Alaska Summer Jobs.com

Alaska Fishing Lodge & Resort Jobs

Do you enjoy fishing? Do you enjoy working with people? Do you enjoy the outdoors? If so, working at a Alaska fishing lodge or resort in Alaska could be your perfect job. There are lots of different kinds of jobs to choose from.

Alaska Fishing Lodge Job Positions

  • Fishing guide
  • Tackle store sales clerk
  • Cook/kitchen staff
  • Wait staff
  • Bar staff
  • Housekeeping
  • Administration

The Facts

Tourists come from far and wide to experience the beauty of Alaska and they expect to find great service and amenities during their visit. Lodge jobs greatly vary depending on location (from sites closer to cities to far out in the bush) and perhaps most importantly, the size of the lodge. Employees may be one of only four staff at a small, family-owned and run establishment or one of fifty at a corporate-owned lodge with multiple locations. College degrees are not required for nearly all positions as they are geared to those with experience in the service industry, trades like mechanics, and those with a willingness to learn new skills (like driving a motorboat or gardening).    

What to Expect

If you enjoy performing multiple roles throughout the day, lodge work may suit you well.

Many lodge workers end up being a jack-of-all-trades. Although you thought you were hired as a front desk attendant, you may end up also cleaning rooms, serving food, and fixing leaking rafts. Mornings may be spent taking guests on a town tour and then you will spend the afternoon fixing the toilet. If you require a regular schedule and repetitive tasks, this job may not be for you, as you will be constantly put into new situations. Not every lodge is the right fit for every person. Management styles greatly vary and you may find that you are better suited for a different type of location or management style. Similarly, some lodges require workers to wear uniforms, while others have an extremely laid back atmosphere. Lodge workers are often scheduled to work in 8-hour shifts either opening or closing the lodge; but oftentimes are required to stay for additional hours. Usual schedules may include working eight days straight before receiving one day off. Lodge employees tend to enjoy the time off they get doing things such as fishing, sea kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, etc.   

Compensation and Costs

In nearly all cases, lodge positions include free room and board in employee housing. It's the conditions of that housing that may vary (some places offer wireless Internet and private rooms while others do not). Some lodges pay employees per hour starting at minimum wage (Alaska 2010: $7.75); however, many of the smaller lodges pay employees per week or per month. You can estimate receiving about $1,000 a month (including room and board) at many of these establishments. Since employees live on location, you need not worry about local transportation costs. In addition, in many cases, the lodge will also pay for employee transportation to the lodge (especially in cases when employees need to take a flight into bush communities). There are lodges that will even pay for employees transportation to and from home (in the lower 48) to the lodge itself.   

Hiring Timeline and Job Boards

For smaller lodges, hiring can occur over the phone several months in advance. But, at times, hiring can even occur throughout the season when replacements are needed. So even if you are getting a late start, check JobMonkey and similar websites for listings throughout the year. Larger operations, like Summit Lake Lodge and Ciri Tourism, which have multiple lodges throughout the State, offer detailed applications that are submitted through their website. It's important to let your interest be known several months in advance of your desired start date. If you can, try asking for the contact information of a previous employee. Not all lodges are the right fit for everyone, so its important that you talk to a neutral source in order to get a sense of what the work environment is like and if it's the right match for you. Also, shop around and if you have previous work experience, negotiate your terms of employment. Ultimately, wages do not greatly vary by location, but benefits such as the lodge paying for transportation to Alaska is an added advantage offered by some employers. If you want to negotiate your employment terms, it will be easier to accomplish this with smaller lodges that are not run under corporate rules.

Here are a few more resources to peruse for open positions in Alaska's fishing lodges and resorts:

Alaska Job Center Network

GreatAlaska.com

Denali Lodge