Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Alaska employment for young person.....

Gentlemen (and ladies):

I have a 22 year old son who is a little lost at the moment. He was overseas for two years doing a mission for our church. He went to school for a year but has no money left. He thinks he wants to ove to Alaska and work for a year to save money for college. Is this a reasonable option? Is there good paying employment in Alaska that would allow a young person performing manual labor to sock away $15-20,000 after a year of employment? He has no skills (such as welding, electrical, etc.)

Should I be worried about his personal safety working in some cannery, or on a fishing boat or on the pipeline (if such employment is available)?

Thanks,

Jordan

The cost of living in AK is pretty high, so unless he has family to stay with, it is unlikely he'll be able to sock away money. Coming up with no family and no money is a very, very bad idea.

Like anywhere, if he has a good solid work ethic, he can make moeney and sock it away. But a lack of skills is going to hurt him. There are plenty of people available for unskilled or semi skilled work, and that includes foreign workers and illegal aliens.

Not to be mean, but Alaska is pretty harsh on those that aren't prepared and don't have some sort of support of family and friends. Lots of opportunities for those that have their head squarly on their shoulders with ambition and fortitude.

We've had more than one person who came to Southeast Alaska with the same kinds of ideas and same lack of work skills who ended up literally unable to pay their own way back to the Lower 48.

Alaska has great support for people who work hard, if they know how to do what needs to be done and do it well. It is pretty harsh for those who do not. I would suggest he inquire about specific jobs he's interested in; find out what kind of skills are needed; get trained in them; and then apply for jobs and go north when one is offered.

Good luck, for both of you.

Dennis

Remote fish counter might be reasonable gig for saving a few bucks...

USMC. After a 4-year enlistment, $80,000 to put towards college, which does not need to be paid back (GI Bill).

Army, and he could get fort rich or fort wainwright outta the deal.

Thanks guys. 'Preciate the advise.

With no job skills or education, it's definitely gonna be tough. I doubt he'd even save much money doing fish counting for Fish & Feathers. He MIGHT try getting into forest fire fighting thru the state. That can be a pretty good seasonal job with long hours and overtime.
I did that thru BLM in 1970 when I got out of the service. Lived very cheap & saved money for college. It was exciting at times as well. The state now handles most of the forest fire fighting now so I'm not too familiar with the "ins & outs" of getting on with them.
Just an idea.
Bear in Fairbanks

notes4.state.ak.us/

See if this link works Rob. For firefighting he needs to meet arduous duty fitness requirements. This link is for state jobs.
BLM also hires hotshot crew members for seasonal work.
try usajobs.gov

I would say the Air Force, best standard of living and the best training one can get. I did a 4 year enlistment now I have a great job that came from my Air Force training and still have 80000 to spend on college if I want. Plus there are 2 bases in AK he might get stationed at.

What happened to all those fish gutting jobs for the canneries down by Homer?

got some friends that work in Homer every summer on boats, but sounds like you gotta know somebody to get a job...They make $300+ a day, I'm goin up with them this summer, but without them I wouldn't have a job and wouldn't be going

Sounds like he better make a trip to any military recruiter. They have lots of jobs that will get his foot in the door on a number of trades. My sister finished getting her RN after the Army where she also meet and married her husband. They are both making good money now, her RN him EMT. And they both started in the Army.