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River Rafting Guide Jobs in Alaska (NOW HIRING)

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How much do river rafting guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for river rafting guide in Alaska is $17.40, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.23 and $16.30 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a River Rafting Guide job?

A River Rafting Guide is responsible for leading rafting trips on rivers, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of participants. They navigate the raft, provide safety instructions, and educate guests about the river environment. Guides must be skilled in paddling techniques, swift water rescue, and first aid. Their role also includes assessing river conditions, managing risks, and creating a fun and memorable experience for rafters.

What are some typical challenges faced by River Rafting Guides on the job?

River Rafting Guides often encounter challenges such as adapting to rapidly changing weather or water conditions, ensuring the safety of guests with varying experience levels, and responding effectively to emergencies on the river. Working long hours outdoors, guides must also manage group dynamics and provide engaging commentary about the environment. These challenges require quick decision-making and strong communication skills. The ability to stay calm under pressure and foster teamwork ensures both guest safety and a memorable adventure for all participants.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the River Rafting Guide position, and why are they important?

Success as a River Rafting Guide requires strong knowledge of river navigation, safety procedures, first aid, and swimming, often backed by certifications such as CPR, Wilderness First Aid, and swiftwater rescue. Guides commonly use technical equipment like rafts, paddles, safety ropes, personal flotation devices, and communication radios. Exceptional interpersonal skills, leadership, and the ability to remain calm under pressure enable guides to provide clear instructions and a positive experience for diverse groups. These qualifications and qualities are essential to ensure both guest safety and enjoyment while managing the unpredictable nature of outdoor river environments.

What are the most commonly searched types of River Rafting Guide jobs in Alaska? The most popular types of River Rafting Guide jobs in Alaska are:
What are popular job titles related to River Rafting Guide jobs in Alaska? For River Rafting Guide jobs in Alaska, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching River Rafting Guide jobs in Alaska look for? The top searched job categories for River Rafting Guide jobs in Alaska are:
River Rafting Guide jobs near you
Infographic showing various River Rafting Guide job openings in Alaska as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $36,196 per year, or $17.4 per hour.

Hike and Float Rafting Guide

Alaska Mountain Guides

Skagway, AK • On-site

Full-time

Posted 9 days ago

Job description

Salary: $15.75/hr + tips

SKAGWAY CHILKAT GUIDES RAFTING GUIDE JOB DESCRIPTION

TIMEFRAME: April - October

QUALIFICATIONS: Wilderness First Responder, CPR Certifications, Swift Water Rescue (We can assist in obtaining all certifications)

As a Hike & Float Guide in Skagway, your main responsibility is to carry out the companys mission of providing clients with a safe, enjoyable, and educational wilderness experience. You will lead clients up the Chilkoot Trail and down the Taiya River safely and enthusiastically with an ultimate goal of satisfied passengers at the end of each trip.


Description of Guided Programs: Chilkoot Trail Hike & Float & Scenic Drive Excursions

Chilkoot Trail Hike & Float: Hike two miles of the historic Chilkoot Trail, the centerpiece of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Enjoy the exercise, fresh air, beautiful scenery, pristine forests, and history of a bygone era as the trail takes you up and over the 350' tall Saintly Hill. Where the trail reaches the banks of the Taiya River, you will board an 18-foot inflatable raft for a three-mile scenic float (no whitewater) back down to the tidal estuary where the forest gives way to fields of beach greens and wildflowers below the granite walls of the fjord that rise steeply to the snow-capped peaks and hanging glaciers.

Additionally, all Hike & Float guides will train into the Gear Guide position. This is thebehind-the-scenes role that ensures all rafts and gear are set up properly for guests when their hike ends. The gear position requires driving a box truck with a trailer attached.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Prior guiding, leadership, or tourism experience is helpful.
  • Must be able to lift up to 80 pounds repeatedly throughout each day.
  • Must be able to carry loads over uneven ground.
  • Must possess strong work ethic.
  • Must be punctual.
  • Must be organized.
  • Must have great, positive attitude.
  • Must be comfortable speaking to large groups of people.
  • Must be willing to become, or be currently certified as, a Wilderness First Responder, CPR, andSwift Water Rescue. WFR or above is required for this guiding position. The company provides all these courses in Skagway/Haines upon arrival.
  • Must have a valid REAL ID driver's license.


      UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS

      • Employees must bring pants that follow uniform colors (navy blue, blacks, greys, dark greens, & brown)
      • Employees should bring a water-resistant jacket (water-proof recommended) in black or navy blue.


      JOB DUTIES

      • Responsible for safety and satisfaction of up to ten guests at a time while guiding alone.
      • Ability to follow a strict daily schedule.
      • Responsible for cleanliness and maintenance of gear, trail, put-ins, and take-outs.
      • Responsible for preventative measures to avoid injury from over-use of your muscles.
      • Responsible for communicating all gear and vehicle issues to manager.
      • Responsible for entering all hours on a daily basis into our online time clock system.
      • Must be a good communicator with the willingness to teach and entertain your clients.
      • Must possess the desire to continually improve your knowledge on the area and skills on the river.
      • Must at all times be clean, well groomed, courteous, honest, and reliable.
      • Must possess a positive attitude that is friendly, considerate, strong, and energetic.
      • Hike & Float Guides report to the Skagway Hike & Float Manager and Skagway Operations Manager.

      Mid-Season Operations

      Early to mid-June through late-August is the height of the cruise line season. In this period, staff will be required to work 40+ hours a week. During the height of the season, long periods of time off will likely not be approved. This is the heart of the season so flexibility, dedication, and a commitment to being a strong team member are required from the staff to meet the demand of our cruise line clients and other long trip programs.


      PROFESSIONALISM

      All employees represent the company whether they are at the docks, on tour, or off the clock exploring the town. AMG expects employees to always conduct themselves in a professional manner and provide a leading example in the community for the type of behavior associated with the quality guide service that employs them. We live and work in a small Alaskan community, so poor/inappropriate behavior will quickly establish a bad reputation for an individual and reflect poorly on the company.

      LIVING AND RENT STRUCTURE

      Employee housing is located in downtown Skagway. The grocery store and other local attractions are within walking distance. Accommodations consist of shared rooms typically 2-4 beds per room, although the largest room is a 6-occupant bunkroom. Each house features shared bathrooms, a kitchen area, and living room. Employees residing in housing are expected to respect others and maintain a clean and respectable living area. Rent procedures are clearly outlined in the Employee Manual. The two downtown houses share a large yard with mountain views, providing a fantastic base for our team.Each house has a specific house manager who will be responsible for the weekly chore schedule and chore completion checkoffs. House managers will call attention to any issues within the housing unit and employees are encouraged to let their house manager know if they experience any issues.

      Additional Notes

      • Rent deductions are made twice a month with 50% of the months rent deducted from the 1st and 2nd paycheck.
      • Rent is prorated for the first month, rent for the last pay period will be deducted in full even if you vacate housing early.
      • Employees must vacate housing within 48hours of their final shift unless other arrangements have been approved by management.
      • Pets No pets are allowed within any of the company housing.
      • Failure to abide by rules outlined in the employee manual and housing agreement may result in immediate expulsion from employee housing.


      ADDITIONAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

      Employees may be called on to participate in other Skagway or Haines programs at any time. This may include but is not limited to; hiking tours,vehicle maintenance, gear maintenance, general driving duties, assisting on the docks with other tour operations, and overall operational support.

      The ability to be flexible with schedules and adapt to changes, sometimes with short notice, is a requirement and expectation of your employment.