What Does A Ship, Boat and Barge Mate Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Ship, Boat and Barge Mates

Ship, Boat and Barge Mates supervise or coordinate activities of crew aboard ships, boats, barges, or dredges.

Salary
$89740
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Ship, Boat and Barge Mates supervise or coordinate activities of crew aboard ships, boats, barges, or dredges.

  • Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are underway.
  • Assume command of vessels in the event that ships’ masters become incapacitated.
  • 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.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Ship, Boat and Barge Mates supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges. They observe water from ships’ mastheads to advise on navigational direction.

A typical day for a Ship, Boat and Barge Mate will also include:

  • Inspect equipment, such as cargo-handling gear, lifesaving equipment, visual-signaling equipment, or fishing, towing, or dredging gear, to detect problems.
  • Participate in activities related to maintenance of vessel security.
  • 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.
  • Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are underway.
  • Steer vessels, using navigational devices, such as compasses or sextants, or navigational aids, such as lighthouses or buoys.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Ship, Boat and Barge Mates also arrange for ships to be stocked, fueled, or repaired. They may also supervise crew members in the repair or replacement of defective gear or equipment.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Ship, Boat and Barge Mates observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications. They might also inspect the equipment, such as cargo-handling gear, lifesaving equipment, visual-signaling equipment, or fishing, towing, or dredging gear, to detect problems.

In addition, they participate in activities related to the maintenance of vessel security.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them observe water from ships’ mastheads to advise on navigational direction.

To some Ship, Boat and Barge Mates, it is also their responsibility to supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Average

61% said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they found their job meaningful.


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Pros

Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.

Suitable for people who want independence and like to work on their own and make decisions.

This career is perfect for people who love to work both indoors and outdoors.

It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Demand for this career is growing fast.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$89740 per year

Average hourly wage

$43 per hour

Entry-level Ship, Boat and Barge Mates with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $36,810 to $51,770 per year or $18 to $25 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $153,070 $74
Senior (Top 25%) $108,310 $52
Median $77,130 $37
Junior (Bottom 25%) $51,770 $25
No experience (Bottom 10%) $36,810 $18

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Ship, Boat and Barge Mates based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging $138190 $66.44
Support Activities for Water Transportation $114120 $54.86
Support Activities for Mining $99640 $47.90
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services $92090 $44.28
Inland Water Transportation $88160 $42.39
Federal Executive Branch $85600 $41.16
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction $84250 $40.51
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation $83650 $40.22
Local Government $83210 $40.00
Scientific Research and Development Services $81590 $39.23

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Ship, Boat and Barge Mates work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Ship, Boat and Barge Mates including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Inland Water Transportation 8840 $88160 $42.39
Support Activities for Water Transportation 5660 $114120 $54.86
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation 3210 $83650 $40.22
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 2390 $55750 $26.80
Federal Executive Branch 1290 $85600 $41.16
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 1180 $84250 $40.51
State Government 540 $81120 $39.00
Local Government 510 $83210 $40.00
Rental and Leasing Services 500 $81360 $39.12
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries 400 $63070 $30.32

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
1%

40 hours
13%

More than 40 hours
86%

Working schedule

29%

70%

1%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
22%

Every day
45%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
14%

Every day
64%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
13%

Every day
76%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
52%

Once a year
25%

Once a month
0%

Once a week
7%

Every day
16%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
8%

Slightly competitive
13%

Moderately competitive
64%

Highly competitive
13%

Extremely competitive
2%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
47%

Once a year or more
2%

Once a month or more
6%

Once a week or more
7%

Every day
38%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
15%

Once a year or more
3%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
19%

Every day
64%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
12%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
1%

Once a week or more
23%

Every day
64%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
30%

Once a year or more
1%

Once a month or more
12%

Once a week or more
19%

Every day
37%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
0%

High School Diploma or equivalent
70%

Post-Secondary Certificate
21%

Some College Courses
1%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
8%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
11%

1 month
2%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
0%

6 months to 1 year
22%

1 to 2 years
9%

2 to 4 years
46%

4 to 6 years
4%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
6%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
16%

1 to 3 months
1%

3 to 6 months
9%

6 months to 1 year
9%

1 to 2 years
31%

2 to 4 years
26%

4 to 10 years
9%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Leader

People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.

The Builder
86%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
43%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
14%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
29%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
95%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
76%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
57%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
62%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
62%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
62%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
62%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
76%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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