Some of us are drawn to the sea from a young age. Setting out on the open sea for a life of adventure, visiting exotic ports of call, is a romantic notion. A tough, independent, lone wolf with a weathered complexion, a love of drink, and salty language comes to mind. In reality, many jobs fit that stereotype, but many more require skills not commonly associated with maritime transportation.
The marine world provides a plethora of employment opportunities. This is an exciting field that provides marine employment as well as excellent remuneration, adventure, and enjoyment.
If you are a person who loves exploring unique yet lucrative opportunities, then jobs in the marine transportation industry is the right thing for you. In this article, we have enumerated the 15 best-paying jobs in marine transportation.
Table of contents
- What are the Advantages Of Best Paying Jobs In Marine Transport?
- What Education do you Need to Get a Job in Marine Transportation?
- What does it take to Work in Marine Transportation?
- Skills Needed For The Best Paying Jobs In Marine Transportation?
- 15 Best-Paying Jobs in Marine Transportation
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendations
What are the Advantages Of Best Paying Jobs In Marine Transport?
Aside from the thrill of having the wind in your hair and traveling the world, the appeal of a marine transport career is the relatively high pay. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2020 median annual wage in marine transportation was $59,250, which was higher than the national median wage of $51,168.
Many jobs in marine transportation require only a high school diploma or GED for entry-level positions, which is fantastic. Another advantage is that marine transportation offers a much broader range of careers than you might think. You may be interested in a career in marine transportation but are unsure how appealing life as a “salty sea dog” would be.
Many careers require a wide range of skills, allowing you to pursue your passion without leaving your house. Engineering, marine architecture, maritime law, maritime journalism, and many other fields form a major part.
Meanwhile, if the idea of a nine-to-five, button-down job in a cubicle fills you with dread, grab your boots, blue jeans, and outdoor gear. The dress code and hours for many marine transportation jobs are anything but standard office work. It’s probably safe to say that many seafarers have a more independent streak than most.
What Education do you Need to Get a Job in Marine Transportation?
While there are no degree requirements for entry-level jobs in marine transport, you will need a college degree to qualify for higher-paying jobs.
Attending a trade school is another option for getting a leg up in certain careers. A bachelor’s degree program in marine science is necessary.
It can, however, differ from one institution to the next. Marine transportation is a relatively small field, with 657 degrees awarded in 2018-2019, a figure that has remained consistent in previous years.
16 public and private schools in the United States offer degrees in marine transportation. These institutions will allow you to focus on specific subjects based on your career objectives.
Dive training, maritime trade and logistics, commercial fishing, preparation for the coast guard and navy careers, and marine science are some of the concentrations.
You will be required to take courses in math, science, navigation, maritime law, ship safety procedures, and shipboard power system engineering besides your specialization.
To be accepted into a marine transportation program, you must have a high school diploma or a GED.
Each school you apply to will have its GPA and SAT or ACT requirements (though many schools have recently dropped the requirement), and the institution may be more or less selective.
Once you graduate, you must get the marine transport certification to work at sea.
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What does it take to Work in Marine Transportation?
If it isn’t already obvious, it’s important to understand that a life at sea isn’t all swashbuckling, and big paydays when deciding whether or not marine transportation is a good career path for you. The most important things you need to know are-
- Most maritime transportation jobs are tough, cold, dirty, and dangerous, requiring you to be physically strong, work long hours in bad weather, and have a high tolerance for boredom.
- You should also have splendid vision and hearing, as well as the ability to solve problems and decide in stressful situations. These characteristics are required because of the unpredictable and occasionally dangerous nature of working on the sea and with heavy, dangerous equipment.
- If you want to advance your career in marine transportation, expect to take advanced math and science courses, as well as an internship in your chosen field to see if you have what it takes.
- Get a summer job or internship as a deckhand on a ferry or fishing boat and network with people in the marine trade, industry, or shipbuilding.
- If you want to pursue a more advanced career, make sure your math and science skills are up to par before applying to a maritime academy.
Skills Needed For The Best Paying Jobs In Marine Transportation?
The most common skills required to excel in the marine transportation industry are:
- Operation and control for controlling the operation of equipment or systems.
- Monitoring operation for monitoring gauges, dials, or other indicators to ensure that a machine is operating properly.
- Critical thinking for logic and reasoning to assess the strengths and weaknesses of various solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Active listening for paying close attention to what others are saying, taking the time to understand the points being made, asking questions as needed, and refraining from interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking and conversing with others to convey information effectively.
- Problem Sensitivity is to recognize when something is wrong or is about to go wrong. It does not entail solving the problem; rather, it entails recognizing that there is a problem.
- Oral Comprehension to listen to and comprehend information and ideas communicated through spoken words and sentences.
- Control Precision to adjust the controls of a machine or vehicle regularly precisely.
15 Best-Paying Jobs in Marine Transportation
#1. Marine Engineer
Marine engineers work on the maintenance and repair of ship’s machinery. For those who are interested in the technical aspects of ships, this is an exciting career path.
Marine engineers work on the design, construction, installation, operation, maintenance, and repair of main propulsion engines and auxiliary machinery and systems found in many ships, boats, and offshore installations.
It is one of the best-paying jobs in marine transportation. This job is one of the best-paying jobs in marine transportation.
Naval architecture is a profession that involves the planning and design of ships and sea-going vessels. There are several rewarding opportunities in the Naval Architecture Career Option.
A naval architect is an engineer who is in charge of the design, classification, survey, construction, and/or repair of commercial and military ships, boats, other marine vessels, and offshore structures, such as merchant ships; oil tankers, gas tankers, cargo ships, bulk carriers, container ships.
#3. Shipping Broker
A ship broker’s job involves buying and selling ships and shipping cargo. This field is more about being in the market and learning the ropes of the game than it is about theoretical knowledge.
This is a challenging but rewarding field. As a Ship Broker, the individual would serve as a liaison between shipowners and charterers.
#4. Bosun
The position of bosun falls under the deck department of ship jobs. The bosun assists in the execution of various ship operations and also leads the ship’s crew department.
Bosuns’ primary responsibilities revolve around the ship’s deck. The Bosun is a member of the deck department, and one of his responsibilities is to supervise the vessel’s deck crew.
Under the supervision of the Chief Officer (and eventually the Master), the bosun is also involved in the planning, scheduling, and assignment of work to the ship’s deck crew. This job is one of the best-paying jobs in marine transportation.
#5. Oil Driller
An oil driller is a person who performs drilling operations on oil rigs or offshore vessels. This job requires a lot of mental and physical strength, but it also pays well.
The Driller is the team leader in charge of the good drilling process. The term is most commonly used for an oil well drilling rig. In the Rig crew hierarchy, Driller comes after Toolpusher. The Company-man gives the operation orders to the Toolpusher.
#6. Ordinary Seaman (OS)
This position entails working in the ship’s deck department. A career as an ordinary sailor is a stepping stone to a promising seafaring career. An ordinary seaman (OS) is a member of a ship’s deck department.
For centuries, the position has served as an apprenticeship to become a skilled sailor. In modern times, an OS is required to work on a ship for a set amount of time to gain “sea time.” This job is one of the best-paying jobs in marine transportation.
#7. Ship Fitter
The ship fitter’s job entails repairing and maintaining the ship under the supervision of the ship officer. Shopfitters fabricate and layout metal for the construction and repair of ships.
They work for both private businesses and naval shipyards. A ship fitter handles the construction, maintenance, and repair of small boats such as towboats and tugboats, as well as container ships, icebreakers, and ocean liners.
#8. Tool Pusher
A toolpusher is a person in charge of ensuring that the equipment is always available on an oil rig. On a land drilling rig, the tool pusher may be the rig manager and be in charge of all operations; however, on drill ships and offshore oil rigs, tool pushers are department heads in charge of the drilling department and report to the Master or Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) depending on the company, who reports to a shore-based rig manager.
The Chief Mate and Chief Engineer are two other department heads. This job is one of the best-paying jobs in marine transportation.
#9. Tugboat Jobs
Tugboat jobs are for people who enjoy the sea but also want to be close to the shore. There are a variety of tugboat jobs available. They handle navigation and towing functionality.
When at the helm, it is typically the Mate’s responsibility to plan navigational routes and ensure safe passage. They also direct the crew’s setup of towing rigs and barge operations and coordinate towing operations. This job is one of the best-paying jobs in marine transportation.
#10. Shipbuilding Engineer
A shipbuilding engineer is someone who works on the engineering side of designing and building ships and marine vessels. A shipbuilding engineer, like any other conventional engineering field, must complete four years of training before being eligible to work in a shipbuilding yard.
#11. Shipping Freight Broker
A shipping freight broker connects those who want to ship cargo with those who have ships to transport that cargo. This career path as a shipping freight broker is both competitive and rewarding.
A freight broker is an individual or company hired by a shipper to act as a liaison between the shipper and a motor carrier to facilitate the movement of their property from origin to destination by utilizing its extensive network of carrier relationships. This job is one of the best-paying jobs in marine transportation.
#12. Cruise Ship Designer
Have you ever wondered how those massive cruise ships are built? If you enjoy designing things, this could be a rewarding career for you.
The actual cruise ship construction takes 2 to 3 years (the design plans are usually started a year ahead). Shipyards are specialized facilities where ships are built.
The shipyard designs the cruise ship’s hull, while cruise ship designers design the interiors and all special features.
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#13. Shipwright
A shipwright is someone who works on the design and construction of ships. Shipwright is a highly specialized field that focuses on constructing ships and marine vessels.
Shipwrights were to build a ship’s structure and most of its internal fittings. Shipbuilding was a tough job. Ships were built in open-air shipyards all year, even in the winter. Drills and riveters, for example, were both loud and dangerous.
#14. Pumpman
A pump man works with pipelines on ships and offshore vessels. This is a very responsible job that causes both physical and mental fortitude.
Pumpman jobs entail a wide range of duties and responsibilities, not least the responsibility for the vessel’s liquid cargo transfer system’s safe and correct operation.
That means he or she must ensure that the cargo oil flows smoothly into the pipes and is collected. This job is one of the best-paying jobs in marine transportation.
#15. Motorman
A motorman’s job on a ship is to assist in the maintenance and watch-keeping of the ship’s engine room. This is one of the marine jobs that require fewer qualifications.
However, as with all marine jobs, this one is also rewarding. This job is one of the best-paying jobs in marine transportation.
Conclusion
Working as a ship’s captain, naval architect, engineer, or logistics manager are just a few of the best jobs in marine transportation. These jobs typically require a college or advanced degree, pay the highest wages, and have the most prestige.
References
- allaboutcareers.com– Marine transportation a good career path
- courseadvisor.com– Marine Transportation
- mitags.org– Maritime apprenticeship guide
- bestaccreditedcolleges.org– Is Marine transportation a good career path?
- bestaccreditedcolleges.org– Marine transportation jobs
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