Quick answer: Looking for job training in Big Bear Lake? You don't have to drive down the mountain to train for a better job. Big Bear Lake residents can join every class at The Ayangbah Foundation live online, including QuickBooks, Excel, small-business workshops and a 40-hour Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship certificate. Evening and Saturday sections fit around tourism-season shifts, and no diploma or experience is required.
Why Job Training Matters in Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake has about 5,018 year-round residents (U.S. Census, 2025 estimate). At 6,752 feet, it is described as the highest and coldest incorporated city in Southern California. The local workforce is well educated: 93.0% of adults have a high school diploma, 33.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is 6.2% (U.S. Census, American Community Survey 2020–2024).
What makes Big Bear Lake different is how much its economy depends on visitors. The City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for fiscal year 2024–25 calls the economy "primarily tourism-driven." The year-round population of about 5,000 grows to roughly 20,000 to 100,000 people on weekends and holidays, depending on the season and events. Hotel-stay taxes are the City's largest revenue source, and restaurants and hotels produce nearly a third of its sales tax. Most of the city's housing (75.2% of units) is vacant at any given time, which reflects how many homes are cabins and vacation rentals (Wikipedia, citing the Census).
A visitor economy brings both opportunity and uncertainty. Ski seasons at Snow Summit and Bear Mountain, summer lake traffic, and cabin rentals keep hospitality, retail and property-service businesses busy, but the work can rise and fall with the weather and the calendar. The same report notes that statewide visitation was projected to dip about 1% in 2025. Year-round skills like bookkeeping, office software and business management help mountain workers stay employable through slow seasons and help local owners run steadier businesses.
Career Training Options for Big Bear Lake Residents
All of these programs are available live online, so you can learn from home in the Big Bear Valley. See all programs and classes.
- QuickBooks Bookkeeping Essentials (12 hours, $297): manage the books for a cabin-rental, restaurant, retail or property-service business.
- Entrepreneurship & Small Business workshops: plan, price and grow a business built around Big Bear's visitor seasons.
- Microsoft Excel & Office Essentials (12 hours, $297): booking logs, scheduling and inventory for lodges, shops and resort offices.
- Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training (40 hours, 4 weeks, $1,200): a certificate to help you move from seasonal work into year-round roles.
- Public Speaking & Communication Lab: customer-service and guest-relations confidence for hospitality careers.
Turning Big Bear's Off-Season into Career Season
In a tourism town, slower weeks are a good time to invest in yourself. Our 12-hour Excel and QuickBooks courses fit into an off-season stretch, and the 40-hour Career Readiness certificate takes four weeks. Front-desk staff can build the office skills that lead to supervisor or reservations roles. Cleaners, handymen and property managers can learn to track jobs and invoices like a real business. Cabin owners and shopkeepers can tighten up their bookkeeping before the next busy weekend. Because every class runs live online, you can take part in real time with an instructor without spending hours on mountain highways, especially in winter.
Getting to Class from Big Bear Lake
Most Big Bear Lake students choose our live online classes. If you'd like to attend in person, our office is at 255 N. D Street, Suite #200-XXVII in downtown San Bernardino. Drivers can come down the mountain on SR-18 or SR-330 toward San Bernardino, or on SR-38 toward Redlands. Check road conditions in winter. Mountain Transit's Route 5 "Off the Mountain" bus also connects the Big Bear Valley and Running Springs with San Bernardino.
Free Help Paying for Training
Big Bear Lake residents may qualify for tuition help through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Our staff can help you check eligibility and register in CalJOBS. Funding isn't guaranteed. The nearest full-service county job center is the East Valley America's Job Center of California, 500 Inland Center Drive, Sp. 508, San Bernardino, CA 92408, (909) 382-0440. Residents who head down the north side through Lucerne Valley may find the High Desert AJCC (17310 Bear Valley Road, Suite 109, Victorville, CA 92395, (760) 552-6550) more convenient. Learn more in our guide to WIOA training.
For Employers in Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake's economy is "primarily tourism-driven," with hotels and restaurants producing nearly a third of the city's sales tax. Lodging, rental and restaurant owners can use the slower season to train staff in guest service, communication and QuickBooks through our live online classes. See our retail and hospitality training guide or partner with us.
How to Get Started
- Apply online. It takes about five minutes.
- Meet with our team to check funding eligibility and build your career plan.
- Pick your schedule: day, evening or Saturday, in person or online.
- Start class. See upcoming dates on the class schedule.
Not sure yet? Join the free info session any Monday at 5 PM, or call or text (909) 454-7076.
FAQ
Can I take job training classes online from Big Bear Lake, CA?
Yes. Every Ayangbah Foundation class is taught live online, so you can join in real time from anywhere in the Big Bear Valley.
What skills help with year-round work in Big Bear?
Office software, bookkeeping and customer-service skills carry over between seasons and employers. Our Excel, QuickBooks and Communication Lab courses build all three.
Is there a QuickBooks class for vacation rental or small business owners near Big Bear?
Yes. QuickBooks Bookkeeping Essentials is a 12-hour, $297 course offered online with day, evening and Saturday options.
Where is the closest America's Job Center to Big Bear Lake?
The closest full-service center is the East Valley AJCC in San Bernardino. The High Desert AJCC in Victorville is another option.
When do the next online classes start for Big Bear Lake residents?
The next start dates are October 17 and November 23. You can also join the free info session online any Monday at 5 PM.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, Big Bear Lake city, California (V2025 population estimate; ACS 2020–2024); City of Big Bear Lake Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, FY ended June 30, 2025; Wikipedia, "Big Bear Lake, California"; Mountain Transit; San Bernardino County Workforce Development, Job Seekers.