The marine transportation industry is about the transport of goods across seaways. Did you know that most goods are shipped by sea? Around 80% are transported by sea. The best paying jobs in marine transportation play a critical role in the marine transportation system.
Quickstart Guide To Getting A Job In Marine Transportation
- Update your resume. If you want to land a job in marine transportation, start by updating your resume. If you need help, we recommend working with a resume writing service.
- Explore jobs on ZipRecruiter. If you’re looking for a job in marine transportation, start your search on ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter is free for job seekers and you can apply for jobs with a single click!
Discover Your Dream Job Find jobs near you and apply with 1 click! New jobs posted daily.
What Is The Marine Transportation Industry?
Marine transportation is responsible for the transport and trade of goods across oceans.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration, U.S. marine transportation accounts for 25,000 miles of sea channels, 3,500 marine terminals, and thousands of recreational marinas.
It’s quite expansive and coordinating transport across waterways takes manpower, a working knowledge of the U.S. marine system, and sophisticated knowledge of the systems and processes needed to coordinate it all.
If this is a career industry you want to break into, you’ll be interested to learn about the best-paying jobs in marine transportation.
10 Of Best Paying Jobs In Marine Transportation
1. Naval Architect
Median National Salary: $96,910/year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 8,000
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 1% (Little or no change)
Job Duties: A naval architect is responsible for designing and engineering marine vessels and structures, ensuring they meet safety, performance, and regulatory standards. They use their expertise in ship design, hydrodynamics, and marine engineering to develop plans and specifications for ships, submarines, and offshore structures, contributing to the construction and maintenance of marine vessels.
2. Marine Engineer
Median National Salary: $96,910/year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 8,000
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 1% (Little or no change)
Job Duties: A marine engineer is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining mechanical systems and equipment on ships and offshore structures. They use their expertise in engineering principles, marine technology, and safety regulations to ensure the efficient operation and safety of marine vessels and offshore installations.
3. Water Transportation Worker
Median National Salary: $66,100/year
Education Required: High school diploma
Number of Jobs: 83,200
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 2% (As fast as average)
Job Duties: A water transportation worker is responsible for operating and maintaining vessels that transport goods and passengers across bodies of water. They use their expertise in navigation, vessel operations, and safety protocols to ensure the safe and efficient transportation of cargo and passengers, contributing to the functioning of waterborne transportation systems.
4. Commercial Diver
Median National Salary: $85,630/year
Education Required: Specialized diving training or military training
Number of Jobs: 199,400
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 1% (As fast as average)
Job Duties: A commercial diver is responsible for performing underwater tasks such as construction, inspection, maintenance, and salvage. They use their expertise in diving techniques, underwater tools, and safety procedures to carry out tasks in various underwater environments, contributing to the completion of marine construction projects and the maintenance of underwater infrastructure.
5. Maritime Lawyer
Median National Salary: $135,740/year
Education Required: Doctoral or professional degree
Number of Jobs: 826,300
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 8% (Faster than average)
Job Duties: A maritime lawyer is responsible for providing legal counsel and representation in matters related to marine commerce, shipping, and maritime law. They use their expertise in admiralty law, international regulations, and dispute resolution to advise clients on maritime legal issues, such as vessel transactions, marine insurance, and environmental regulations, and represent them in legal proceedings.
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6. Ship Captain
Median National Salary: $104,190/year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 75,400
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 13% (Faster than average)
Job Duties: A ship captain is responsible for commanding and navigating a vessel, ensuring the safety of the crew, passengers, and cargo. They use their expertise in maritime regulations, navigation, and leadership to oversee all aspects of ship operations, including navigation, safety procedures, and compliance with international maritime laws.
7. Shipmate
Median National Salary: $66,100/year
Education Required: High school diploma
Number of Jobs: 83,200
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 2% (As fast as average)
Job Duties: A shipmate, also known as a seafarer or sailor, is responsible for assisting in the operation and maintenance of a vessel at sea. They use their expertise in seamanship, navigation, and deck operations to perform tasks such as steering the ship, handling mooring lines, and participating in safety drills, contributing to the overall functioning of the vessel.
8. Ship Engineer
Median National Salary: $100,980/year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 75,400
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 12% (Much faster than average)
Job Duties: A ship engineer is responsible for overseeing the operation and maintenance of a vessel's propulsion and power systems. They use their expertise in marine engineering, machinery operation, and equipment maintenance to ensure the efficient and safe functioning of the vessel's engines, boilers, and other mechanical systems while at sea.
9. Harbor Worker
Median National Salary: $66,100/year
Education Required: High school diploma
Number of Jobs: 83,200
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 2% (As fast as average)
Job Duties: A harbor worker is responsible for handling cargo, operating equipment, and maintaining port facilities to ensure the efficient loading and unloading of ships and the safe mooring of vessels. They use their expertise in cargo handling, port operations, and safety protocols to contribute to the smooth and safe functioning of maritime transport and logistics within a harbor.
10. Marine Surveyor
Median National Salary: $63,080/year
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree
Number of Jobs: 50,800
Job Growth 2022 – 2032: 5% (Faster than average)
Job Duties: A marine surveyor is responsible for inspecting and assessing the condition of marine vessels, cargoes, and maritime structures to ensure compliance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards. They use their expertise in marine engineering, inspection techniques, and industry regulations to provide independent assessments and reports on the seaworthiness, condition, and compliance of maritime assets, contributing to risk management and safety within the maritime industry.
Pros and Cons of Marine Transportation Careers
The pros of working in a marine transportation career include:
- High salary: You will enjoy a higher salary working in marine transportation, with the average marine transport worker earning just under $54,000/year on average.
- Potential tax benefits: Some income earned by marine transport workers can be tax-free.
- In-demand career: This industry is one that’s on the rise which is great for job stability.
- Career advancement opportunities and job growth: The possibility for advancing your career exists.
The cons of working in the marine transportation industry include:
- Labor-intensive work: Many careers are very labor intensive which mean hands-on work and being on your feet all day.
- Hazardous working conditions: Some, not all jobs can be dangerous and prone to accidents like slips and falls.
- Working away from family/friends: Many careers require you work long periods of time without seeing your family and friends.
Requirements And Skills To Work In The Marine Transportation Industry
These soft skills are great to have as a marine transport worker, regardless of the job role you pursue:
- Team player: Being able to work with others is critical, especially in marine transportation where you may be in close quarters with other workers and be required to work in groups to complete projects.
- Communication skills: Strong communication skills are essential. This combines active listening and emotional intelligence. You’ll have the ability to listen and pay attention, give feedback and accept critique.
- Ability to work independently: Being assigned tasks and working independently may be a part of your work, as well so the ability to work alone is an important skill to possess.
How To Get A Good-Paying Job In Marine Transportation
With strong communication skills, high emotional intelligence and the ability to work on your own and within a team environment, you can really far in this industry.
There are many positions that are entry-level and because of the job stability you can make marine transportation a lifelong career.
The first step to getting a good-paying marine transportation job is to set up your job resume.
Check out this list of the best resume writing services which can help you put together a tailored, professional resume to accompany your job application.
Then, you can move onto the job search process.
Best Places To Find The Best-Paying Jobs In Marine Transportation
Find the best-paying marine transportation jobs in job search websites like these:
ZipRecruiter
ZipRecruiter is a leading online job search website. You can search and apply for jobs, review salaries and jobseeker reviews in marine transportation, as well as other career fields.
Check out our ZipRecruiter review to learn more.
Discover Your Dream Job Start with ZipRecruiter today to find the best candidates out there.
LinkedIn is a career-based social network and job resource where you can build your professional profile, search and apply for jobs and do online networking.
Check out our LinkedIn review to learn more.
Indeed
Indeed is a job search bank that makes it easy to search for jobs online. You can search for jobs using keywords in the marine transportation industry along with location requirements to turn up tons of search results that you can review and apply to.
Check out our Indeed review to learn more.
The Bottom Line
Working in marine transportation can be a fulfilling and lucrative career path. You’re doing meaningful work that makes a difference. It’s a big part of the industry, which fuels the delivery and transport of goods globally.
Salaries in marine transportation are one of the highest, compared to other career fields, with tax-free income, in some scenarios. This means you can reach your financial goals faster and save more.
Once you’ve chosen the marine transportation career path to pursue, visit ZipRecruiter to start your job search!
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