Transportation and Materials Moving
Marine Transportation
Colleges award this field under 4 named programs, from Commercial Fishing to Marine Transportation, Other.
Inside the major
Programs within this field
Colleges may offer this field under 4 more specific program names. The program you choose affects the courses you take.
- Commercial Fishing
- Prepares you to apply technical knowledge and skills to function as commercial fishermen, fishing operations supervisors or in related fishing industry operations. Covers fishing vessel operation; fishing equipment operation and maintenance; equipment repair; catch identification, sorting, and storage; safety procedures; record keeping; and applicable legal regulations.
- Diver, Professional and Instructor
- Prepares you to apply technical knowledge and skills to function as professional deep-water or scuba divers, diving instructors, or diving support personnel. Covers the use of diving equipment and related specialized gear; diving safety procedures; operation and maintenance of underwater life-support systems; underwater communication systems; decompression systems; underwater salvage; exploration, rescue, and photography; and installation and fitting of underwater mechanical systems and their maintenance, repair or demolition.
- Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer
- Prepares you to serve as captains, executive officers, engineers and ranking mates on commercially licensed inland, coastal and ocean-going vessels. Covers maritime traditions and law, maritime policy, economics and management of commercial marine operations, basic naval architecture and engineering, shipboard power systems engineering, crew supervision, and administrative procedures.
- Marine Transportation, Other
- Water transportation not listed above.
Where it can lead
Careers this field can lead to
Explore related careers, starting with the closest connections and the occupations hiring the most people.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
- Median pay
- $92,460
- Hiring change through 2035
- 4.0%
- Job openings a year
- 3,800
To get hiredPostsecondary nondegree award
Explore this career Growing with the economyMotorboat Operators
- Median pay
- $47,520
- Hiring change through 2035
- 4.9%
- Job openings a year
- 300
To get hiredPostsecondary nondegree award
Explore this career Growing with the economyShip Engineers
- Median pay
- $109,530
- Hiring change through 2035
- 2.7%
- Job openings a year
- 900
To get hiredPostsecondary nondegree award
Explore this career Growing with the economyCommercial Divers
- Median pay
- $72,990
- Hiring change through 2035
- 4.8%
- Job openings a year
- 400
To get hiredPostsecondary nondegree award
Explore this careerAll work is projected to grow 3.5% between 2025 and 2035; read every hiring-change figure against it. The figures beside each career are the pay of that work, across everyone doing it. Graduates of this field earn $73,797 one year after completing the program, which is the start of a career rather than the shape of one.
Working style
How and where the work happens
Related careers can feel very different from one another. Compare the specific occupations to understand the work each one involves.
Few of the careers connected to this field are measured as substantially in-person or active work. Compare the specific occupations to see how much time each one involves with people, equipment, and movement.
College options
Where to study it
Ordered by how many degrees each college awards in this field. Sort by any numbered column.
| College | Degrees a year | Earnings, first year out | Admit rate | Average annual cost after aid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States Merchant Marine Academy NY | 105 | — | 32% | — |
| SUNY Maritime College NY | 81 | $69,800 | 79% | — |
| Texas A & M University-College Station TX | 55 | $69,754 | 63% | $17,000 |
| California State University Maritime Academy CA | 53 | $75,128 | 99% | — |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy MA | 47 | $75,919 | 95% | $16,000 |
| Maine Maritime Academy ME | 32 | $73,797 | 61% | — |