With over 65,000 people employed every year in the Alaskan fishing industry, newcomers have a great shot at getting a high-paying job in a short season on an Alaskan fishing boat.

Work hours generally range from 12 to 16 hours a day, up to seven days a week. Typically processors (performing repetitive tasks, like gutting salmon) make $750 to $1,500 a week. Fishermen earn around $1,000 to $2,500 a week, sometimes more.

Processing jobs are the easiest to get, as some of the tasks are considered undesirable. Usually no experience is required, but long hours and working in factories is usually required of all new processors. These jobs are a good way to break-into the Alaskan fishing industry for those who aspire to work on a fishing boat as a harvester, or fisherman.

Besides the pay, many employers in the industry also offer free room and board and free round-trip airfare from the point of hire (usually Seattle, WA) to Alaska.

Most of these positions are contractual, lasting from one to four months, with the standard being three.