Industry News
Mt. Hood Meadows, OR, announced it is raising its base pay to $16.25/hour and will adjust wages upwards for year-round and returning seasonal positions accordingly. Last year Meadows hiked its starting wage to $15/hour, well above the established Oregon State minimum wage for the Hood River County area. On July 1 the standard minimum wage in Hood River County was raised to $13.50 an hour. Meadows’ increase puts the entry-level wage $1.75 above the state-required minimum hourly rate and represents another element of the company’s total Team compensation program to provide more livable wages to loyal Team members.
“In the past few years, we have been recognized as a top workplace in Oregon. We have attracted people seeking a positive environment, in addition to those who enjoy outdoor recreation and sharing outdoor experiences with guests. We have long provided meaningful work, a chance to learn new skills, and a fun Team atmosphere. With this increase in wages we hope to continue to assist our Team to afford to live in the area.”
– Matt Troskey, VP of People and Learning
General Manager Greg Pack says again this season there is an unprecedented demand for outdoor recreation – season pass sales are outpacing even last season’s record year. Pack says the investment in Team wages is essential to providing an enriching guest experience, saying, “We have an internal model called Perpetual Stoke, which puts our Team first in our decision-making process. These necessary adjustments to compensation demonstrate our commitment to our Team and how important they are to our overall success in delivering an incredible on snow experience to guests exploring the mountain.”
Meadows also provides free shuttle transportation from Sandy and Hood River and provides a 70% discount at restaurants for Team members. For young families, Meadows offers daycare for Team member children for $25 per day. This is in addition to the season pass benefit, which historically has been the greatest perk for working at a ski area. Troskey says the wage increase is accompanied by expanding opportunities for employee housing, explaining, “We offer local landlords incentives through lift tickets and season passes to provide affordable housing options to our Team members. We have also been seeking properties to lease in order to add to the selection of places for our team.”
