ALASKA ONSHORE PROCESSING PLANT JOBS

There are several different types of processors in Alaska, the most common of which are fresh frozen plants and canneries. There are relatively few actual "canneries" in Alaska anymore. While the term "cannery" is still widely used, very few processing plants actually "can" fish. The majority of so-called "canneries" are really fresh frozen plants that clean and freeze whole fish, which are later sold. The plants themselves are usually permanent structures found in coastal Alaska towns convenient to major fishing areas. Where do they get the fish? Plants purchase fish from vessels that come in during periodic fishing closures or when their below-deck fish holds are full.

These onshore processing outfits employ the majority of first-time workers and people traveling to Alaska to work each summer (especially college students). Most work requires little or no special training. As you'll see, though, the work can be wet, cold, and monotonous. The earning potential is the only thing that keeps them going. Earnings of over $5,000 for only two short months of work are common during a good season.

In this section our goal is to provide you with specific information about onshore processing, from what the work entails to how plants are structured. We also hope to give you a sense of how much you can expect to earn in a summer and of the risks involved.

For an interview with a cannery worker, check here.

For a complete list of onshore processing plant, including detailed profiles of each, go to AlaskaJobFinder.com.

Alaska Cannery Worker >>>