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

State of Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife; Washington; On-site; USD 40,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

The State of Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife seeks a Fish Hatchery Technician at Samish Hatchery in Burlington, WA. This full-time, non-permanent role supports fish conservation by performing culture, maintenance, public tours, and data recording.

You will rear both anadromous and inland species, handle adult fish, feed, spawn, sample eggs, and maintain facilities in all weather. The position involves outdoor work about 250 days per year, lifting up to 50 lbs, PPE use, and occasional

Qualifications

• High School graduation or GED.
• Valid driver's license.
• At least one year of hatchery experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Handle adult fish and feed fish.
• Collect, sort and spawn adult and juvenile salmon.
• Sample eggs and fish, weighing and counting.
• Maintain hatchery buildings and equipment.

Skills

Outdoor work

Physical stamina

Public interaction

Teamwork

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

Power tools

Egg picking machines

Computers

Coded wire tag equipment

Job description

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

Assist with fish conservation in Washington while gaining valuable hands-on experience!

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.

What to Expect:

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, theFish Hatchery Technicianwill,

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 Setting, including hazards:

• 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:

Required Qualifications:

High School graduation or GED.

Certifications/Licenses:

Valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications:

In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess some or all the following:

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

Your application should include the following:

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• At least three (3) professional references with current contact information.

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for.

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:

Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:

• 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