Rookie Ski Patrollers Will Now Make $24.50/Hour at Eldora, Colorado

Earlier this month, Eldora’s unionized ski patrollers celebrated reaching a tentative contract agreement with the mountain’s parent company, POWDR Corp. The patrol unit, which unionized at the beginning of the 2024/25 ski season, had been locked in contract negotiations for 13 months at the time.

On October 30, 2025, the patrol unit announced that they’d finally ratified (approved) a contract for unionized patrollers. A vote of 26-0 was in favor of ratifying the contract, which will put significant changes into place to keep ski patrolling a viable career for the mountain workers.

“While only a first step in our mission to redefine compensation for mountain employees, we are thrilled to redefine compensation for mountain employee, we are thrilled to have set up a solid foundation on which to build,” said a social media post from the Union.

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Like other unionized patrol units that have ratified new contracts in the last year, Eldora’s patrollers focused much of their efforts on wage compression, general wage increases to combat rising costs of living, better employee benefits, and support for higher education.

The contract agreed upon for Eldora will give patrollers an average wage increase of 19% after union dues withdrawal. Rookie patrollers will be paid $24.50 per hour, with an additional $ 1 per hour for holding a current EMT certification. Additionally, patrollers entering their third year will have a clear pathway to earning $30 or more per hour, with possible increases of over $6 per hour and no cap on wages.

Overtime will also be paid after 40 hours of work per week. Patrollers who hold a paramedic certification will have a wage increase of more than 30%, starting at $31-$33/hour.

Eldora’s union patrollers will also get a $300 per month healthcare reimbursement, which can be vital for seasonal employees who don’t qualify for year-round resort benefits. Full-time patrollers will get an equipment reimbursement of $1,100 per year, and part-time patrollers will get a $500 per year equipment reimbursement.

There will also be more fully compensated training opportunities available to patrollers and a formalized grievance process. Along with increased pay for paramedic and EMT certifications, incentive pay for different levels of avalanche training, lift evacuation specialists, training coordinators, accident investigators, weather forecasters, and other program coordinator roles will be available.

Alongside Eldora, several unionized patrol units have followed in the footsteps of Park City Professional Ski Patrol Union, which made headlines last winter with its own tumultuous, but ultimately successful, contract negotiations.

Solitude Ski Patrol Union ratified a new contract in July 2025, which will go into effect for the upcoming season. Like Eldora, Solitude’s new contract included wage increases, gear and healthcare stipends, and incentivized pay increases.

Eldora is currently scheduled to open for the 2025/26 ski season on November 14, 2025.

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