Also called: Airboat Captain, Swamp Tour Captain
Drives loud, flat-bottom airboats with giant fans through Florida Everglades marshes or Louisiana swamps, showing tourists alligators and birds.
At 10 a.m. she loads 15 tourists onto an airboat and hands out ear protection. She speeds across the sawgrass, then cuts the engine near a big alligator and talks about the Everglades. She makes six tours a day and checks the engine each night.
Tips add a lot.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.5 years after high school. No degree; Coast Guard captain license usually required for paid passengers.
Ways in: Certification, On-the-job training. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Environmental Science, Wildlife Biology.
Growing about average. Steady tourism in Florida and Louisiana.
Low risk for 10 years. Driving an airboat and guiding guests in the swamp stays human.
Classes: Biology, Earth science, Small engines CTE.
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