Also called: Inland Waterways Pilot, Tugboat Captain (Inland)
Steers towboats pushing huge strings of barges up and down rivers like the Mississippi.
From a wheelhouse high above the water, the pilot maneuvers a 'tow' of up to 40 barges, longer than three football fields, around river bends, under bridges, and into locks. Shifts are usually 6 hours on, 6 off, living aboard for 2-4 weeks at a time.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 4 years after high school. Usually no college: start as a deckhand, earn sea time, and test for USCG Master of Towing Vessels and route endorsements over about 4-8 years.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Apprenticeship, Certification. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Maritime Technology (community college), Marine Transportation.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years).
Low risk for 10 years. Electronic charts and sensors help, but steering 40-barge tows through bends, locks and floods stays a skilled human job.
Classes: Physics, Earth science, Driver's ed.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-5021.
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