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Harbor Pilot Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Mate

Norfolk, VA · On-site

Captain Elliott Westall joined the McAllister family in 1997 after a distinguished 20-year career in the US Navy where he served primarily as Tug Captain and Harbor Pilot. Captain Westall was named ...

Captain Elliott Westall joined the McAllister family in 1997 after a distinguished 20-year career in the US Navy where he served primarily as Tug Captain and Harbor Pilot. Captain Westall was named ...

Captain Elliott Westall joined the McAllister family in 1997 after a distinguished 20-year career in the US Navy where he served primarily as Tug Captain and Harbor Pilot. Captain Westall was named ...

Captain Elliott Westall joined the McAllister family in 1997 after a distinguished 20-year career in the US Navy where he served primarily as Tug Captain and Harbor Pilot. Captain Westall was named ...

DevSecOps Engineer

Ashburn, VA · On-site

$125K - $150K/yr

... Harbor, Kubernetes, Terraform, and container orchestration platforms. * Leads continuous ... Pilots advanced security-as-code techniques such as policy-driven guardrails, automated risk ...

Establish pilot engagements and develop a clear path to multi-year program growth. * Validate ... Generous 401k match benefit up to 10%, with an automatic 3% safe harbor contribution and additional ...

New

Harbor Pilot information

See Virginia salary details

$49.1K

$129.8K

$199.3K

How much do harbor pilot jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 9, 2026, the average yearly pay for harbor pilot in Virginia is $129,793.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $99,100.00 and $153,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a harbor pilot do?

A typical day for a Harbor Pilot involves boarding large vessels as they approach or depart a port, frequently by pilot boat or sometimes by helicopter, and expertly navigating them through challenging harbor waters to their berth or safe exit. Pilots must coordinate closely with ship captains, tugboat crews, and harbor authorities to ensure every maneuver is safe and compliant with local regulations. Work schedules can vary, often including night shifts, weekends, and being on-call to respond to ships at any hour. The role requires constant focus and readiness, as every vessel and weather condition presents unique challenges.

What is a harbor pilot?

A Harbor Pilot is a highly trained maritime professional responsible for safely navigating ships into and out of ports, harbors, and restricted waterways. They have expert knowledge of local tides, currents, and hazards, ensuring vessels avoid accidents and comply with port regulations. Pilots board incoming ships, often via pilot boats or helicopters, and take temporary control to guide them safely to their berth. Their work is crucial for preventing collisions, protecting the environment, and maintaining efficient port operations.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a harbor pilot?

To thrive as a Harbor Pilot, you need expert knowledge of local waterways, advanced ship handling abilities, and a marine pilot license, often requiring years of seafaring experience and specialized examination. Familiarity with navigation systems, radar, communication equipment, and local port regulations is crucial. Exceptional situational awareness, decisiveness under pressure, and strong communication skills distinguish top performers in this field. These competencies ensure the safe and efficient guiding of vessels, protecting crews, cargo, and infrastructure within busy harbors.

What are popular job titles related to Harbor Pilot jobs in Virginia? For Harbor Pilot jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Harbor Pilot jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Harbor Pilot jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Harbor Pilot jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Harbor Pilot job openings:
Infographic showing various Harbor Pilot job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $129,793 per year, or $62.4 per hour.

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description


The Port of Hampton Roads, Va. is one of the largest ports on the East Coast, offering one of the principal coal exporting facilities in the world. A hub for international trade, over 75 international shipping lines call at Norfolk and the surrounding ports of Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News, Yorktown, and other outlying terminals. McAllister Towing of Virgina has been in the port of Hampton Roads for roughly 50 years, serving Yorktown, Piney Point, Hampton Roads, Norfolk, and the Chesapeake area with unsurpassed towing and general harbor assist work.
Captain Elliott Westall joined the McAllister family in 1997 after a distinguished 20-year career in the US Navy where he served primarily as Tug Captain and Harbor Pilot. Captain Westall was named Vice President and General Manager of McAllister of Virginia in 2007. Captain Westall and the entire team in Virginia continues to work earnestly and safely to promote McAllister's reputation as the leader of unsurpassed service in marine transportation.
McAllister Towing of Virginia is seeking highly qualified Mate to join our team. Duties and responsibilities are outlined below:
Mate:
Description/Job Summary:
The Mate is responsible for assisting the Master with safe and efficient operation of the Tug. The Mate safely manages all towing operations and deck evolutions. The Mate navigates the vessel and conducts docking/undocking evolutions. The Mate is the First Line Supervisor for members of the Deck Department. Additionally, the Mate assists the Master with maintaining the well-being of the crew.
Preferred Experience:
  • Several years as an Able-Bodied Seaman/Ordinary Seaman.

Required Qualifications:
  • Current GMDSS, ARPA, Advanced Firefighting, First Aid/CPR
  • Valid Merchant Mariners Credential - 200-ton Mate license
  • Mate or Master of Towing
  • Valid STCW, TWIC and Current USCG Medical Certificate
  • Tractor tug/Z drive experience
  • Must pass pre-employment drug test
  • Must pass pre-employment physical

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Mate 1600 Gross Tons Towing/Oceans
  • STCW

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer:
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity ("EEO") Employer.
It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of McAllister Towing not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, unemployment status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws.
This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination.