Water Transportation Occupations Job Description

Water Transportation Workers: Building and Persuading Interest Area

Water transportation workers operate vessels that carry cargo and people. The vessels travel to and from foreign ports across the ocean and to domestic ports along the coast, Great Lakes, and inland waterways. Water transportation workers are exposed to a lot of weather.

Many people think that life at sea is not for them because of the difficult conditions onboard ships and long periods away from home. Seamen get on-the-job training for 6 months to a year. The training depends on the size and type of ship they are working on.

Workers on deep-sea vessels need more complex training than those on river vessels. Water transportation workers progress from lower level positions to higher level ones, making work experience important for many jobs. A ship engineer and mates may have worked as sailors before.

Workers can gain hands-on experience as part of their education program. Water transportation workers have an interest in the building, persuading and organizing areas according to the Holland Code framework. The focus of the Building interest area is on working with tools and machines.

The focus of persuasion interest area is influencing, motivating, and selling to other people. The focus of the organizing interest area is to keep things orderly. If you don't know if you have a Building or Persuading interest that would fit with a career as a water transportation worker, you can take a career test to see if you have an interest.

Water Transportation Jobs in the United States

Water bodies have been used for transportation for a long time. Water transportation jobs offer exciting and well-paying jobs. There are a variety of job opportunities on passenger vessels and small commercial vessels.

Water transportation occupations can be classified based on the nature of the work. The masters or captains are usually in charge of the vessel. They are the people who are in charge of the crew on a vessel.

The responsibility for the well being of the vessel, cargo, passengers, and crew members is solely on the captain. Sailors work in different areas of the vessel to make sure it works. They are under the supervision of an officer.

A ship's pilot is the person who leads the vessel along a safe course. Some pilots may be employed to navigate the vessel through local waters or the entrance to a harbor. Water transportation occupations require education and training for vessels that are used for transportation.

The license offered by the U.S. Coast Guard is mandatory for those who wish to take up the profession. Water transport occupations need a license. Prospective candidates are given licenses by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Water Transportation Workers Earn Different Jobs

Education and training requirements for different jobs are different. Entry-level sailors and marine oilers don't need to attend school, but other types of water transportation workers do. Water transportation workers operate vessels that carry cargo and people.

The vessels travel to and from foreign ports across the ocean and to domestic ports along the coast, Great Lakes, and inland waterways. Water transportation workers make a median annual wage of $59,250. Half of the workers in an occupation earn more than the median wage, and half earn less.

The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,460, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $128,420. Railroad occupations ensure that passenger and freight trains run on time. Some workers drive trains, some coordinate the activities of the trains, and others operate signals and switches in the rail yard.

Transportation and Material Moving Jobs

The field of transportation has a wide range of job titles. There are many different roles available for those interested in working in the transportation sector. There are jobs industries that transport passengers and cargo via plane, rail, bus, boat, transit system, and other modes.

scenic and sightseeing transportation may be involved in transportation jobs. The transportation and material moving sector has positions that support the industry. Travel and tour agencies that book transportation and logistics staff that coordinate transportation are part of the transportation industry.

There are mechanical support personnel such as automotive mechanics. The median annual wage for transportation and material moving occupations was $32,440 in May, which is below the median for all occupations. Drivers, moving personnel, and logistics personnel are some of the most in demand job titles in the transportation industry.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has an Occupational Outlook Handbook. Material moving and hand laborers move things. They might unload trucks.