Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Paying close attention to accuracy, quality, instructions, and small but important details.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Identifying problems, considering possible solutions, and choosing appropriate actions.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Water Transportation Worker Sailors and marine oilers typically receive
Education
and training requirements for water transportation workers vary by occupation. There are no educational requirements for entry-level sailors and marine oilers, but other water transportation workers typically complete U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)-approved training programs. Most water transportation jobs require the Transportation Worker Identification Credential from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and a Merchant Mariner Credential, plus related endorsements, from the Coast Guard. Education Sailors and marine oilers typically do not need a formal educational credential to enter the occupation. Other water transportation workers complete U.S. Coast Guard approved training programs. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have earned a bachelor’s degree from a maritime academy. For example, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy offers a bachelor’s degree program and a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) with an endorsement as a third mate or third assistant engineer. Academy graduates must serve several years as an officer in a reserve unit or on active duty in any branch of the Armed Forces. Training Water transportation workers may receive on-the-job training of varying duration. For example, sailors and marine oilers typically need 1 month to 1 year of training after they are hired. The size and type of ship and waterway also affect training, with large vessels on open seas likely to require the most training. Some water transportation workers enter their occupation through an apprenticeship. The length of these programs varies but may last several years. Apprenticeship programs typically include technical instruction and paid on-the-job training aboard a vessel. Those who successfully complete an apprenticeship may be eligible to take the exam for ship engineer or third mate.
Training
on the job.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
The USCG and TSA have specific requirements for many water transportation workers. These requirements may include passing a security or drug screening, completing approved training, or passing written and physical examinations. Workers in some occupations, such as maritime pilots, also may need a license issued by their state. For example, mariners working on ships with U.S. flags usually need a TSA Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Mariners who work on ships traveling on the open ocean require USCG-verified training for the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) endorsement. Most mariners also must have a USCG-issued MMC. (More information on MMCs and related endorsements is available from the U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center.) In addition, water transportation workers may need a valid passport, other licenses or credentials, and first aid or other safety certification. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. Work Experience in a Related Occupation With the exception of sailors and marine oilers, water transportation workers typically need several years of maritime experience to enter these occupations. Workers require this experience, commonly known as “sea time,” to advance from lower level positions into higher level ones. For example, a marine oiler must have at least 3 years of experience to become a third engineer, who then needs experience to become a second engineer, and so on. Graduates of a maritime academy gain some of the required experience as part of their educational program, as do those who complete an apprenticeship.
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Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Overall employment of water transportation workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 8,600 openings for water transportation workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Fluctuations in the demand for bulk commodities, such as iron ore and grain, is a key factor influencing employment of water transportation workers. When demand for these commodities is high, the need for these workers increases; when demand slows, so does the need for workers. Water Transportation Workers Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Transportation and material moving occupations 4% Water transportation workers 4% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Water Transportation Workers Do
Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. The vessels travel to and from foreign ports across the ocean and to domestic ports along the coasts, across the Great Lakes, and along the country’s many inland waterways.
Duties
Water transportation workers typically do the following:
- Operate and maintain nonmilitary vessels at sea
- Issue or follow orders based on their vessel’s chain of command
- Follow procedures to ensure the safety of all people and cargo on board
These workers are employed on a variety of watercraft that facilitate commerce. For example, some work on bulk carriers or large deep-sea container ships that transport goods or heavy commodities domestically and internationally. Others work on tankers that carry oil or on supply ships that transport supplies to offshore wind farms or oil and gas platforms. Still others work on tugboats that help other boats maneuver into and out of ports or on salvage vessels that offer emergency services.
Water transportation workers also are employed on a range of passenger-carrying vessels, including cruise ships, tour boats, and ferries.
The following are examples of types of water transportation workers:
Captains have overall command of a vessel and are responsible for its crew, cargo, and passengers. Their responsibilities may include purchasing equipment and supplies, coordinating maintenance or repairs, overseeing the loading and unloading of cargo or passengers at port, and interacting with passengers. Captains also must keep detailed logs and records of their ship’s movements and other activities.
Mates, or deck officers, monitor the ship’s position, speed, and direction. They also alternate watches with the captain and other officers, supervise and coordinate activities of the deck crew, and direct the vessel’s operation while the captain is off duty. Deck officers may inspect the cargo hold during loading to ensure that it is stowed according to specifications.
Large ships have three deck officers, called first, second, and third mates. Usually, the first mate is in charge of the cargo or passengers, the second mate is in charge of navigation, and the third mate is in charge of safety. On small vessels, there may be only one mate who handles all of these responsibilities.
Pilots guide ships on confined waterways that require familiarity with local tides, currents, or hazards. Some, called harbor pilots, work for ports and help ships that come into the harbor during the day. Pilots are not part of a ship’s crew but go on board to safely steer it into harbor. Once aboard, the pilot assumes control of the vessel from the captain and receives mooring instructions from shore dispatchers.
Sailors, or deckhands, make up the deck crew that operates and maintains the vessel and deck equipment. They stand watch, looking out for other vessels or obstructions in their ship’s path and for navigational aids, such as buoys and lighthouses. They may be required to load and unload supplies or equipment and may interact with or assist passengers. They also complete routine upkeep of the vessel, such as painting the deck, chipping away rust, and cleaning its interior and exterior.
Some large ships have a boatswain, who is the chief of the deck crew. Experienced deckhands are called able seamen and usually make up most of the crew. New deckhands are called ordinary seamen and do the least complicated tasks.
Ship engineers operate and maintain a vessel’s propulsion system, which includes the engine, boilers, generators, pumps, and other machinery. They regulate the ship’s speed, following the captain’s orders; keep a detailed engineering log; and maintain an inventory of mechanical supplies and parts.
Large vessels usually have a chief engineer and first, second, and third assistant engineers. The chief engineer directs the engine room and its crew, and assistant engineers oversee the engine and related machinery when the chief engineer is off duty. Small ships might have only one engineer.
Marine oilers work in the engine room, helping engineers with the propulsion system. They maintain and repair engine room machinery, operate pumps, and clean tanks. They also lubricate gears, shafts, and other parts of the engine or motor. New oilers are called wipers and typically do tasks such as cleaning engine spaces, equipment, and machinery.
Motorboat operators run small, motor-driven boats that carry only a few passengers. They provide a variety of services, such as fishing charters, tours, and harbor patrols. Their tasks may include picking up passengers and helping them board the boat, acting as a tour guide, and performing general boat maintenance.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Water transportation workers held about 85,900 jobs in 2025. Employment in the detailed occupations that make up water transportation workers was distributed as follows:
| Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels | 41,300 |
| Sailors and marine oilers | 33,000 |
| Ship engineers | 8,800 |
| Motorboat operators | 2,800 |
The largest employers of water transportation workers were as follows:
| Inland water transportation | 24% |
| Support activities for water transportation | 21 |
| Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation | 14 |
| Scenic and sightseeing transportation, water | 8 |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 6 |
Water transportation workers usually work for long periods, often aboard ships and away from home. They may be exposed to all kinds of weather.
Most vessels include comfortable living quarters, and meals may be provided.
Work Schedules
Most water transportation workers are full time, and many work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules vary, depending on the job. Some crews, such as those on barges or deep-sea ships, may spend weeks or months away from home and work on board for long periods 7 days a week. Other workers, such as motorboat operators, may have day shifts from which they return home each night.
Some water transportation work is seasonal. For example, crews who work on the Great Lakes often do not work in the winter, when the lakes freeze. Ferry and motorboat operators who service ships for vacation destinations may work only in the summer.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Customer-service skills. Water transportation workers may interact with passengers and must ensure that the passengers have a pleasant experience. Hand-eye coordination. Officers and pilots who steer ships must be able to operate controls while staying aware of their surroundings. Hearing ability. Water transportation workers must pass a hearing test to get an MMC. Interpersonal skills. Water transportation workers may spend months on a ship with other crewmembers. They must be able to work well as part of a team in a demanding environment. Manual dexterity. Water transportation workers often are required to work with their hands to manipulate vessel or machine controls, attach equipment, or operate handtools. Mechanical skills. Marine oilers and ship engineers must be able to keep machines and equipment working properly at sea. Physical strength. Water transportation workers may be required to lift or move heavy equipment and supplies. Visual ability. Water transportation workers must pass a vision test to get an MMC.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about water transportation workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.