Also called: Navy DC rating, Navy HT rating, Coast Guard DC
Shipboard firefighter, flood-control expert, and repair specialist who keeps the ship afloat in emergencies.
DCs train the crew to fight fires and plug leaks, inspect firefighting gear, and weld and repair hull damage. They are central in any emergency at sea. Civilian paths: firefighter, welder, pipefitter, hazmat specialist.
Regular military compensation (RMC = base pay + housing and food allowances + their tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-6 ranks, 2026 estimate. Cash in hand is lower early on because junior troops often live in free barracks and eat in dining halls. Enlistment bonuses can add thousands.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.5 years after high school. High school diploma, then ~2-3 months of A-School. Free-college benefits: Tuition Assistance (up to $4,500/yr) while serving, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (36 months of tuition + housing stipend) afterward, and SkillBridge internships before separating.
Ways in: Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Fire Science, Welding Technology (trade school).
Growing about average. Military specialties are not in BLS projections. The services recruit for this job every year and openings track force size and retention rather than market growth.
Low risk for 10 years. Sensors detect fires and floods sooner; fighting them and patching hulls stay human.
Classes: Welding CTE, PE / strength training, Health / first aid.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.