If you have a love for sea life and wouldn’t mind picking a career there, then it’s okay to ask, ‘is marine transportation a good career path.’ The marine transportation industry is not only lucrative but also offers a wide range of opportunities for anyone that will love to pick a career there.
It offers you good pay and allows you to enjoy the benefit of traveling around the world – of course, on the water. Although working in the field may come with some challenges like many days away from home, you can be sure it’s full of excitement for sea lovers.
So if your question has been, ‘is marine transportation a good career path,’ then you should keep reading this post. Here, we will show you some interesting things about the industry and why we believe it will make a good career path for anyone.
What will You Be Doing As a Marine Worker?
Perhaps, we should first iron this out. If you will be picking a career path in any industry, you should have an idea of the kind of roles you will likely be performing. Marine transport workers are majorly in charge of transporting goods from one country to another on the sea. If you have ever bought any product from outside the shore of your country, then you have likely at one time experienced the service of the marine transportation industry.
But that’s not all. Marine transportation workers are not only in charge of operating and maintaining vessels that ship cargo across the waterways; they also move people and dignitaries across the ocean. If you are ever going to travel abroad by water, marine transport workers will be responsible for your safe travel.
While their work is majorly on a ship, there are various job opportunities present in the industry. There is no specific educational requirement needed to get a job in the industry. There are many entry-level jobs there that don’t require that you have high educational qualifications.
Is Marine Transportation a Good Career Path; How Much Do Workers There Make?
Now that you have an idea of the kind of work you will likely be doing as a marine transportation worker, you should also know the average salary of a worker there. Salary is usually one of the major reasons people ask such questions as ‘Is marine transportation a good career path.’ So, let’s address it.
Pay in the industry is quite lucrative. According to the Bureau of Statistics, an average worker in the marine transportation industry earns an average salary of $59,250 per year. However, the amount of money you can make in the industry depends on your role and educational qualifications.
For instance, captains and engineers can earn up to $100,000 per year while entry-level workers like sailors and oilers don’t earn as much.
Is Marine Transportation a Good Career Path; Some Interesting Things about the Industry
Getting straight to answering the question, ‘is marine transportation a good career path,’ we will say yes, it is a good career path. But we can’t be so definite because what is good for one person may not be good for another. That is why it is good to take some factors one after the other and analyze them.
However, from how own point of view, the marine transportation industry is a good one for anyone that has a flair for the sea. But that is not all; there are some more perks you stand to enjoy when you pick a career in the industry. Let’s look at some of them.
1. Jobs there are highly rewarding
Without any doubt, pay is one of the important factors to consider when looking at choosing a career path in any industry. Interestingly, jobs in this sector pay well. The average salary of a marine transportation worker is about $60,000 or annum. That’s way higher than similar jobs on land.
2. Various career opportunities
Now that the pandemic is over, the marine transportation industry is regaining strength, and more workers are always needed to help with shipments. Therefore, there are always a lot of career opportunities available in the industry. If you are concerned about having to be looking for jobs everywhere, the marine transportation industry has enough jobs for you.
3. Job security
Unlike jobs in other industries, the marine transportation industry offers high job security to its workers. At the same time, there is job flexibility that allows you to choose your working hours. That means it is easier to combine your work with some other stuff, including your family.
4. Opportunity to travel abroad
There is probably no other job that could give you the opportunity to travel the world like a career in marine transportation. The job allows you to experience unusual and interesting places instead of just the regular business or holiday destinations visited by most people.
5. Transferable skills
Workers in the field need a lot of skills to be better at what they do. However, most of these skills are learned and developed on board. Such as the ability to pay attention to details, observation skills, ability to work under pressure, etc. But the most interesting thing about this is that many of these skills are transferable. They can be very useful to you in case you decide to switch careers in the future.
What Are Some Career Opportunities In Marine Transportation?
As we earlier said, there are various career opportunities in this field – lots of them. That means getting a job that fits you won’t be a problem at all. Some common career opportunities in the industry include:
- Shipping manager
- Marine engineer
- Yard manager
- Port manager
- Merchant officer
- Oiler
- Sailor
- Mate
- Marine surveyor
- Marine underwriter
- Wiper
- Cook
How to Get a Job in the Marine Transportation Industry
If the marine transportation industry sounds interesting to you, then your next question will likely be how to get a job there. Let’s talk about the educational requirement for getting a job in the industry. There is no stringent requirement to be a worker in marine transportation. There are many entry-level jobs there you can secure even with a high school diploma.
However, if you have a bachelor’s degree in a program like marine transportation, marine engineering, marine logistics, and marine science, you will stand a better chance of getting a more lucrative job opportunity in the industry. Your job will also come with lots of perks and growth opportunities.
What Skills Do You Need to Have As a Worker in Marine Transportation?
Jobs in this field are not as easy as some similar jobs onshore. So if you are willing to pick a career in the industry, in addition to asking, ‘is marine transportation a good career path,’ you need to also ask about the skills required. Some important skills you will need as a worker in the marine transportation industry are good observation skills, physical strength, problem-solving skills, the ability to work under pressure, communication skills, sharp vision, and leadership skills.
Marine Transportation Can Be a Good Career Path for You
Looking at all the perks and opportunities offered by the marine transportation industry, you will agree that it can make a really good career path. If you love the sea and would like to explore the world while still getting paid huge, you should consider picking a career here.
However, you should make up your mind for the tough days on the sea too. Jobs in the industry are not for the faint-hearted. So make sure you have the right skills and love before going into it. Now you have the answer to the question, ‘is marine transportation a good career path.’
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