Also called: Flag Registry Specialist, Vessel Registration Officer
Registers ocean ships under a nation’s flag, issuing their papers and recording mortgages, often for registries run from Virginia.
Some of the biggest ship registries in the world, like those of Liberia and the Marshall Islands, are run from offices near Washington, D.C. Registry officers review ownership documents, issue certificates of registry, record ship mortgages for banks, and check that the ship meets safety rules. When a ship is sold, they handle the paperwork fast so it can sail.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor’s in maritime business, international trade or law-related studies.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Maritime Business, International Business, Political Science.
Growing about average. Steady; global shipping keeps growing.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Electronic certificates and document AI are automating registrations, so fewer junior clerks will be needed.
Classes: Government, World history, Business.
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.