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Ship Operator Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Ship Cost Estimator (All Levels) Location: Washington Navy Yard, DC (On-site) Security Clearance ... Navy's Visibility and Management of Operating Costs (VAMOSC) databases and the Operating and ...

Operates conveying equipment, dust collectors, ship loader, monitor fire suppression systems and all associated equipment to load ships per operating plan and instructions. Work under direct or ...

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

Managing and operating ship's barber shops * Managing and operating ship's laundry and tailor shops * Managing and operating ship's retail services such as ship stores, coffee shops and video games

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Showing results 1-20

Ship Operator information

See Washington salary details

$13

$21

$26

How much do ship operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for ship operator in Washington is $21.22, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.04 and $22.60 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Ship Operator vs Deckhand?

AspectShip OperatorDeckhand
CertificationsSTCW certifications, maritime licensesSTCW certifications, basic safety training
Work EnvironmentOnboard ships, overseeing operationsOnboard ships, assisting with maintenance and cargo
Job ResponsibilitiesManaging ship operations, navigation, safety proceduresCleaning, cargo handling, maintenance tasks
Industry UsageShipping companies, maritime industryMaritime crews, shipping companies

While both Ship Operators and Deckhands work onboard ships, Ship Operators focus on managing ship operations, navigation, and safety, requiring advanced certifications. Deckhands perform hands-on tasks like cargo handling and maintenance, with more basic safety training. The roles differ mainly in responsibility level and scope, but both are essential in maritime operations.

Can I work on a ship as a ship operator with no experience?

Ship operators typically require relevant training and experience in navigation, safety procedures, and vessel operations. Entry-level positions may be available for those with a maritime education or certifications such as STCW, but prior experience is often preferred for more advanced roles.

How do you become a ship operator?

To become a ship operator, individuals typically need a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by relevant maritime training or certification such as a Merchant Mariner Credential. Gaining experience through entry-level positions and developing skills in navigation, safety procedures, and vessel operations are also important steps in the career path.
Infographic showing various Ship Operator job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 45% Full Time, 52% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,146 per year, or $21.2 per hour.

Ship Cost Estimator

Washington, DC โ€ข On-site

NSS
Recruiting and Staffing Servicesย โ€ขย 11 - 50 employees

Full-time

Posted 17 days ago


Job description

Job Title: Ship Cost Estimator (All Levels)
Location: Washington Navy Yard, DC (On-site)
Security Clearance: Active Secret OR Clearable (WILL SPONSOR)

Position Overview:
Join a premier defense consulting team at the forefront of naval readiness and strategic operations. We are seeking motivated Ship Cost Estimators across multiple experience tiers to provide critical programmatic support on-site at the historic Washington Navy Yard. In this role, you will collaborate with military leaders and technical experts to optimize acquisition strategies, manage sophisticated financial ecosystems, and deliver actionable data analysis. If you are a cleared professional ready to safeguard national security initiatives and drive operational excellence within the U.S. Navy's premier command systems, we want to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities:
• Perform independent cost estimation, parametric tradeoff studies, and lifecycle cost analysis for naval ships, submarines, and related ship systems.
• Assess program data, proposals, and operational requests to identify key cost drivers, financial risks, and optimization opportunities.
• Build, update, and manage sophisticated computational tools and spreadsheets to conduct highly structured Operations and Support (O&M) cost assessments.
• Collaborate with engineers, acquisition managers, and finance teams to develop program lifecycle cost estimates and budget baselines.
Required Qualifications:
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Finance, Math, Economics, Engineering, or Naval Architecture preferred.
• Security Clearance: Active Secret OR clearable (US Citizenship required).
• Technical Skills: Exceptional numerical proficiency, advanced spreadsheet modeling skills, and strong logical reasoning capabilities.
Experience & Career Tiering:
We are actively mapping candidates to the following corporate tiers based on experience:
• Associate Tier: Greater than 1 year (>1) of relevant professional experience assisting with cost tracking, data entry, or baseline financial analysis.
• Specialist Tier: Minimum of 4+ years of specialized experience in cost analysis or financial modeling.
Senior/Principal Tier: 10–15+ years of advanced experience. Candidates must demonstrate deep mastery of the U.S. Navy's Visibility and Management of Operating Costs (VAMOSC) databases and the Operating and Support Cost Analysis Model (OSCAM), with a proven record of leading complex lifecycle costing studies for surface or submarine programs.

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About NSS

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

NSS RPO was founded by Jessica Nicholson and Conor Nicholson in 2009. They saw the need for a nice services company that valued their employees by putting them first. With Jessicaโ€™s organizational skills and strategy along with Conorโ€™s network, the company employed 25 contract recruiters in less than a year and proceeded to make the Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in America, three years in a row. Since its inception, NSS RPO has hired hundreds of recruiters in over 30 states. NSS RPO is proud to include among its clients eight of the ten largest government contractors, the world's largest job board, entertainment company and one of the nationโ€™s largest banks. NSS RPO is your trusted provider of Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) solutions. Founded by an experienced recruiter and solely focused on RPO, NSS RPO offers a strong network of exceptional recruiters and customizable staffing solutions. Named to Washington Business Journalโ€™s prestigious list of Top 25 Staffing Agencies seven years in a row, NSS RPO is known for its quality, agility, and expertise. If you have a recruitment staffing need at your organization, NSS RPO can customize a solution for you, no matter how big or small.

Industry

Recruiting and staffing services

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Herndon, VA, US

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