Karl Birkeland is an avalanche technician. He is also the director of the
Avalanche Center in Bozeman, Montana.
"We have a professional organization, the American Avalanche Association,
and there are only about 1,000 members," he says. "So I would say that there
are like 1,000 people in the avalanche industry, and only a very few of them
have year-round jobs in the industry."
There are positions available, he says, just mostly in recreational areas
such as climbing and skiing guides. "It does help to have a solid educational
background and plenty of hands-on knowledge."
Birkeland says salaries vary. "It depends on what level you're talking
about," he says. "I would say a lot of people are making...$15,000 to $20,000
a year. There might be one person who makes $80,000 a year." And, he notes,
that person has been in the industry for a very long time.
Earnings and employment information from the U.S. Department of Labor is
not available for this field at this time.