Fish Hatchery Technician - Samish Hatchery - Non-Permanent - 2026-07644

State of Washington; Burlington (WA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Washington's Fish and Wildlife Department is seeking a Fish Hatchery Technician for the Samish Hatchery in Burlington. This full-time, 8-month appointment involves scientific, technical and maintenance duties while rearing both anadromous and inland fish.

Responsibilities include handling adult fish, feeding, pond cleaning, spawning and egg collection, data recording, tours for the public, and general facility upkeep.

Qualifications

• High School graduation or GED.
• Valid driver’s license.
• At least one year of paid or volunteer hatchery experience.

Responsibilities

• Handle adult fish.
• Feed fish.
• Clean ponds using vacuum and pressure washing equipment.
• Collect, sort and spawn adult and juvenile salmon.
• Sample and pick eggs and fish, including weighing, counting, and removing deformities and egg mortalities.
• Clean adult handling area, vehicles, and hatchery buildings and bathrooms.
• Perform grounds maintenance, such as weed eating, raking, weeding.
• Conduct maintenance and repair of small tools and equipment.
• Answer questions from visitors and conduct organized tours.
• Interact professionally and courteously with the public.
• Accurately enter data into forms and spreadsheets.
• Track and record fish mortality, feed sheets, feed inventory, and chemical usage.

Skills

Hatchery experience

Data entry

Public tours

Safety awareness

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Coded wire tag equipment

Job description

Job Information

Classification- Fish Hatchery Technician

Job Status- Full-Time / Non-Permanent

Appointment Length- 8 months – October 5, 2026 – June 4, 2027

WDFW Program- Fish Program – Hatcheries Division

Duty Station- Samish Hatchery – Burlington, Washington – Skagit County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

Bingham Creek Hatchery – Photo Credit: WDFW

What To Expect

This is an opportunity to perform scientific, technical, and related maintenance duties at Samish Hatchery.

With your experience, you will rear both anadromous (migratory) and inland species of fish.

Fish Culture

• Handle adult fish.
• Feed fish.
• Clean ponds using vacuum and pressure washing equipment.
• Collect, sort and spawn adult and juvenile salmon.
• Sample and pick eggs and fish, including weighing, counting, and removing deformities and egg mortalities.

Operation And Maintenance Of Facility And Equipment

• Clean adult handling area, vehicles, and hatchery buildings and bathrooms.
• Perform grounds maintenance, such as weed eating, raking, weeding.
• Conduct maintenance and repair of small tools and equipment.

Public Contact And Communications

• Answer questions from visitors and conduct organized tours.
• Interact professionally and courteously with the public.

Record Keeping And Reporting

• Accurately enter data into forms and spreadsheets.
• Track and record fish mortality, feed sheets, feed inventory, and chemical usage.

Working Conditions

Work is performed outdoors in all weather conditions approximately 250 days per year.

Requires strenuous physical activity and repetitive lifting of items weighing at least 50lbs, such as fish feed, bags of salt, and small pumps.

Use of a respirator and other PPE is required when working with various chemicals used at facility.

This position may involve working in or near water, including tasks that require navigating, negotiating, and performing duties related to water environments.

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week. The standard work schedule includes the potential for occasional evening or weekend work as needed. Schedules may vary based on business needs, time of year, and/or weather conditions.

Travel Requirements

This position will travel around hatchery grounds and may travel to other hatcheries to accomplish business needs.

Tools And Equipment

Power and hand tools, lawn care equipment, egg picking machines, passenger vehicles, coded wire tag (CWT) identification equipment, trash pumps, pressure washers, diesel generators, small gas engine, computers, and software.

Customer Interactions

Regularly interact with the public.

Qualifications

High School graduation or GED.

Certifications/Licenses

Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least one (1) year of paid or volunteer hatchery experience.

Supplemental Information

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

Important Note

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States. For a list of acceptable documents, please use the following link: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Union- WAFHP

These positions are in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Association of Fish & Wildlife Hatchery Professionals and is subject to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the Washington Association of Fish Hatchery Professionals (WAFHP).

Veteran And Military Spouse Preference Notice

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at [e-mail].
• Veterans only – Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
• Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2026-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Request an accommodation

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format please contact Jayme Chase by phone [phone] or email [e-mail], or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 800-833-6388.

Technical Difficulties

If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at [phone] or [e-mail].

Other questions

If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to [e-mail] and reference job #2026-07644.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement And Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre‑tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro‑rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave

Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part‑time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part‑time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro‑rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump‑sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave

Leave Sharing

Parental Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026