Life As a Ship Mate
Career Description Supervise or coordinate activities of crew aboard ships, boats, barges, or dredges.
Daily Life Of a Ship Mate
- Supervise crew members in the repair or replacement of defective gear or equipment.
- Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.
- Assume command of vessels in the event that ships' masters become incapacitated.
- Participate in activities related to maintenance of vessel security.
- Steer vessels, using navigational devices, such as compasses or sextants, or navigational aids, such as lighthouses or buoys.
- Determine geographical positions of ships, using lorans, azimuths of celestial bodies, or computers, and use this information to determine the course and speed of a ship.
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Ship Mate Skills
These are the skills Ship Mates say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Other Ship Mate Job Titles
- Second Officer
- Relief Mate
- Vessel Master
- Fourth Mate
- Tugboat Mate
Ship Mate Employment Estimates
There were about 38,800 jobs for Ship Mate in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,400 new jobs for Ship Mate by 2026. There will be an estimated 4,400 positions for Ship Mate per year.

The states with the most job growth for Ship Mate are Nevada, Georgia, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Indiana, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Ship Mate
The average yearly salary of a Ship Mate ranges between $35,410 and $144,690.

Ship Mates who work in Texas, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Ship Mates in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $79,750 |
Alaska | $72,570 |
California | $70,840 |
Delaware | $74,790 |
Florida | $78,880 |
Georgia | $73,410 |
Hawaii | $52,830 |
Illinois | $67,020 |
Iowa | $75,600 |
Kentucky | $79,130 |
Louisiana | $93,010 |
Maine | $61,410 |
Maryland | $86,460 |
Massachusetts | $57,700 |
Michigan | $83,040 |
Minnesota | $73,910 |
New Hampshire | $51,490 |
New Jersey | $75,170 |
New York | $95,370 |
North Carolina | $55,710 |
Ohio | $47,810 |
Oregon | $100,150 |
Pennsylvania | $74,780 |
South Carolina | $67,090 |
Tennessee | $54,480 |
Texas | $103,950 |
Virginia | $77,370 |
Washington | $90,890 |
Wisconsin | $48,190 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Ship Mates
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Ship Mates may use on a daily basis:
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Log book software
- KNMI TurboWin
- Jeppesen Marine Nobeltec Admiral
- Maptech The CAPN
How do I Become a Ship Mate?
Learn what Ship Mate education requirements there are.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Ship Mate?

Ship Mates Sector

Below are examples of industries where Ship Mates work:

References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Schools
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