09. Ship CaptainShip captain (Photo Credit — Wikipedia)
Average salary: $64,180
Top 10% salary: $99,690+
Job description — Ship captains command water vessels. This can range from small fishing boats, to tugboats or ferry boats, to private yachts, and even large cruise ships or military vessels. Ship captains must navigate their ship and manage crew members to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the ship.
Experience and training: Ship captains almost always start off as deck hands or officers before being promoted to captain. Deck hands often have at least a bachelor’s degree in marine transportation, where they learn about seamanship, navigation, and maritime business. Ship captains also undergo an apprenticeship under another ship captain, and must also obtain Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) and Transportation Worker Identification Certification (TWIC) from the United States Coast Guard.
Job prospects (New positions expected in 2010-2020): 16,700