Deckhand / Able Seaman
⛴️Stands watch, moors the ship, paints and repairs deck equipment, handles cargo and hoses. Voyages last several months.
Prospects & pay
What the work is like
💼 Job market
🇺🇸 $63k a year on average
Sailors & marine oilers, & ship engineers — US: Census ACS 2020–24 (full-time), BLS projections 2025–35
🇬🇧 £39.9k median a year
Marine and waterways transport operatives — UK: ONS ASHE 2025 (full-time)
🤖 AI & automation
Autonomous ships are still in trials; mooring, repairs and deck work in a storm will need human hands for a long time.
Who it suits
Interests: ✈️ Transport, flying, sea, 🔧 Making things by hand, 🏕️ Outdoor work, expeditions.
Key strengths: strength and stamina, manual dexterity, organisation.
Where to study
- Course STCW basic safety training and deck rating certificate (Able Seaman after sea time)
- Apprenticeship Maritime apprenticeship (UK), Schiffsmechaniker Ausbildung (DE)
Key school subjects (A-level / IB / AP): PE, Physics, Geography.
🧗 STCW basic safety training (a few weeks), a medical and a job as a deck rating; with sea time comes the Able Seaman certificate. The UK and Germany offer maritime apprenticeships. An academy leads to officer rank.
Things to know
🌊 Working on or under water🏔️ Long stints far from home🛢️ Dirt, noise, smells🌙 Night shifts and on-call🩺 Strict medical checks
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