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Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$85,540	4400	2.3%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$85,540

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

4400

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

2.3%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

Related Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

Detailed Work Activities

Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
Direct passenger or freight transport activities.
Direct passenger or freight transport activities.
Read maps to determine routes.
Operate ships or other watercraft.
Operate communications equipment or systems.
Operate ships or other watercraft.
Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
Assist others during emergencies.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Measure the level or depth of water or other liquids.
Maintain watercraft engines or machinery.
Communicate with others to coordinate material handling or movement.
Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
Record operational details of travel.
Monitor work environment to ensure safety or adherence to specifications.
Determine geographic coordinates.
Maintain professional knowledge or certifications.
Direct maintenance or repair activities.
Direct passenger or freight transport activities.
Direct material handling or moving activities.
Arrange maintenance activities.
Direct maintenance or repair activities.
Acquire supplies or equipment.
Operate ships or other watercraft.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
Direct passenger or freight transport activities.
Recommend personnel decisions or human resources activities.
Provide safety training.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.
Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.
Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.
Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations.
Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.
Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.
Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries.
Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers.
Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, or cargo or passenger status.
Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures.
Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.
Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.
Learn to operate new technology systems and procedures through instruction, simulators, or models.
Direct or coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading or unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, or operating, maintaining, or repairing ship equipment.
Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired.
Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.
Purchase supplies or equipment.
Tow and maneuver barges or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations.
Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports or harbors or patrolling beaches.
Assign watches or living quarters to crew members.
Interview and hire crew members.
Conduct safety drills such as man overboard or fire drills.

Work Styles

Leadership

Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

Achievement/Effort

Persistence

Initiative

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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