deer Valley – First class service and perfect corduroy make Deer Valley an ideal place to work for someone who is customer service oriented.
• Park City
• Solitude/Brighton – Right outside of Salt Lake City up the Big Cottonwood Canyon are two superb little resorts with excellent backcountry and lift accessed skiing. Not as big or popular as their over the ridge neighbors, Park City and Deer Valley, Solitude and Brighton are fun resorts to work in and explore.
• Sundance