Inspects boats, ships and cargo for insurance and buyers, and investigates marine accidents.
You climb through a 40-foot sailboat's engine room checking for corrosion, test its electrical system and write a report before someone buys it.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 4 years after high school. No degree required; certification from SAMS or NAMS; many are former mariners.
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training, Military. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Marine Technology, Naval Architecture.
Growing about average. Small, steady field.
Low risk for 10 years. Drones help with hulls, but climbing aboard ships, testing engines and judging boat condition stay deeply hands-on.
Classes: Marine or auto tech CTE, Physics, Shop class.
Official data: O*NET occupation 13-1031.
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