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Ship Pilot

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All About Ship Pilots

Occupation Description Command ships to steer them into and out of harbors, estuaries, straits, or sounds, or on rivers, lakes, or bays. Must be licensed by U.S. Coast Guard with limitations indicating class and tonnage of vessels for which license is valid and route and waters that may be piloted.

A Day in the Life of a Ship Pilot

  • Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.
  • Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
  • Make nautical maps.
  • Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
  • Provide assistance to vessels approaching or leaving seacoasts, navigating harbors, or docking and undocking.
  • Serve as a vessel’s docking master upon arrival at a port or when at a berth.

What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Ship Pilot?

These are the skills Ship Pilots say are the most useful in their careers:

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

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.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

  • Maritime Pilot
  • Towboat Pilot
  • Docking Pilot
  • Boat Pilot
  • Harbor Pilot

Job Outlook for Ship Pilots

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 38,800 jobs in the United States for Ship Pilot. 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 Pilot by 2026. There will be an estimated 4,400 positions for Ship Pilot per year.

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The states with the most job growth for Ship Pilot 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.

Ship Pilot Salary

The typical yearly salary for Ship Pilots is somewhere between $35,410 and $144,690.

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Ship Pilots who work in Texas, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.

How much do Ship Pilots make in each U.S. state?

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 Pilots

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Ship Pilots:

  • Log book software
  • Jeppesen Marine Nobeltec Admiral
  • Maptech The CAPN

Becoming a Ship Pilot

What kind of Ship Pilot requirements are there?

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What work experience do I need to become a Ship Pilot?

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Where Ship Pilots Are Employed

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Below are examples of industries where Ship Pilots work:

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Other Jobs You May be Interested In

Those interested in being a Ship Pilot may also be interested in:

References:

Image Credit: via CC0 Public Domain

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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