Guide to Montauk and Long Island | USIT work and travel

a wooden stairway going down onto a sandy path through greenery with the ocean at the end

Young person poses on a beach with a lifeguard chair and USA flag in the background

Talk the tauk

Your guide to Montauk and Long Island

A sleepy little hamlet set at the eastern end of Long Island and within easy reach of New York, Montauk gives you the best of both worlds – excellent beaches, scenic nature trails and easy access to the Big Apple. It’s also a great base from which to explore the sites of Long Island – from the trendy Hamptons to the LGBTQ+ haven of Fire Island.

Billing itself as both ‘The Last Resort’ and ‘The End’, Montauk is the last settlement on the 190-kilometre-long Long Island, known for its excellent wineries, white-sand beaches and upscale neighbourhoods like The Hamptons.

Live and work by the beach

Two hour train from New York

Coastal walks and whale spotting

Good gigs, great tips

Lively international scene

Celebrity hotspot

Why Long Island?

Montauk is a quirky hamlet known for its surfing, fishing, golf courses, breweries, designer boutiques and excellent eateries – a popular holiday spot for New Yorkers during the summer months.

It’s also home to the Montauk Point Lighthouse, which is the fourth-oldest lighthouse within the whole of the US, and the State Park, which features plenty of hiking trails and some excellent Atlantic Ocean views too. It was also where the Amistad ship was captured by Washington back in 1839.

Of course, there’s more to Long Island than just Montauk. Further west you’ve got the bougie settlement of East Hampton, which is known as ‘America’s most beautiful village’. Then there's Fire Island, known for its LGBTQ+ friendly communities as well as countless vineyards calling out for some wine-tasting. Add in sprawling beaches, Gatsby-era houses and its proximity to NYC, and you can see why Long Island is one of the most popular places in which to holiday within the US.

A boat cruises along the water next to a seafood shack on stilts

Where to live in Long Island

The coastal resort of Montauk has a population of around 4,322 people year-round (with up to 30,000 in the summer months), so competition here is fairly rife, though there are plenty of cottages, beach houses and other self-catering accommodations within the surrounding area which tend to be rented out on a weekly basis.

When it comes to affordability though, Montauk is quite possibly the place to stay in this neck of the woods. It’s more laid-back and unpretentious than the other ‘official’ Hamptons, and prices here are arguably lower. While it’s a small spot, it’s fairly spread out, so we’d recommend renting a car while you’re here to get out and about and perhaps stay in neighbourhoods like Ditch Plains – which has a fantastic surfing beach – and near the scenic Lake Montauk with its posh yacht club.

Where to work and intern in Long Island

Tourism is Long Island’s bread and butter, particularly during the summer months. There are hundreds of positions available each season here. These range from working in hotels and bars, retail, restaurants.

This being a coastal spot, you can work as a lifeguard or as a summer camp administrator. Or, if you’ve got experience with childcare, you could work as an au pair or nanny.

The average wage here USD $15 oer hour give or take but there are perks such as complimentary housing, tips, staff meals and end of bonus contracts up to $500.

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.

What about climate?

The climate in Montauk ranges from warm and humid in summer, to cold wet and windy during the winter months. Over the course of the year, temperatures from highs of 26 degrees Celsius in July and August to lows of -2 degrees Celsius in January. In terms of rainfall and precipitation, the month of most rainfall tends to be in May, with an average of 8.7 days per month.

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Work life

Meet our Long Island employers

Typical role

Montauk, Long Island

Cashier

May-Sep

USD $16/hour

Free meal on shift + grocery discounts

Spend your J1 amongst the surf beaches and seafood restaurants of Long Island, working for Montauk's primary health food store and café.

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Best things to do in Long Island

Sunset scene of a skate park with a skateboarder jumping in the air

Montauk Point Skate Park

This beautiful spot is the place to go if you’re looking for a slice of nature and some R&R. It’s got some great nature trails and wildlife-spotting opportunities, and you can also pay a visit to the lighthouse, which was constructed back in 1792 and is the oldest of its kind in New York State.

surfboards lay on a beach as a group of people prepare for a surf lesson

East End Surf Club

Montauk is famous for its surfing, and if you’re looking for a lesson or two in order how to master how to ‘hang ten’, then you should really make sure you go to the East End Surf Club. They provide all the gear – so you just need to bring some swimmers and yourselves!

Bird on the Roof

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A staple here which has been running since the 1970s, the friendly Bird on the Roof rustles up arguably the best breakfast in Montauk, as well as some killer espresso martinis.

Groups of people sat outside a red brewery building in the sunshine

Montauk Brewing Co.

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A great selection of lagers, ales and IPAs, lovely staff and a lively atmosphere at sunset – what’s not to love here?

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Want to work in America without using up an internship visa?

Students can work in America for up to four months on our J1 summer program – with 30 days after to travel.

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