Also called: VTS Watchstander, Marine Traffic Controller
The 'air traffic controller' of a busy harbor, tracking every ship by radar and radio.
VTS operators watch screens showing every vessel in a harbor like New York or Houston, warn ships about conflicts, and coordinate traffic through narrow channels. Most are Coast Guard members or civilian specialists.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 2 years after high school. Coast Guard enlistment or a maritime background plus Coast Guard VTS training.
Ways in: Military, 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Marine Transportation, Maritime Studies.
Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years).
Medium risk for 10 years. Automated tracking and conflict alerts handle more routine traffic; humans still make calls in close situations.
Classes: Earth science, Geography, Algebra II.
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.