Deck Hand
Alaskan Leader Seafood
AK
Pay not stated on this posting; room and board is charged at $24 a day, deducted from the crew share.
Full-timeHousing
Deckhand Jobs
4 open listings · updated Oct 29, 2026
57% include housing · Pay Report
Deckhand jobs are the entry-level crew positions on working boats: commercial fishing vessels, sportfishing charters, towboats and ferries. You handle lines, clean and maintain the boat, and do what the captain needs. BLS lists deckhand among the titles for sailors and marine oilers, whose 2025 median was $24.77 an hour, or $51,520 a year.
More About Deckhand Jobs
How you are paid depends on the boat. Alaska’s Department of Labor says fishing crew are often paid a share of the catch, with newcomer deckhands earning 1.5 to 10 percent of the adjusted gross, that some boats pay $50 to $100 a day instead, and that minimum wage laws do not apply to crew jobs. Kirby Inland Marine pays entry-level towboat deckhands $221 a day plus benefits, and Washington State Ferries posted on-call deckhands at $28.29 to $34.28 an hour in October 2025. In fishing charter jobs, a 2022 In The Bite article quoted mates at $100 to $150 a trip plus tips of 15 to 20 percent of the charter price. See deckhand pay.
Paperwork comes first. Alaska deckhand jobs on commercial fishing boats require an ADF&G crewmember license, $60 a year for residents and $220 for nonresidents. Kirby wants a TWIC card in hand before you apply, and TSA charges $124 for a new one, valid five years.
Deckhand hiring includes real entry-level jobs. Washington State Ferries calls its on-call deckhand job entry-level, though it requires a TWIC and a Merchant Mariner Credential. Kirby hires at 18 and prefers 12 months of consecutive work experience. Read deckhand jobs, Alaska fishing jobs and fishing charter deckhand jobs.
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Deckhand – F/T North Star
Glacier Fish CompanyBering Sea, AK$11,600 – $21,000 a month; average crewshare $5,800 – $10,050 per trip depending on the value of the catchFull-timeHousing -
Deckhand – Fishing Vessel
Glacier Fish CompanyBering Sea, AK$6,000 – $13,000 a month; average crewshare per day ranges between $5,500-$13,000/trip depending on the vessel and trip lengthFull-timeHousing -
Longline Deckhand
Coastal Villages Region FundSeattle, WA401k and health benefits upon eligibility; no wage figure publishedSeasonalHousing
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Crab Deckhand (Bering Sea Crab Vessels)
Coastal Villages Region FundBering Sea, AKSeasonalClosed
Questions About Deckhand Jobs
How many deckhand jobs are open right now?
7 listings are live on WildWork as of October 29, 2026. 2 state their pay and 4 include housing.
Do deckhand jobs come with housing?
57% of current listings say the employer provides housing, free or at a charge, and 43% include meals. Each listing shows whether housing is included and what it costs when the employer says.
Do you need a license to be a deckhand in Alaska?
Yes, on a commercial fishing boat. ADF&G requires a crewmember license if you handle fishing gear or help with maintenance, navigation, docking or operating a fishing vessel. It costs $60 a year for residents and $220 for nonresidents, or $30 for a 7-day license limited to one a year. You also need a Social Security number.
How are deckhands paid on fishing boats?
Usually by crew share. Alaska’s Department of Labor says newcomer deckhand earnings range from 1.5 to 10 percent of the adjusted gross catch, some vessels pay $50 to $100 a day instead, and minimum wage laws do not apply to crew jobs. Many boats also charge crew a share of expenses such as food, fuel, bait and ice.
Do deckhands need a TWIC card?
Many employers require one. Kirby Inland Marine wants a valid TWIC in hand before you apply for towboat work, and Washington State Ferries requires a TWIC plus a Merchant Mariner Credential. TSA charges $124 for a new TWIC, $93 at the reduced rate, and the card is valid five years.
How much do deckhands make a year?
BLS 2025 data put the median for sailors and marine oilers, the occupation that includes deckhands, at $51,520 a year or $24.77 an hour. Published entry pay varies by boat: $221 a day at Kirby Inland Marine and $28.29 to $34.28 an hour for Washington State Ferries on-call deckhands. Fishing crew shares have no minimum and depend on the catch.
How old do you have to be to work as a deckhand?
Usually 18 for vessel companies. Kirby Inland Marine requires deckhands to be 18. On fishing boats, Alaska law bars anyone under 16 from working unless a parent operates the boat, and federal and state rules for workers under 18 still apply to crew jobs, according to Alaska’s Department of Labor.
Sources: O*NET OnLine, 53-5011 Sailors and Marine Oilers (BLS 2025 wage data); Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Preparing to Work On-board Fishing Vessels; Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Crewmember License Information; Alaska Department of Fish and Game, License, Stamp, and Tag Pricing List; Transportation Security Administration, TWIC; Kirby Inland Marine, Entry Level Inland Deckhand (Job ID 2026-3717); Washington State Ferries, On-Call Deckhand posting (Oct 22 to Nov 11, 2025); In The Bite, A Mate's Pay in the Sportfishing Industry (Nov 2022).