Career Overview
Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
Also Known As
- Boat Captain
- Captain
- First Mate
- Mate
Alternate Job Titles
- Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman)
- Able Bodied Tankerman (AB Tankerman)
- Area Relief Pilot
- Bar Pilot
- Barge Captain
- Barge Master
- Barge Mate
- Barge Pilot
- Boat Captain
- Boat Master
- Boat Mate
- Boat Operator
- Boat Pilot
- Boatswain
- Boatswain's Mate
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- 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.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Oversee the use of drones for inspection and maintenance of hard-to-reach parts of the vessel.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Operation and Control
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Spatial Orientation
- Far Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Near Vision
- Written Comprehension
- Control Precision
- Arm-Hand Steadiness
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Leadership Orientation
- Dependability
- Cautiousness
- Attention to Detail
- Stress Tolerance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Independence
- Support
- Relationships
- Achievement
- Working Conditions
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Education Details: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Experience Required: 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.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Apple macOS
- Autodesk Revit
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Tools & Equipment
- Accommodation ladder
- Anchors
- Automatic radar plotting aids ARPA
- Bolt cutters
- Bridge to bridge radiotelephones
- Bulk carriers
- Carbon dioxide CO2 fire extinguishing systems
- Carbon dioxide CO2 flooding systems
- Cargo derricks
- Centrifugal cargo pumps
- Chain cargo falls
- Chemical tankers
- Claw hammers
- Container lift trucks
- Container ships
Work Environment
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Frequency of Decision Making
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
- Contact With Others
- Freedom to Make Decisions
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $46,260 |
| Median | $85,540 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $164,230 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 35,390
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Sailors and Marine Oilers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $49,610
Motorboat Operators
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $51,880
Ship Engineers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $101,320
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $226,600
Commercial Pilots
Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production)
Median Salary: $122,670
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.