Born in the city of Bryansk on December 25, 1951.
Graduated from the Bryansk construction technical school in 1970, from the Perm Polytechnic Institute in 1978. In 1996 earned a diploma of the Russian Foreign Trade Academy's Moscow International Business Institute.
Between 1970 and 1986 he was a foreman and chief engineer of a section, chief management engineer, and chief of the building authority of the Chepetsk Building Administration in the city of Glazov.
From 1987 until 1989 was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Glazov City Council of People's Deputies.
In 1989 Alexander Volkov was appointed First Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Committee of the Udmurtian ASSR.
From 1990 until 1993 he combined the posts of Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Chairman of Gosstroy of the Udmurtian ASSR.
In 1993 he was appointed Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Udmurtia and elected to the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
From 1995 until 2000 he was Chairman of the State Council of the Republic of Udmurtia and a member of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
In 2000 he won an election to become the first President of the Republic of Udmurtia. He was reelected for another term in March 2004.
In 2009, on the recommendation of President Dmitry Medvedev of the Russian Federation, the State Council of the Republic of Udmurtia vested Alexander Volkov with the powers of the President of the Republic of Udmurtia.
He holds the degree of Doctor of Sciences in Economics.
He is holder of a number of state decorations and commemorative medals. His hobbies are cross-country and downhill skiing.
He is married, has a son, daughter and four grandchildren.