Also called: NRC Duty Officer, Spill Report Watchstander
Takes the nation's calls about oil spills, chemical releases and railroad accidents 24/7 and alerts the agencies that must respond.
At a Coast Guard-run center near Washington, watchstanders take reports from a trucker who spilled diesel, a refinery venting gas, or a train that derailed with chemicals. They log the details, figure out which federal and state agencies must know, and send alerts within minutes. Big events mean hours of nonstop calls.
Contractor or Coast Guard pay. Estimate.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 2 years after high school. High school plus military, dispatch or environmental experience; Coast Guard members and contractors staff it.
Ways in: Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Majors to look at: Environmental Science, Emergency Management, Homeland Security.
Growing about average. One national center (approx.).
Medium risk for 10 years. Online reporting forms grow; triaging urgent spills and alerting agencies stays human.
Classes: Chemistry, Geography.
Official data: O*NET occupation 43-5031.
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.