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Merchant Marine Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

T-Solutions, Inc.

Port Engineer

Norfolk, VA · On-site

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Marine Third Assistant Engineer (unlimited) or higher with a ... USN or USCG Officer (03 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) with ...

T-Solutions, Inc.

Port Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Marine Third Assistant Engineer (unlimited) or higher with a ... USN or USCG Officer (03 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) with ...

T-Solutions, Inc.

Port Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Marine Third Assistant Engineer (unlimited) or higher with a ... USN or USCG Officer (03 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) with ...

T-Solutions, Inc.

Port Engineer

Norfolk, VA

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Marine Third Assistant Engineer (unlimited) or higher with a ... USN or USCG Officer (03 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) with ...

T-Solutions, Inc.

Port Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Marine Third Assistant Engineer (unlimited) or higher with a ... USN or USCG Officer (03 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) with ...

T-Solutions, Inc.

Port Engineer

San Diego, CA · On-site

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Marine Third Assistant Engineer (unlimited) or higher with a ... USN or USCG Officer (03 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) with ...

T-Solutions, Inc.

Port Engineer

San Diego, CA

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Marine Third Assistant Engineer (unlimited) or higher with a ... USN or USCG Officer (03 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) with ...

T-Solutions, Inc.

Port Engineer

Norfolk, VA · On-site

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Marine Third Assistant Engineer (unlimited) or higher with a ... USN or USCG Officer (03 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) with ...

T-Solutions, Inc.

Port Engineer

San Diego, CA

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Marine Third Assistant Engineer (unlimited) or higher with a ... USN or USCG Officer (03 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) with ...

T-Solutions, Inc.

Port Engineer

Norfolk, VA · On-site

U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Merchant Marine Third Assistant Engineer (unlimited) or higher with a ... USN or USCG Officer (03 or higher), Limited Duty Officer (LDO) or Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) with ...

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Merchant Marine Officer information

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$20.5K

$63.6K

$108.5K

How much do merchant marine officer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for merchant marine officer in the United States is $63,572.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $47,000.00 and $73,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Merchant Marine Officer?

A Merchant Marine Officer is a licensed professional who oversees the operation and navigation of commercial vessels, such as cargo ships, tankers, and passenger ships. They ensure the safe and efficient transport of goods and passengers across domestic and international waters. Duties vary by rank but typically include navigation, cargo management, ship maintenance, and crew supervision. Officers must meet U.S. Coast Guard licensing requirements and often attend maritime academies for training. The job involves extensive time at sea and requires strong leadership and problem-solving skills.

What skills and qualifications are needed to be a Merchant Marine Officer?

To thrive as a Merchant Marine Officer, you need expertise in navigation, maritime operations, and vessel management, typically gained through a maritime academy degree and U.S. Coast Guard licensing. Familiarity with navigational systems (like ECDIS and GPS), radar, and safety equipment, along with valid STCW certifications, is critical. Strong leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities set exceptional officers apart. These skills ensure safe and efficient vessel operations, effective crew management, and compliance with maritime regulations.

What does a typical work schedule look like for a Merchant Marine Officer?

A Merchant Marine Officer’s schedule often involves working in shifts, commonly called watches, which can range from 4 to 8 hours on duty followed by a similar amount of rest. You may spend several weeks or months at sea before returning home for an extended break. The work is highly structured, with clear roles and responsibilities shared among officers and crew, and requires adaptability to changing weather, routes, and operational needs. While at sea, Merchant Marine Officers live aboard the vessel, collaborating closely with engineers, deckhands, and other officers to ensure the safe and efficient functioning of the ship.

How do you become a merchant marine officer?

To become a merchant marine officer, you typically need to complete a maritime academy or obtain a relevant degree, gain sea time through training programs, and earn necessary certifications such as the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW). Licensing from the Coast Guard or relevant maritime authority is also required to operate as an officer onboard commercial vessels.

How much do merchant marine officers make?

Merchant marine officers typically earn between $70,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, rank, and the type of vessel. Salaries increase with certifications, such as STCW, and extended periods at sea often include additional compensation and benefits.
More about Merchant Marine Officer jobs

What cities are hiring for Merchant Marine Officer jobs?

Cities with the most Merchant Marine Officer job openings:

What states have the most Merchant Marine Officer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Merchant Marine Officer jobs include:

What are popular job titles related to Merchant Marine Officer jobs?

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Merchant Marine Officer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Merchant Marine Officer job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 91% Full Time, and 8% Part Time. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $63,572 per year, or $30.6 per hour.

Vessel Traffic Management Specialist

Port Arthur, TX • On-site

US Department of Homeland Security
Public Administration • 10K+ employees
Learn more about US Department of Homeland Securityexternal

$74K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 12 days ago

U.S. Department Of Homeland Security rating

7.8

Company rating: 7.8 out of 10

Based on 86 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

This vacancy is for a GS - 2150 - 11, Vessel Traffic Management Specialist located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, USCG MARINE SAFETY UNIT PORT ARTHUR in PORT ARTHUR, Texas and Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur, Texas.Qualifications:

Basic Requirements: This position has a positive Education Requirement in addition to at least one year of Specialized Experience or substitution of education for experience or combination (if applicable) in order to be found minimally qualified. Transcripts must be submitted with your application package. You MUST meet the following requirements:
EDUCATION:

Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study - accounting, business administration, business or commercial law, commerce, economics, engineering, finance, industrial management, statistics, traffic management, transportation, motor mechanics, nautical science, marine affairs, marine engineering, marine transportation, or other fields related to the position. For Marine Transportation Specialist positions, education obtained in a Federal, State, or other accredited Merchant Marine Academy is qualifying.

or

EXPERIENCE:

General Experience (for GS-5 positions): For positions in this series other than Marine Transportation, experience that provided a general knowledge and understanding of traffic or transportation programs or operations. For Marine Transportation positions, experience must have been related to determining the terms and conditions for shipping cargo, coordinating storage, scheduling and shipment of goods and ship logistic requirements, such as berths, bunkers, crane service, and computing costs for cargo shipment.

Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5):
  1. Planning, directing, and supervising cargo or bulk petroleum movements such as:
    • Embarkation and debarkation, cargo loading and discharge.
    • Formulating marine transportation itineraries and routings according to commercial cost factors and tariffs.
    • Formulating marine transportation traffic plans for personnel and cargo.
    • Scheduling ships.
    • Developing, analyzing, or evaluating cargo lift capabilities.
    • Preparing statistics for planning operations of ships, or formulating budgetary estimates of cargo transportation costs.
    • Serving as a licensed merchant marine deck or engine officer or naval deck or engine officer.

    or

  2. Ship chartering negotiation or administration, such as:
    • Chartering commercial ships and space.
    • Reviewing and approving ship operating and damage expenses and marine insurance premiums.
    • Investigating ocean carrier claims for ship damage.
    • Reviewing and recommending action on cargo shortage and damage claims.
    • Analyzing and applying appropriate precedents and regulations.
    • Establishing rates with commercial carriers for special cargoes according to market conditions.
    • Analyzing statements of ship operating costs, and preparing estimates to adjust rates or determine the most economical method of transportation.

AND (in addition to the above requirement)
To qualify at the GS-11 grade level, your resume must demonstrate at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-09 grade level in the federal sector. Specialized experience is experience that has equipped you with the ability, skill, and knowledge to successfully perform the duties of this position and is typically in or related to this line of work. Examples of specialized experience include performing the following types of tasks on a regular basis.

  • Working in a maritime transportation operations center applying Federal, State, and municipal regulations governing vessel movement and port safety
  • Independently gather and analyze navigation and traffic data to assess risk, determine safe routing, and support operational decisions
  • Interpret and apply directives and policies to develop and disseminate real-time safety guidance to participating vessels
  • Coordinate traffic management actions with supervisory personnel and partner agencies to ensure compliance and maintain efficient vessel flow
NOTE: All experience statements (i.e., duties, specialized experience, or related applicable assessment) copied from this announcement and pasted into your resume will not be considered as a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.
NOTE: Education cannot be substituted for experience at this grade level.
National Service Experience (i.e., volunteer experience): Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.Education:This position does not have a positive education requirement. If you are including education on your resume, report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. See Required Documents section for detail.
Are you qualifying based on education? Submit a copy of your college transcript (unofficial is acceptable) from an accredited institution. Once selected & prior to appointment, applicants must provide an official college transcript. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the U.S. (see FOREIGN EDUCATION below).
College Transcript: If this position requires specific educational course work to qualify, or you are qualifying based in whole or part on education, you are required to provide all unofficial transcripts (undergraduate, graduate, etc.) by the closing date of this announcement or you will be disqualified from further consideration. Transcripts should be legible and detailed, showing course number and department (i.e., bio 101, math 210, etc.), course title, number of credit hours, and grade earned. If course content cannot be easily identified from the title of the course as listed on your transcript, you must submit an official course description from the college/university that reflects the content at the time the course was taken.
FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. To receive this credit, you must submit evidence of equivalency as provided by a credentialling evaluation service. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications click here
Only experience and education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.Employment Type: OTHER

What U.S. Department Of Homeland Security employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom

U.S. Department of Homeland Security logo

About U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a federal agency operating within the government services industry in Washington, DC, US. Established in 2003, the DHS is directly responsible for public security, roughly comparable to the interior or home ministries of other countries. Its main responsibilities include protecting the United States from and responding to terrorist attacks, man-made accidents, and natural disasters. Through its more than 20 component agencies including Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, it ensures the safety of the US through numerous programs and initiatives. The DHS upholds a core value system with the mission of safeguarding the American people, our homeland, and values. Notably, the DHS plays a critical role in the spectral range of activities to prepare, prevent, and respond to possible threats to the US.

Industry

Public administration

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Washington, DC, US

Year founded

2003

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