Finding and applying to a summer seasonal job in Alaska is easier than you think. Every summer, businesses in Alaska employ thousands of seasonal staff to support them during the tourist season. There are all sorts of entry level jobs you can do that offer amazing experiences, high pay, and/or room & board. This post will explain the ins and outs of Alaska’s summer work season and how you can find a job.
Table of Contents
Alaska’s Summer Season
The Summer Season
Alaska’s summer season runs from May-September, with the peak season being June-August. It’s considered to be the high/tourist season and over 2.5 million people visit the state to experience the natural beauty, wildlife, and outdoor activities.
The Midnight Sun
During the summer months, the sun remains visible above the horizon, meaning it’s constantly daylight with the sun only setting for a few hours at a time. The further north you are, the longer the daylight hours. This is a really cool experience but it can mess with your body’s natural clock, so a sleep mask is a great item to pack.
Alaska’s Summer Weather
While peak season in Alaska is generally warm and sunny, the temperature and weather will fluctuate depending on where in the state you are. For example, it may be 70 degrees and sunny in Fairbanks during the month of June, but it’s 45 degrees and overcast in Seward at the same time. It’s best to do your research and wear layers.
The Wildlife
The summer season is prime time for wildlife viewing in Alaska. During the summer you may come across; black bear, grizzly bear, moose, caribou, bald eagles, whales, puffins, sheep, wolves, and so much more. Please do you research on how to properly avoid and respect wildlife for your safety and theirs.
Summer Activities
Outdoor activities are very popular in Alaska during the summer months and you can participate in; hiking, kayaking, whale watching, canoe, biking, fishing, wildlife viewing, glacier climbing, rock climbing, dog sledding, camping, ziplining, rafting, and so much more.
Summer Jobs in Alaska
Summer Job Options in Alaska
There are all kinds of summer businesses in Alaska that offer a variety of seasonal jobs. Below is a non-exhaustive list of businesses and jobs they hire for;
- Tour Operators
- Guides: Rafting Guide, Hiking Guide, Dog Musher, Fishing Guide, Hunting Guide, ATV Guide, Whale Watching Guide, Kayaking Guide, Naturalists, etc…
- Operations: Tickets, Sales, Reservations, Gear Rentals, Maintenance, Custodial, or Pilots.
- Lodges & Resorts
- Food & Beverage: Server, Dishwasher, Cashier, Chef, Line Cook, Baker, or Cafe Worker.
- Recreation: Spa Attendants, Activity Guides and Instructors, or Lifeguards.
- Grounds: Maintenance, Landscaping, or Security.
- Front Desk: Reservations, Administration, Operations, Host, or Clerk.
- Other hospitality: Housekeeping, Laundry, or Retail.
- Boats & Ships
- Commercial Fishing: Fishermen, Fish Processor, Deckhand, Captain, First Mate, Crew, Engineering, or Mechanic.
- Charters & Tours: Guides, Captains, Stewards, Deckhands, Sales, Skipper, Galley, Food Service, or Entertainment.
- Transportation
- Bus Driver, Shuttle Driver, Train Conductor, Pilot, CDL Driver, or General Coordinator.
- Restaurants, Bars, Delis’, & Food Service
- Front of House: Cashier, Host, Server, Ice Cream Scooper, Barista, or Bar Tender.
- Back of House: Cook, Chef, Baker, Line Cook, Prep, or Dishwasher.
- Other: Caterer or Events/Banquet Set-Up.
- Other Jobs
- Media: Photographer, Videographer, or Social Media Manager.
- Youth: Camp Counselor, Youth Staff, or Day Care Worker.
- General Managment.
Experience Needed to Work in Alaska
As long as you have the ability to legally work in the USA, you don’t need specific experience to work in Alaska. Many jobs will require you to be 18+ but any other qualifications you need will relate to the specific job you are applying to.
How Much Money You Can Make Working a Summer in Alaska
As of January 1st, 2025, minimum wage in Alaska is $13/hr. You can make more depending on the job you have, hours you work, the company you work for, and if you are making tips or not.
High Paying Entry Level Summer Jobs in Alaska
Usually the highest paying summer jobs in Alaska are either physically intense and require you to work long hour or are ones which you make tips.
Fish Processor/Cannery Jobs are labor intensive jobs and you will work long hours but you can make over $1,000/week. You do not need any experience to work at a cannery.
Adventure guides such as hiking guides, hunting guides, rafting guides, etc… tend to make a lot of money in tips. A lot of tour companies will train their guides and therefore little experience is required to apply. Servers and bartenders also tend to make a lot in tips.
Cool Jobs in Alaska
There are so many cool jobs you can do in Alaska. To give you some ideas, here is a list of unique job opportunities;
- Dogsledding Guide or Dog Handler
- Glacier Hiking Guide or general work on a glacier
- Whale Watching Tour Guide
- Heli-Ski Opperations
- Bush Pilot
- Wildlife Naturalist
How to Find a Summer Seasonal Job in Alaska
Alaska Job Search Websites
You can search for seasonal work in Alaska with with following Alaska job boards;
- Alaska Tourism Job Board
- For seasonal work in the tourism industry.
- Alaska Job Center Network
- For all types of seasonal & work year-round.
- Alaska Job Finder
- For fishing jobs.
- Jobs in Ketchikan
- To find seasonal and year-round jobs in Ketchikan.
- Explore Fairbanks
- For a list of companies hiring seasonal and year-round jobs in Fairbanks.
Seasonal Work Websites
You can find summer jobs in Alaska via various seasonal work websites, such as;
- CoolWorks
- Has TONS of seasonal job posting in Alaska.
- Back Door Jobs
- Offers more outdoor jobs in Alaska.
The two websites above will be your best options for Alaska job postings. You can also use this list of 19 Websites to Find Seasonal Jobs to search for more summer job postings in Alaska.
Companies Hiring Seasonal Workers for Multiple Locations in Alaska
- Alaska Wildland Adventures
- Hires for 5 different seasonal businesses in Denali & Kenai.
- HAP Alaska Tour Jobs
- A tour operator in Alaska & Yukon that works with Princess Cruises & Holland Cruise Lines.
- They have hospitality & tourism jobs in their lodges, railcars, and more.
- Work Arctic
- For summer and winter work in 6 different locations in the arctic.
- Pursuit
- Seasonal hospitality, tourism, culinary, and retail jobs in Seward, Denali, Talkeetna, & Anchorage.
- Aramark
- A hospitality company that operates in Denali and other US National Parks.
Applying to Summer Work in Alaska
When to Apply
Summer business in Alaska begin looking for seasonal workers 6 months before the summer begins. This means you can start applying in December/January. A lot of these jobs can be competitive so it’s best to apply early.
However, companies do hire right up to the day they open for the season and you can find jobs opening last minute for various reason. Keep checking back to see if any new jobs are available and apply whenever you are able.
Finding Jobs with Housing
There are tons of jobs in Alaska that offer housing options for seasonal staff. If they offer housing, it will usually be noted in the job posting. You can use the website Cool Works to search for jobs in Alaska and filter your search results for ‘jobs with housing’.
Find a Job Before You Arrive
The world is changing and it is very rare to get a job just by walking into a business and asking to apply/if there are any job openings. If you walk in, they will usually tell you to apply online. Alaska is pretty far from the other US states and it would be beneficial for you to find a job before driving or flying all the way out there.
It’s possible to get a job by going door to door but it is difficult to do so and you may find yourself in trouble if you do not find a job before you move to Alaska for the summer.
What to Add to Your Resume
When submitting your resume to any job, you should always tailor it to the job you want. Even if you do not have professional experience you can add similar work experience, personal experience, and other seasonal work you have done. For example, you may have never been a server before but you may have worked a cash register or a job where you had to work in a fast paced enviornment.
With the majority of jobs being in the hospitality industry, they want to see that you have guest facing experience and are a people person. Since this is a seasonal business it is also great to add other seasonal jobs you’ve done to show that you understand the seasonal lifestyle. Be sure your resume is up to date and to check for formatting, grammar, and spelling before you submit it.
What to Consider When Choosing a Job
There are many factors that can influence the experience you have working in Alaska for the summer. When choosing a job, consider the following…
Location
- Are you okay working in a remote location or do you want to be close to a tourist town?
- How “remote” are you actually?
- Do you have service, wifi, or other people around?
- What does the weather look like in the specific location you want to work in?
- Will the location you choose enable you to explore the parts of Alaska you want to see?
Transportation
- Does your company provide transportation to/from town if you need a ride?
- How far away is the closest town and what amenities do they have?
- How will you get around on your days off?
- How much money will you need to spend to get to/from Alaska?
Pay & Compensation
- Is your paycheck worth the type of work you will be doing?
- How many hours will you work per day/week?
- Do you have to purchase your own accommodation and/or food? (What are grocery prices near you?)
- What other compensation does your company offer? (i.e. room & board, workers comp, etc…)
- Is what you are being paid worth the perks and experince of the job?
Type of Experience
- What is the overall type of experince you are looking for?
- How much time off do you want per week/day to experience Alaska?
- Are you hoping to work like crazy to make a lot of money?
- Does the job you are thinking about help you reach your summer goals?
Conclusion
Working a summer season in Alaska is a great experience and it’s a lot easier to find a job than you might think. Now that you know when and where you can apply for a summer seasonal job in Alaska, I hope you find a job that’s perfect for you. Have you worked a summer in Alaska? Please feel free to share your experience and advice in the comments below.
