Alaska Fishing and Seafood Processing Jobs

For those who truly love fishing and hunting, there are many opportunities to find jobs in Alaska. On the fishing end of the spectrum, seafood harvesting and processing companies, plus thousands of independently owned fishing boats, hire deckhands, processors, and other fishing industry support people all year long.

Approximately 20,000 individuals are needed annually to fill out the Alaska seafood processing industry in salmon canneries and other processing plants, not counting those actually on fishing vessels. The positions start with activities like unloading the seafood from boats, butchering, cleaning and otherwise preparing fish to be processed. Cleaning, weighing, packing seafood and operating typical machinery required in the processing industry are other required activities.

The processing plants themselves are located on shore or at sea. Jobs on the at-sea processors may include fish catching and processing job requirements.

Pay for beginning seafood processing jobs will begin at seven to eight dollars an hour with room and board provided for. That pay level adds up significantly when including overtime and potential bonuses based on the catch. Offshore seafood workers typically travel to Alaska on board the vessel.

One advantage of working in the seafood industry is that it's seasonal. Another is the ability to meet people from all over the country, including many college students especially in the summer months.

Take-home pay will be significantly higher than most jobs because there is little time to spend money because Alaska fishing jobs are somewhat all-consuming during the busiest times. Furthermore, most of the jobs are located in remote locations.

These jobs sometimes include great benefits such as reimbursed travel to and from Seattle for employees who fulfill their seasonal contract. Room and board is often available for a nominal fee, especially at the more remotely located plants.

Fishing vessels, such as purse seiners, trawlers, and long liners, hire deckhands and even cooks, engineers, and diesel engine mechanics. These Alaska fishing jobs can pay quite well when the vessel enjoys a good catch because crew members are paid a percentage of the take.

During the winter and spring Alaska seafood jobs are primarily located in Dutch Harbor and throughout the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea. Available work centers in the processing of king or opelio crab and there are hundreds of jobs available on large factory trawler and longliner vessels.

Hunting jobs may be less numerous than the fishing industry but just as important to the Alaska tourism industry. Outdoor enthusiasts can hook up with local lodges to provide hunting guide expertise.

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