With the average annual cost of attending a public university in the United States being $9,000, more and more students are seeking part-time employment, says Pat Gutierrez, director of the UC Davis Student Employment Center. When they arrive for school, says Gutierrez, over 10,000 students come looking for jobs that may include work both on and off campus. The competition is fierce because there are job opportunities for about 6,000 students, ranging from the National Park Service to blackjack dealers at the casinos in Lake Tahoe. Casinos hire several hundred UC Davis students who work during the holiday season. "Blackjack dealers are the most popular jobs among the students because of the potential for good tips," says Gutierrez. On-campus jobs that are popular include bus driving and mechanic servicing in the bicycle barn. Hourly wages range from $5 to more than $11 for jobs off campus.