Want to work from Antarctica? Applications open for high-paying jobs in coldest place on Earth

If you think your office commute is tough, try clocking in at the bottom of the world. From plumbers and electricians to chefs, mechanics and medics, Antarctica is rolling out the white carpet for workers willing to brave sub-zero temperatures in what may just be the coolest workplace on Earth, literally.Science may be the star of the show, but it takes a small army to keep the frozen frontier running.

A small town on ice

Hiring for American stations is handled by the United States Antarctic Program, managed and funded by the National Science Foundation. Contracts typically pay between USD 30,000 and USD 175,000 a year depending on the role.The deal? Accommodation, meals, travel, special cold-weather clothing and training are fully covered.

With nowhere to spend money, many workers return home with substantial savings.Meanwhile, Antarctica New Zealand is currently scouting around 40 recruits for roles at Scott Base, from engineers and electricians to chefs and medics.“Basically, we are running a small town down there,” said Professor Jordy Hendrikx, chief executive of Antarctica New Zealand. “We manage our own water, power, sewage, food and services.

It’s more than a job.”

Life in the deep freeze

Antarctica is a massive ice sheet spanning over 5.5 million square miles. Around 5,000 people work across 70 research stations operated by 30 countries during the summer season. Come winter, that number drops to roughly 1,000 as brutal conditions set in.Summer (October to March) brings 24 hours of daylight and temperatures hovering around freezing. Winter (April to September)? Expect 40 below zero and endless darkness.Planes can be grounded for months. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rare treats. Workers live dorm-style, think co-ed college meets polar expedition, and meals are served cafeteria-style, mostly canned or frozen supplies flown in periodically.At Halley VI Research Station, staffer Dan McKenzie admitted the adjustment wasn’t easy. “For the first month I thought, maybe this isn’t the thing for me,” he told the BBC.

Sharing rooms and battling harsh weather can test even the toughest recruits.Workers can stroll through surreal blue ice caves, watch humpback whales breach offshore and see playful penguins waddling along icy shores — perks few corporate offices can offer.Isolation, once a major challenge, has eased since stations transitioned to SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet in 2022, allowing workers to stay connected with family and friends.

Not for the faint-hearted

Record-breaking temperatures can freeze exposed skin in minutes and turn eyelashes into icicles. Cabin fever is real. The community is tight-knit — and you can’t exactly step out for a weekend getaway.Still, for many, it’s a bucket-list opportunity.Positions are fiercely competitive, and recruiters say beyond qualifications, they’re looking for one key trait: a can-do attitude.After all, when your office is a continent of ice, resilience isn’t optional — it’s survival.