DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

Stand watch to look for obstructions in path of vessel, measure water depth, turn wheel on bridge, or use emergency equipment as directed by captain, mate, or pilot. Break out, rig, overhaul, and store cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, and running gear. Perform a variety of maintenance tasks to preserve the painted surface of the ship and to maintain line and ship equipment. Must hold government-issued certification and tankerman certification when working aboard liquid-carrying vessels. Includes able seamen and ordinary seamen.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
Wages Updated to First Quarter, 2020

					Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	Mean SE*	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Minnesota	110	49	$26.51/hr	$1.01/hr	$14.70/hr	$20.63/hr	$26.57/hr	$32.61/hr	$38.38/hr
U S	31,290	1,408	$26.18/hr	$2.41/hr	$12.39/hr	$15.59/hr	$21.37/hr	$28.84/hr	$37.14/hr
*SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate.

Related Occupations

Occupation (click title for details)	OES		Projections
	Employment	Median Wage	% Change 2022 - 2032
Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer	15,600	$25.16/hr	5.9%
Truck Drivers, Light or Delivery Services	9,530	$19.80/hr	9.4%
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators	4,590	$21.77/hr	3.8%
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators	330	$30.07/hr	10.0%
Bridge and Lock Tenders	10	$31.63/hr	N/A
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	N/A	N/A	N/A
Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers	N/A	N/A	N/A
Motorboat Operators	N/A	N/A	N/A

• Maintains ship's log while in port, and stands gangway watch to prevent unauthorized persons from boarding ship.
• Stows or removes cargo from ship's hold.
• Steers ship under direction of ship's commander or navigating officer, or directs helmsman to steer, following designated course.
• Breaks out, rigs, overhauls, and stows cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, and running gear.
• Paints and chips rust on deck or superstructure of ship.
• Overhauls lifeboats and lifeboat gear, and lowers or raises lifeboats with winch or falls.
• Stands watch from bow of ship or wing of bridge to look for obstruction in path of ship.
• Cleans and polishes wood trim, brass, and other metal parts.
• Paints or varnishes decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ship.
• Lubricates machinery, equipment, and engine parts, such as gears, shafts, and bearings.
• Splices and repairs cables and ropes, using marlinespike, wirecutters, twine, and hand tools.
• Stands watch from bow of ship or wing of bridge to look for obstructions in path of ship.
• Loads or unloads materials from vessel.
• Lowers and mans lifeboat in case of emergency.
• Records data in ship's log such as weather conditions and distance traveled.
• Assists engineer in overhauling and adjusting machinery.
• Turns wheel while observing compass to maintain ship on course.
• Reads pressure and temperature gauges or displays, and records data in engineering log.
• Examines machinery for specified pressure and flow of lubricants.
• Handles lines to moor vessel to wharf, tie up vessel to another vessel, or rig towing lines.
• Sweeps and washes deck, using broom, mops, brushes, and hose.
• Chips and cleans rust spots on deck, superstructure, and sides of ship, using wire brush and hand or air chipping machine.
• Measures depth of water in shallow or unfamiliar waters, using leadline, and telephones or shouts information to bridge.
• Steers ship and maintains visual communication with other ships.
• Relays specified signals to ships in vicinity, using visual signaling devices, such as blinker light and semaphore.
• Stands by wheel when ship is on automatic pilot and verifies accuracy of course by comparing with magnetic compass.
• Gives directions to crew engaged in cleaning wheelhouse and quarter deck.