Also called: Deck Foreman
The senior unlicensed sailor who leads the deck crew.
The bosun gets daily orders from the chief mate and turns them into action: chipping rust, painting, splicing mooring lines, rigging cranes, and leading the crew when the ship ties up. It is a hands-on leadership job earned through years on deck.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 3 years after high school. No degree; rise from ordinary seaman to able seaman to bosun through sea time and union training.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Apprenticeship, Certification. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Seamanship (union training school).
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Rust chipping, rigging, mooring and leading the deck gang on a moving ship are hard to automate.
Classes: Physical education, Woodshop or welding CTE class, Leadership role on a team.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-5011.
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.