Navy Marine Mammal Program Trainer: Trains dolphins and sea lions for the U.S. Navy, which uses them to find underwater mines and protect harbors. Typical pay $55k.
Navy Special Warfare Boat Operator (SWCC): Drives high-speed boats that insert and extract Navy SEALs and conduct special operations on rivers and coasts. Typical pay $60k.
International Ice Patrol Analyst: Coast Guard member who tracks icebergs in the North Atlantic shipping lanes, a mission started after the Titanic sank. Typical pay $62k.
Starter: fastest way in
Coast Guard Boatswain's Mate: Enlisted sailor who drives small boats and handles deck work on Coast Guard cutters. Typical pay $52k.
Navy Sonar Technician: Listens to the ocean with sonar to track submarines, ships, and whales. Typical pay $50k.
Navy Culinary Specialist: Plans menus and cooks meals for hundreds of sailors in ship galleys and on Navy bases, managing food supplies, with a few chosen to cook for admirals or the White House. Typical pay $47k.
Navy Aerographer's Mate: Forecasts weather and ocean conditions for Navy ships, aircraft, and submarines. Typical pay $50k.
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Crew: Maintains the buoys, lighthouses, and markers that guide ships safely through waterways. Typical pay $45k.
Coast Guard Operations Specialist: Coordinates Coast Guard search-and-rescue missions from command centers, planning searches and sending boats and helicopters. Typical pay $50k.
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.