Guide to Myrtle Beach | USIT work and travel

young person sits on a terrace eating nachos with the beach in the background

Long beach with high-rise buildings looking down

It's a shore thing

Your guide to Myrtle Beach

Myrtle Beach is a lively city and holiday resort destination lapped by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean in South Carolina. It’s a lovely spot to kick back, relax and while away the hours. Particularly given the fact that it has over 200 days of sunshine per year.

Billed simply as ‘The Beach’, Myrtle Beach is the place to go if you’re looking for some sunshine and beach time while on the East coast of the US. It’s the gateway to the Grand Strand which has 60 miles’ worth of beaches, wildlife-filled salt marshes, maritime forests, and blooming botanical gardens too.

Live the beach lifestyle

Cheaper than other big cities

Varied job opportunities

Under 2 hour drive from Charleston

Easy access to southern US culture

Tight-knit working communities

Why Myrtle Beach

Because, well, the beach. But there are also plenty of adrenaline-fuelled activities here – theme park rides at Funplex Myrtle Beach, parasailing, ziplining, surfing and banana boating. Depending on what gets you going, there are also over 100 championship golf courses dotted about. Perfect for swingers.

Add in some excellent craft beer breweries, fresh seafood at Murrells Inlet, horseback riding, one of the world’s biggest observation wheels and the opportunity to go ahem ‘shagging’ (that’s a dance folks) in some rowdy clubs and bars, then you can see why we think Myrtle Beach is a real corker of a spot.

Colourful buildings at sunset with traffic

Where to live

This picturesque beachside city has plenty going for it – sweeping Atlantic Ocean views, swathes of sunshine, a vibrant nightlife scene. But you’re going to want to find somewhere to lay your head and store your stuff while you’re out here.

If you want to be close to all the action, we’d recommend heading to South Myrtle Beach, which is home to various public beaches, mini-golf courses and the international airport. Broadway is also in the thick of the main entertainment district, but comes at a slightly higher price tag.

If you want to be close to different beach bars and restaurants then choose Arcadian Shores. Or for some peace and quiet, head out to the small fishing villages of Little River, Murrells Inlet or Pawleys Island.

Ferris Wheel on a boardwalk at Myrtle Beach

Where to work or intern

Tourism is South Carolina’s bread and butter, and arguably the tourism epicentre of the state is in fact Myrtle Beach. Approximately 75,000 jobs exist within the industry here, and this includes working in hotels, bars, in retail, and in a whole host of other spots and entertainment venues here too.

The city is also home to a considerable number of retirees, so working in a care home or a medical centre is also an option here too. The average wage here per hour is give or take USD $15.50, and there’s also often perks such as complimentary housing, tips, staff meals and end of bonus contracts up to $500 here too.

Each year, we have 1,000+ J1 jobs with our tried-and-trusted US employers across America. Book onto J1 early and select ‘USIT Job’ for access to our online Job Hub where you can search, apply and get hired.

Wooden walkway on the beach on a sunny day

What about the climate?

With over 200 days of guaranteed sunshine per year, you can’t really go wrong at Myrtle Beach. Winters are mild here too, with lows of 3 degrees Celsius in January, and while thunderstorms do tend to be common – especially during the summer months – it never usually rains for more than an hour at a time. Hurricane season officially runs from June through to November, though there are ample warnings in this neck of the woods, and temperatures reach a high of 33 degrees Celsius in July and August.

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Work life

Typical jobs our J1-ers did last summer

Typical role

Birdseye view of Myrtle Beach in America

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Ocean Lifeguard

May-Sep

USD $18/hour

Cookouts, restaurant discounts + bonuses

Life's a beach on your summer J1 working as a lifeguard in the oceanfront playground of Myrtle Beach. Awesome beach hair also included.

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Best things to do in Myrtle Beach

Don't miss this

Broadway at the Beach

This mighty shopping and entertainment complex is the largest of its kind in South Carolina. It features 20 different restaurants, some world-class nightlife, theme park rides, over 100 different shops, interactive exhibits, a Hard Rock Café – you name it, it’s all here!

SkyWheel Myrtle Beach

If you’re looking to get sky-high and are wanting some pretty epic panoramic views, then you’d better make your way to the SkyWheel – a gargantuan structure reaching almost 200-feet-tall. It’s best to come here at either sunrise of sunset for a sight you really won’t forget in a hurry.

Myrtle Beach State Park

For a bit of peace and quiet, head down to the Myrtle Beach State Park, which offers nature trails, turtle nesting sites and ‘the best surf fishing in South Carolina’. It’s just a stone’s throw from the beach too – perfect for a day when you’re looking to sun-worship and escape the crowds.

New South Brewing

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This small microbrewery is where all the cool kids go, and it’s easy to see why. They’ve been running since 1998, and it’s a great spot to grab a swift White Ale or ‘Dirty Myrtle’ Double IPA – a nickname for the town itself (don’t ask).

It's in the name

Ways to work in America

Whether you want to fund your summer on a J1, make a difference working at camp, or get ahead with a professional internship, trainee or grad visa – USIT is the home of working in the US.

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