In 2007, as Palin began her first term as governor, The Anchorage Daily News reported:

Until recently, (Todd Palin) earned hourly wages as a production operator in a BP-run facility that separates oil from gas and water. Palin was making between $100,000 and $120,000 a year before he went on leave in December to make more time for his family and avoid potential conflicts of interest. London-based BP is heavily involved in the gas pipeline negotiations with his wife’s administration.

Seven months later, KTUU, Alaska’s NBC affiliate, reported:

The governor’s husband, Todd Palin, is back on BP’s payroll. Gov. Palin says his return will not influence her decisions involving the oil industry, but one former lawmaker who wrote an ethics guideline for the administration believes it’s a bad move at the wrong time.

….

Todd Palin said the family needs the extra income.

“I mean, we’re still fairly young and we’ve got kids going into college. Some governors and their spouses, I’m sure, are independently wealthy, but we’re not one of those couples. So we have to watch out for our kids’ future,” Mr. Palin said.

And in September 2008, The Los Angeles Times reported that Todd Palin is still working for BP:

He is a facilities operator for giant BP on the North Slope oil fields. He took a leave from a management job when his wife was elected governor in 2006 but returned after about seven months in a nonmanagement job, according to BP spokesman Steve Reinhard.

He typically works half the month up on the North Slope and has the other half off, as do most of the workers.