Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
SOC Code: 53-5021 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | $94,827 | $124,301 | $153,774 | $183,248 |
| Salinas, CA | $72,758 | $108,014 | $143,250 | $178,506 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $52,874 | $87,942 | $123,032 | $158,101 |
| Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $63,378 | $94,890 | $126,402 | $157,914 |
| Reading, PA | $50,835 | $85,613 | $120,370 | $155,147 |
| Lancaster, PA | $50,731 | $85,467 | $120,224 | $154,960 |
| Jackson, MS | $64,272 | $94,390 | $124,488 | $154,606 |
| Hattiesburg, MS | $59,862 | $91,395 | $122,928 | $154,461 |
| Dover, DE | $52,125 | $86,195 | $120,286 | $154,357 |
| Northeast Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $67,954 | $96,574 | $125,174 | $153,795 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.6 | |
| Monitoring | 3.5 | |
| Speaking | 3.5 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.4 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 | |
| Active Listening | 3.4 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.4 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.2 | |
| Coordination | 3.2 | |
| Management of Personnel Resources | 3.2 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 4.1 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.8 |
| Mechanical | 3.4 |
| Law and Government | 3.4 |
| English Language | 3.3 |
| Geography | 3.3 |
| Administration and Management | 3.2 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.2 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| High school diploma | 42.0% |
| Some college | 36.6% |
| Bachelor's degree | 8.4% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 5.5% |
| Less than high school | 4.5% |
| Associate's degree | 2.2% |
Typical Tasks
- Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
- Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
- Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
- Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
- Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
- Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
- Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Apple macOS Autodesk Revit Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Computerized maintenance management system CMMS FURUNO navigational chart software Groundwater modeling system GMS JRC navigation software Jeppesen Marine Nobeltec Admiral KNMI TurboWin Log book software Maptech The CAPN
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