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Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Also called: Boat Captain, Captain, First Mate, Mate

What they do:

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

On the job, you would:
  • 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.
On the job, you'll need:

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security
  • law and government

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • talking to others

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Social

  • changing what is done based on other people's actions
  • teaching people how to do something

Verbal

  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say

Spatial

  • know where things are around you
  • imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed

Hand and Finger Use

  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • hold or move items with your hands

Controlled Movement

  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Leadership
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Attention to Detail
  • Independence

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Route navigation software

  • FURUNO navigational chart software
  • Navigational chart software

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Average.

New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $95,210

Education

High school diploma/GED or certificate after high school is usually needed.

Explore More

See other careers in the Transportation & Storage industry.