Career: Ship Captains and Marine Pilots
NOAA/Department of Commerce
When we think of transportation, we usually think of planes and cars. But ships are still a major part of commercial transport, and in some areas, they also play a part in commuter transit. Ship captains control sea-going vessels, from cruise ships to barges to ferries to freighters. The captain is master of his ship, managing its crew as well as its course and speed.
A marine pilot, on the other hand, controls ships when they’re in crowded harbors or other confined waters. While the captain knows his ship well, the pilot is expert on his particular waterway.
Ship captains and marine pilots direct sea-going vessels on the ocean, on rivers, and in and out of harbors.
“We have to be relaxed and calm because that's part of the job … but you also have to be ready for anything. ”
Greg, Ferryboat Captain
Are You Ready To...?
- Take responsibility for a ship, its crew, and passengers
- Hire crew members
- Keep detailed logs
- Oversee the loading and unloading of cargo or passengers
- Join a union
It Helps to Be...
Decisive, organized, and able to handle several tasks at once. If you work well under pressure, get along with large groups of people, and communicate well, then this could be the career for you.
Make High School Count
- Take college preparatory classes and try your hardest. Most members of the class of 2006 at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy were in the top twenty percent of their class.
- Take four years of math (including algebra; geometry; and trigonometry, precalculus or calculus) as well as physics and chemistry.
- Sign up for computer classes, mechanical drawing, and machine shop.
- Work hard in English. Part of being a captain or pilot is communicating clearly with your crew and with any passengers you may carry.
“If you're not a Maritime Academy graduate or you don't have a lot of experience … start working as a deckhand. ”
Greg, Ferryboat Captain
Outlook
Government economists expect slower-than-average job growth in this field between 2004 and 2014. The outlook has improved recently due to a number of factors that make it easier for American ships to compete with the ships of other countries.
Compensation
Salaries can vary widely depending on the size and type of vessels involved. Captains with many years of experience working on container ships, oil tankers, or passenger ships may earn $100,000 or more each year. Captains of tugboats also tend to earn high pay.
The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that ship captains, mates, and marine pilots, studied as a group, earned an average salary of $57,060 in 2006.
