Also called: Drift Collection Vessel Operator, Debris Boat Deckhand
Crews special boats that scoop floating logs, pilings and trash out of busy harbors before they hit ships.
In New York Harbor and San Francisco Bay, Army Corps of Engineers drift boats patrol at dawn. Crews use cranes and nets to pull out tree trunks, old pier pilings and even refrigerators that could punch a hole in a ferry. After storms they work long days clearing debris.
Federal wage-grade pay with benefits.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0 years after high school. High school; deckhand experience and a mariner credential.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification. Training cost: Under $15k.
Growing about average. Very few crews nationwide; openings are rare.
Low risk for 10 years. Cameras may help spot debris, but hauling logs onto a boat in rough water stays human work.
Classes: Physical education, Shop class, Earth science.
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.