Depending on your geographical location, donning a Santa suit could be a lucrative short-term career decision for you this Christmas. English Santas with beards can bring in £20 an hour. But American Santas earn the really big bucks, being paid up to $US200 an hour. This kind of money is only available to veteran Santas, with the asset of a real beard, and who work on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

In Australia, novice Santas take home $AU25 an hour. Here's a recent job advert calling for Santas at seek.com.au

HO! HO! HO! WE NEED SANTAS!

• Do you have lots of Christmas cheer?
• Are you great with children?
• Are you able to work Saturdays and Sundays 11.00 am - 2.00 pm
• $25 / hour (flat rate)

If you have plenty of Christmas spirit and are keen to share it with young and old, this is the role for you. Each year children are filled with excitement as they visit Santa to share their wish list and have their photo taken. We are looking for extraordinary people who can make this moment special for each and every child and their parents/carers.

To be successful you will have an outgoing and jolly disposition, be patient and love the spirit of Christmas and the joy it brings to children. You will have a Blue Card (working with children) and be able to provide or obtain a current police check. Santa suits will be provided and also padding if required. Full training in the form of a DVD and some telephone training will be provided by the company's Head Santa.

If you've taken the time to grow a beard and are seriously considering a Santa career, you might want to join the Fraternity of International Real Bearded Santas. Here is part of their mission statement:

The Fraternity of International Real Bearded Santas has been established to enhance the fellowship, knowledge, growth, and enjoyment of the portrayal of Santa Claus and his many namesakes (Père Noël, Father Christmas, Sinter Klaus, etc.) by gentlemen across the globe who are privileged to wear and maintain their own real beard throughout the year.
Visit their website here http://www.sleighridermedia.com/firbsantas.htm 

More information can be found
From Dr. Salary http://blogs.payscale.com/ask_dr_salary/2006/12/santa_salary.html
From ChaCha.com http://www.chacha.com/question/how-much-does-the-mall-santa-get-paid-an-hour
and from here. http://discuss.glasgowguide.co.uk/Rabs-Strange-True-Christmas-Facts-Hoho-t644.html

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