Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
This is a specialization of
Water Transportation WorkersCareer Overview Video
AI Impact Assessment
AI Resilience Score
Score 2/6: limited human advantage indicates this career is being transformed by AI
How we calculated this:
26% of tasks can be accelerated by AI
+1% projected (2024-2034)
EPOCH score: 10/25
Key Responsibilities
- 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.
Education & Training
Typical Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Time to Job Ready
1-3 years
Based on Job Zone 3. For formal education duration only, see education_duration.
Technology Skills
Key Abilities
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Find jobs and training programs for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels- Median salary: $89K/year
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Compensation Details
Based on 34,520 employed workers
Also Known As
Data from O*NET 30.1 and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics
O*NET Code: 53-5021.00