Careers · Explore one path
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.
Other titles employers use
Boat Captain · Captain · Ferry Boat Captain · First Mate · Harbor Pilot · Mate · River Pilot · Ship Pilot
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical, organizing and persuading work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operation and Control
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Operations Monitoring
Subjects to know
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- Mechanical
- Law and Government
- English Language
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Problem Sensitivity
- Deductive Reasoning
- Spatial Orientation
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.9 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 3.4 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 4.3 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a postsecondary certificate. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 46%
- A certificate or some college 42%
- A four-year degree 9%
- A two-year degree 2%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Operating system software
- Computer aided design CAD software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Word processing software
- Route navigation software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 6,280
- Job openings each year
- 650
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 2.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | 6,280 | 650 | 2.4% |
| Florida | 6,110 | 650 | 10.7% |
| Texas | 2,970 | 310 | 5.7% |
| Virginia | 2,540 | 260 | 3.7% |
| California | 2,200 | 230 | 4.8% |
| New York | 1,790 | 10 | 4.1% |
| Washington | 1,720 | 210 | 14.7% |
| Kentucky | 1,480 | 160 | 5.7% |
| Illinois | 1,090 | 120 | 7.9% |
| South Carolina | 910 | 100 | 5.8% |
| New Jersey | 860 | 90 | 6.2% |
| Tennessee | 850 | 90 | −1.2% |
| Alaska | 830 | 90 | 13.7% |
| Georgia | 810 | 90 | 15.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 710 | 70 | 1.4% |
| Missouri | 650 | 70 | 4.8% |
| Mississippi | 590 | 60 | 9.3% |
| Maryland | 570 | 60 | 1.8% |
| Indiana | 550 | 50 | −15.4% |
| North Carolina | 480 | 50 | 9.1% |
| Michigan | 460 | 50 | — |
| Alabama | 450 | 50 | 4.7% |
| Oregon | 440 | 40 | −2.2% |
| Connecticut | 380 | 40 | 8.6% |
| Maine | 270 | 30 | −3.6% |
| Massachusetts | 240 | 30 | 9.1% |
| Ohio | 230 | 20 | −8.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 220 | 20 | 10.0% |
| Wisconsin | 200 | 20 | 5.3% |
| Minnesota | 150 | 20 | — |
| Arizona | 140 | 20 | — |
| Rhode Island | 130 | 20 | 8.3% |
| Iowa | 120 | 10 | 9.1% |
| Virgin Islands | 120 | 10 | −14.3% |
| Delaware | 110 | 10 | 10.0% |
| West Virginia | 100 | 10 | −9.1% |
| New Hampshire | 50 | 10 | — |
| Arkansas | 40 | 0 | — |
| Idaho | 40 | 0 | — |
| Nevada | 30 | 0 | 50.0% |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
United States Merchant Marine Academy
- Degrees each year
- 105
- Admit rate
- 32%
- Annual cost after aid
- —
SUNY Maritime College
- Degrees each year
- 81
- Admit rate
- 79%
- Annual cost after aid
- —
Texas A & M University-College Station
- Degrees each year
- 55
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
California State University Maritime Academy
- Degrees each year
- 53
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- —
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
- Degrees each year
- 47
- Admit rate
- 95%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Maine Maritime Academy
- Degrees each year
- 32
- Admit rate
- 61%
- Annual cost after aid
- —