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.
Table of contents
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
Is this job meaningful
61% said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they found their job meaningful.
I was previously a mate on a sportfishing boat and a mate on a ferry and barge that serviced a private island with ~500 residents. My typical day Sportfishing boat The typical day is long. I was usually up at 4:30am to start prepping for the day’s trip. Customers would arrive around 6:30 or 7 … Read More
I have worked as a mate on a fishing vessel out of Alaska for the past 3 years and before that worked on a vessel out of North Carolina. Working as a mate on a fishing boat is not always fun and games. You can expect to take on fast-paced, intense, and demanding work. You … Read More
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
Average hourly wage
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
Working schedule
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant majors
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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