Land of opportunity

Work and travel in the USA

The connection between Ireland and the USA is strong. And this is reflected in the number of opportunities Irish passport holders have to experience life in the States.

J1, camp, grad, trainee or intern... USIT has 5 ways to make it in America

A-stars and stripes

Why work and travel in the USA?

There’s a reason why the USA is the number one destination for USIT travellers. (Doughnuts, definitely the doughnuts). In your twenties, every summer can be spent working at camp – or on a J1 if you’re a student. And then after college, there’s the option to work for a year on a Grad USA visa – or longer on a Trainee USA visa if you're not a graduate. Like the coffee refills, the opportunities are endless. And working in America is a slam dunk for getting ahead in your studies or career, earning good money, and having the time of your life doing it.

Need to know before you go

Where to go

Big hitters like San Diego, NYC, Chicago, Boston, LA and San Francisco are popular – especially when it comes to J1 summer jobs and graduates looking for professional job openings on their 1-year Grad USA visa. But the good news is, whether you do summer camp, J1 or any of our professional internship programs – all America visas give you at least a 30-day grace period to travel around the States either before or after your job. Sometimes both!

What it pays

What you earn in the USA depends on the program and your experience. As a first-timer at summer camp, you’ll earn one of the highest salaries – USD $2,000 with meals and accommodation included. For J1, the hourly rate differs per state, but out J1 summer employers usually pay between USD $10-18/hour - often with discounted staff accommodation and tips. For our professional internship programs, there is uncapped earning potential.

When to go

In line with Ireland’s summer holidays (albeit with a lot more sun), Summer Camp USA and J1 run between Jun-Sep. But Irish passport holders get the best of both worlds, with our Grad USA, Internship USA and Trainee USA programs operating year-round (within the visa window and rules). Giving you the chance to experience fairytale winters and russet autumns in the Fall – as well as the much-needed all-American summers on the beach.