Also called: Ice Pilot, Ice Advisor, Ice Master
A veteran mariner hired to guide ships safely through sea ice in the Arctic, Alaska, and Antarctica.
The ice navigator stands on the bridge beside the captain, reading ice charts, radar and satellite images to find leads of open water. They decide when to push through thin ice and when to wait for the wind to open a path. Between watches they brief the crew on how ice can trap or crush a hull.
Often paid a day rate of roughly $900-1,500 while at sea.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Maritime academy degree plus many years as a deck officer, ideally with ice experience; ice navigation courses.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Marine Transportation, Nautical Science.
Growing about average. Tiny niche; Arctic shipping and polar cruises are slowly growing.
Low risk for 10 years. Satellite ice charts and route software help, but deciding where a hull can safely push through ice stays human.
Classes: Earth science, Physics, Geography.
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.