Hiring timeline
When to look and when to apply — the Fringe hiring cycle runs from early spring through to the start of August.
March–April
Major venues open recruitment. Assembly, Underbelly, Pleasance, and the Fringe Society advertise seasonal roles. The best positions fill first — apply early.
May–June
Second wave of hiring. Show companies confirm their Edinburgh runs and recruit production staff, flyerers, and front of house. Volunteer programme applications close.
July
Last-minute roles appear as venues finalise teams. Competition for remaining positions is high. Accommodation becomes scarce and expensive.
August
The festival runs. Some dropout replacement roles appear during the first week. Setup starts late July; teardown runs into early September.
Who's hiring
The major Fringe venue operators — between them they hire thousands of seasonal staff every year.
What does Fringe work pay?
Paid roles
- Bar & Front of House
- £13–£15/hr
- Technical (sound, lighting, stage)
- £14–£20/hr
- Box Office
- £12–£14/hr
- Flyering & Marketing
- £10–£13/hr
- Security (SIA)
- £13–£16/hr
Volunteer programmes
Several venues offer structured volunteer programmes in exchange for:
- Free accommodation (Pleasance)
- Free show access
- Training and skills development
- References and CV experience
- Meals during shifts
Where you'll be working
The Fringe spreads across Edinburgh, but most jobs cluster in these areas.
