Also called: MSC Mariner, Federal Merchant Mariner
A civilian federal employee who crews Navy supply, hospital, and support ships.
Civil service mariners sail ships that refuel and resupply Navy warships at sea, sometimes passing fuel hoses between two moving ships. They work as cooks, deckhands, engineers, and officers, with federal benefits and travel worldwide.
Pay spans from entry ratings (~$45k) to licensed masters (~$150k+).
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 1 year after high school. Entry-level jobs need a Merchant Mariner Credential and basic safety training; officers need USCG licenses.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification, Military, 4-year college. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Marine Transportation, Marine Engineering.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Navy support ships stay crewed for security and underway replenishment; automation trims some routine tasks only.
Classes: Physical education, Food service or shop CTE class, Earth science.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-5021.
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.