WHAT WE OFFER
First year employees start at $18.06 regular ($27.09 overtime) and returning employees are financially incentivized.
All production employees qualify for up to $2.00 per hour bonus based on attendance and performance.
We will buy you an airplane ticket to come to Ekuk. No money out of your pocket.
We offer free room and board, as well as weekly laundry service free of charge.
WORKING FOR
EKUK FISHERIES
Unlike most Salmon Seasons, the Ekuk Season is perfect for college students.
If you are interested in a summer job at Ekuk Fisheries, please read the employment information. After reading, fill out and submit the application and schedule online interview with our HR department.
Most other salmon seasons don’t get started until mid to late July and tend to hit their peak of production around the time the fall semester is starting. In contrast The Ekuk Season starts in mid-June and ends around the first week of August. If you decide you want to extend your employment, We can help place you in another position for another company. We have a number of partner companies that we have been working with for over 8 years and we have placed 100’s of our employees in positions after the Ekuk season was over. If you have any interest in this opportunity please mention it in the comments section below when you submit your information. Also, please list in the comments section any prior work experience you may have.
Seafood processing can be arduous and physical work.
It is commonly done in a damp, wet and cool environment. It resembles production line work and is fast paced. You will be required to stand for 3 hour intervals without a break. A very large percentage of our crews are college students and we have experienced return rates of students up to 45%. That is a great return rate and while it doesn’t happen every year it does speak to the suitability of the Ekuk experience for students. Women comprise 25 to 35 percent of our labor force.
We provide transportation from designated airports in the lower 48 to the Ekuk facility. We also provide 3 meals per day, lodging, bedding, raingear, boots, gloves and liners free of charge. Weekly laundry service is provided free of charge as well.
Ekuk Fisheries has a policy of promoting from within.
Most of our supervisors started exactly where you are right now, looking for summer employment as a college student. Occasionally, promotional opportunities arise within the production department and in the supporting departments at the facility. We encourage all interested employees to apply for these positions as available.
REASONS FOR
WORKING IN ALASKA
All hours in excess of eight (8) straight-time hours in a day and in excess of forty (40) straight-time hours in a week will be paid at the overtime rate of one and one half ( 1 ½ ) times the base rate of pay. .
People work Alaska because it is seasonal. A person might not be able to work split shifts, seven days a week for a year but they can do so easily for a few weeks in Ekuk. And so, a lot of workable hours and pay that increases substantially due to overtime, means that in a few short months, a worker in even the lowest paying job can expect some extremely good paychecks come seasons end. Remember, a job well done is well paid in Alaska.
Lastly, because you are so busy and are most likely working with us because of the good pay that it offers, you won’t have many opportunities to spend your money on frivolous expenses like going to the bars or movies. Traveling to Ekuk is a valuable and unique experience as well. If one summer you worked as a processor and had plans on returning, you would almost certainly find higher wages the following fishing season.
While the work may be hard and long, you are certainly among a community of people who are there to achieve the same goals as you for your summer. Many workers are college students home for the summer. Many of these students work a portion of the summer earning thousands that they can ultimately use toward tuition, or other expenses during the year. They are almost all, young and exciting as well as from all areas of the world. Life long friendships aren’t only forged over a vacation or sporting adventure in Ekuk, but in the fishing industry as well. Exploration as always been a part of anyone’s reason to visit or stay in Alaska and working a season in the fishing industry is no different.