How long does it take to become a Ship Worker?

It takes 2 years of professional experience to become a ship worker. That is the time it takes to learn specific ship worker skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

How To Become A Ship Worker: What It Is and Career Path

What is a ship worker and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A ship worker is a person who works on cargo or passenger vessels. They are responsible for maintaining and operating various systems onboard, including engines, navigation equipment, and safety features. Ship workers work in a variety of roles, such as engineers, deckhands, or stewards. Ship workers must be physically fit and able to work in a range of weather conditions. They often work long hours and may spend weeks at sea before returning to port.

ScoreShip WorkerUS Average

Salary

2.2

Avg. Salary $28,576

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

9.1

Growth Rate 1%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

8.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.08%

Asian 3.14%

Black or African American 6.88%

Hispanic or Latino 8.93%

Unknown 4.73%

White 75.24%

Gender

female 45.27%

male 54.73%

Age - 40.5

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40.5

Stress Level

9.1

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.1

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

2.3

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Ship Worker?

Pros

Good pay and benefits
Job security
Ability to work with a diverse group of people
On-board amenities and accommodations
Opportunities for career advancement

Cons

Physically demanding work
Exposure to harsh weather conditions
Limited access to medical care
Strict rules and regulations on board
Limited communication with loved ones back home

Newest jobs for Ship Worker in Columbus, OH

Receive alerts for the newest job postings.

Key steps to become a ship worker

Explore ship worker education requirements

Most common ship worker degrees

Bachelor's

34.9 %

High School Diploma

32.0 %

Associate

16.4 %

Start to develop specific ship worker skills

Skills	Percentages
Customer Orders	15.46%
Safety Procedures	13.84%
Crisis Intervention	9.46%
Community Resources	9.43%
Customer Service	8.55%

Complete relevant ship worker training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New ship workers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a ship worker based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real ship worker resumes.

Gain additional ship worker certifications

Ship worker certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific ship worker certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for ship workers include OSHA Safety Certificate and First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor.

More About Certifications

Research ship worker duties and responsibilities

Stack ice cream bricks and tubs onto pallets in freezer by hand and move into position by electric pallet jack.
General maintenance such as but not limit to HVAC maintenance/repair, electrical maintenance/repair, minor plumbing maintenance/repair.
Work the dryers in which the linen are dried in.
Used FIFO system to see what need to be pick first.

Prepare your ship worker resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your ship worker resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a ship worker resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Ship Worker Resume templates

Build a professional Ship Worker resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Ship Worker resume.

Apply for ship worker jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a ship worker job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

What is a ship worker and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a Ship Worker?

Newest jobs for Ship Worker in Columbus, OH

Ship Worker career paths

Key steps to become a ship worker

Explore ship worker education requirements

Most common ship worker degrees

Start to develop specific ship worker skills

Complete relevant ship worker training and internships

Gain additional ship worker certifications

Research ship worker duties and responsibilities

Prepare your ship worker resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Ship Worker Resume templates

Apply for ship worker jobs

How Did You Land Your First Ship Worker Job

Average ship worker salary

How do ship workers rate their job?

Ship Worker FAQs

How long does it take to become a Ship Worker?

Search for ship worker jobs

Ship Worker jobs by state