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River Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

American Cruise Lines

River Pilot

Petersburg, VA · On-site

River Pilot American Cruise Lines seeks experienced Nav Mate Pilots to lead our U.S. - flag fleet. American Cruise Lines cruise along inland and coastal waterways, including the East Coast, Alaska ...

American Cruise Lines

River Pilot

Norfolk, VA · On-site

River Pilot American Cruise Lines seeks experienced Nav Mate Pilots to lead our U.S. - flag fleet. American Cruise Lines cruise along inland and coastal waterways, including the East Coast, Alaska ...

American Cruise Lines

River Pilot

Norfolk, VA · On-site

River Pilot American Cruise Lines seeks experienced Nav Mate Pilots to lead our U.S. - flag fleet. American Cruise Lines cruise along inland and coastal waterways, including the East Coast, Alaska ...

American Cruise Lines

River Pilot

Portsmouth, VA · On-site

River Pilot American Cruise Lines seeks experienced Nav Mate Pilots to lead our U.S. - flag fleet. American Cruise Lines cruise along inland and coastal waterways, including the East Coast, Alaska ...

Red River

Red River Technology is actively seeking a dedicated and highly skilled Trainer to join our team in supporting a mission-critical program for the Navy. This is an exceptional opportunity to ...

Red River

Manager, Payroll

Chantilly, VA · On-site

Citizenship Required Red River offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits and an exceptional work environment. You can review our benefit offerings here. If you are ready to join a growing ...

Red River

Project Coordinator

Chantilly, VA · On-site

The Project Coordinator supports Red River's Professional Services Project Management Office by independently managing low-complexity customer projects while supporting operational workflows that ...

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River information

See Virginia salary details

$7

$19

$39

How much do river jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 30, 2026, the average hourly pay for river in Virginia is $19.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $13.61 and $19.76 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a river worker do?

River workers are professionals who manage, maintain, and monitor rivers to ensure their health, navigability, and safety. Their duties can include water quality testing, flood prevention, debris removal, wildlife conservation, and overseeing river traffic. They often work for government agencies, environmental organizations, or private companies, and may also be involved in educational or recreational activities related to rivers. The specific tasks of river workers can vary depending on their role, such as river rangers, maintenance crews, or environmental scientists.

What are the typical responsibilities of a river engineer and how do they collaborate with other professionals on waterway projects?

River Engineers are primarily responsible for designing, managing, and maintaining river systems to control flooding, prevent erosion, and support navigation. Their daily tasks often involve site assessments, hydrological modeling, and overseeing construction or restoration activities. Collaboration is key in this role—they frequently work alongside environmental scientists, civil engineers, government agencies, and local communities to ensure projects meet regulatory requirements and achieve sustainability goals. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as river engineering projects often impact diverse stakeholder groups.

What is the difference between River vs Waterway?

AspectRiverWaterway
DefinitionA natural flowing body of water that moves toward an ocean, sea, lake, or another river.A human-made or natural channel used for transportation or irrigation.
Work EnvironmentNatural outdoor settings, often in rural or wilderness areas.Can be in urban or rural areas, including canals, locks, and artificial channels.
Common UsageNavigation, ecological habitats, recreation.Transportation, irrigation, flood control.

While rivers are natural water bodies flowing through landscapes, waterways include both natural and artificial channels designed for navigation or water management. Understanding these differences helps in selecting the right career or project focus related to water management and environmental conservation.

What are the most commonly searched types of River jobs in Virginia?

The most popular types of River jobs in Virginia are:

What are popular job titles related to River jobs in Virginia?

For River jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching River jobs in Virginia look for?

The top searched job categories for River jobs in Virginia are:

River jobs near you
Infographic showing various River job openings in Virginia as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 2% As Needed, 75% Full Time, 16% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,635 per year, or $19.5 per hour.

River Pilot

Petersburg, VA • On-site

American Cruise Lines
Travel Arrangement Services • 201 - 500 employees
Learn more about American Cruise Linesexternal

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 22 days ago

Job description

River Pilot
American Cruise Lines seeks experienced Nav Mate Pilots to lead our U.S. - flag fleet. American Cruise Lines cruise along inland and coastal waterways, including the East Coast, Alaska, Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes, Columbia amp; Snake Rivers, Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers. American Cruise Lines modern vessels accommodate 100 to 200 guests designed for safe navigation and exceptional service.

Nav Mates are senior shipboard watch officers responsible for safe vessel operations, adherence to company and regulatory standards, and representing the company as a professional leader. American Cruise Lines Nav Mates are experienced mariners with firsthand piloting experience in challenging coastal and river waterways. Our Nav Mates are prudent decision-makers continually assessing potential risk weeks, days, and hours ahead of the vessel and crew. Our Nav Mates are meticulous professionals, in service to our guests and as examples to our crews.

Nav Mates enjoy comfortable onboard accommodations and chef prepared meals. American Cruise Lines operates our own bridge simulator, enabling rigorous recurrent training and development focused on critical decision-making and advanced piloting skills. American Cruise Lines recruits and retains the best professional mariners in the industry.
At American Cruise Lines, we are driven by our values—Optimism, Commitment, Patriotism, and Merit. These values shape our culture, our service, and our people, guiding us as we work together to Share America’s Story on the Finest American Ships.
Responsibilities:
  • Ensure safety and security of passengers, crew, and vessel.
  • Operate the vessel in compliance with company and regulatory standards.
  • Execute prudent maneuvering, docking, locking, and anchoring.
  • Conduct daily inspections of all vessel spaces.
  • Maintain logs, reports, and administrative records
  • Support hotel and culinary teams in delivering five-star guest service.
Work Schedule:
  • Typical March through November Cruise Season: 6 weeks on / 3 weeks off or 4 weeks on / 4 weeks off. Additional work periods may be possible during winter months aboard the few vessels operating or repositioning year-round.
  • This is a full-time, exempt position.
Qualifications:
  • U.S. Coast Guard Master’s license: minimum 100T, desired 1600T or greater.
  • Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
  • Experience on coastal and river waterways: min 2yrs, desired 5yrs with Z-drive experience.
  • Excellent communication skills and team-building skills.
  • Pre-employment drug test and continual participation in random testing.
  • Ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation.
Essential Functions:
  • Ships experience forces from wind, waves, and currents, prompting them to exhibit six distinct motions known as ship motions. The six motions are surge, sway, heave, roll, pitch, and yaw. This position requires the ability to live and satisfactorily perform job duties in an environment that is subject to constant motion.
  • Ability to work around 12 hours per day.
  • Ability to assist in the event of an on-board emergency by quickly climbing up a ladder, opening, and passing through a 20” diameter hatch.
  • Ability to stand for your entire shift.
  • Ability to frequently lift up to 20 lbs. and occasionally lift up to 50 lbs.
  • Ability to frequently bend, squat and reach.
  • Ability to live and work on board a vessel for extended periods of time.
  • Ability to use stairs frequently.
Compensation and Benefits:
  • Competitive daily rate.
  • Health, dental, vision, and 401(k) with match.
  • Access to advanced simulator-based training.
  • Covered Expenses: American Cruise Lines provides travel, room and board, uniforms, and training.
Applicant Acknowledgment
By proceeding to apply for the above position, I acknowledge that I have read and understand the description of the job position for which I am applying, I agree that it accurately reflects the essential functions of the position, and I represent that I can complete the essential functions of the position.
Equal Opportunity Employer
American Cruise Lines is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants. ‎American Cruise Lines bases all employment decisions on business needs, job requirements, and individual ‎qualifications without regard to protected characteristics, including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin and citizenship, age (40 and over), disability (including perceived disability), generic information, military service, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law. ‎This policy applies to all aspects of employment and employment decisions, including, but not limited to, ‎hiring, selection, job assignment, training, compensation, promotion, discipline, termination, and access ‎to benefits.‎
*Job sites across the nation.
**This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of the duties and responsibilities of the position and such duties and responsibilities may change without notice.

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