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All About Ship Pilots
Career 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.
Life As a Ship Pilot: What Do They Do?
- Oversee cargo storage on or below decks.
- Relieve crew members on tugs or launches.
- Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.
- Make nautical maps.
- Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
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What Every Ship Pilot Should Know
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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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.
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.
Other Ship Pilot Job Titles
- Area Relief Pilot
- River Pilot
- Package Line Relief Operator
- Barge Pilot
- School Boat Driver
Are There Job Opportunities for Ship Pilots?
There were about 38,800 jobs for Ship Pilot 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 Pilot by 2026. There will be an estimated 4,400 positions for Ship Pilot per year.
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.
How Much Does a Ship Pilot Make?
The average yearly salary of a Ship Pilot ranges between $35,410 and $144,690.
Ship Pilots who work in Texas, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Ship Pilots 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 |
What Tools do Ship Pilots Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Ship Pilots may use on a daily basis:
- Log book software
- Jeppesen Marine Nobeltec Admiral
- Maptech The CAPN
How to Become a Ship Pilot
Are there Ship Pilots education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
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