As of June 2026, Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels has an AI-exposure score of 51/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
More exposed than 36% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$92,460. About 4,300 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Transportation roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
- Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, or cargo or passenger status.
- Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.
- Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.
- Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
- Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
- Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
- Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.
- Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations.
- Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
- Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.
- Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures.
- Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries.
- Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.
- Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.
- Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
- Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers.
- Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
- Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.
No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (65%).
Safer adjacent roles
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