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Shipyard Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

LEAD Staffing

Shipyard Carpenter

National City, CA

$26/hr

Shipyard Carpenter Location: San Diego, CA (On-site / Shipyard Operations) Shift: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Shift options available (Full-Time) Compensation: $26.00/hour Position Summary We are seeking an ...

Lead Staffing

Shipyard Carpenter

National City, CA

$26/hr

Shipyard Carpenter Location: San Diego, CA (On-site / Shipyard Operations) Shift: 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Shift options available (Full-Time) Compensation: $26.00/hour Position Summary We are seeking an ...

LEAD Staffing

Shipyard Area Manager

National City, CA

$67K - $90K/yr

San Diego, CA (Shipyard) Position Type: Full-Time / Direct Placement & Extended Contract Options Pay Range: Competitive Salary (DOE) + Benefits Package Shift: 1st Shift (Flexibility required for ...

Lead Staffing

Shipyard Area Manager

National City, CA

$67K - $90K/yr

San Diego, CA (Shipyard) Position Type: Full-Time / Direct Placement & Extended Contract Options Pay Range: Competitive Salary (DOE) + Benefits Package Shift: 1st Shift (Flexibility required for ...

Trade Team

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Riggers Shipyard

San Diego, CA · On-site

$22 - $32/hr

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Shipyard information

See California salary details

$18

$25

$40

How much do shipyard jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 27, 2026, the average hourly pay for shipyard in California is $25.54, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.83 and $27.50 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a shipyard?

Shipyards are specialized facilities where ships are constructed, repaired, and maintained. These industrial sites are equipped with docks, cranes, and machinery necessary to build everything from small boats to large commercial vessels and military ships. Shipyards play a crucial role in the maritime industry by ensuring that vessels are seaworthy and safe for operation. Workers in shipyards can include engineers, welders, electricians, and other skilled tradespeople. Shipyards are often located near waterways to facilitate easy launching and retrieval of ships.

What are the qualifications to work in a shipyard?

The qualifications to work in a shipyard vary depending on the type of work you do. Jobs are largely related to the maintenance, repair, and building of ships. Marine surveyors are often engineers who have an extensive background in some aspect of nautical design, such as mechanical, electrical, or civil engineers, as well as naval architects. Welding and fabrication workers need to have a high school diploma and advanced training, either through job experience or a formal apprenticeship. The same is true for other skilled laborers like plumbers and electricians. In addition to these qualifications, you need to have technical skills, strong verbal communication, and the ability to maintain a safe work environment.

What are some typical challenges faced when working in a shipyard environment?

Working in a shipyard can present unique challenges, such as exposure to outdoor elements, strict safety protocols, and coordination among multiple trades like welders, electricians, and engineers. Employees often need to adapt to variable schedules, including early mornings or overtime to meet project deadlines. Effective communication and teamwork are essential, as projects require close collaboration to ensure vessels are built or repaired efficiently and safely. Those who embrace these challenges often find strong opportunities for skill development and career advancement within the maritime industry.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in a shipyard role, and why are they important?

To thrive in a shipyard role, you need a solid understanding of ship construction and repair, technical drawing interpretation, and safety protocols, often supported by vocational training or relevant certifications. Familiarity with welding equipment, power tools, and shipyard management systems is commonly required. Strong teamwork, attention to detail, and effective communication are critical soft skills in this environment. These abilities are essential for maintaining safety, ensuring quality workmanship, and meeting project deadlines in the demanding shipbuilding industry.

What is the difference between Shipyard vs Marine Welder?

AspectShipyardMarine Welder
CertificationsWelding certifications, OSHA safety trainingWelding certifications, marine-specific safety training
Work EnvironmentShipbuilding yards, docks, industrial settingsShip hulls, underwater repairs, marine vessels
Industry UsageShipbuilding, repair, and maintenanceMarine vessel construction, repair, and welding

Shipyard workers and marine welders both operate in shipbuilding environments and require welding certifications. However, marine welders often specialize in underwater welding and marine-specific safety protocols, whereas shipyard workers may focus more broadly on assembly and construction of ships. Both roles are essential in the maritime industry, with overlapping skills but distinct specializations.

How do you get a job at the shipyard?

To get a job at a shipyard, applicants typically need relevant skills such as welding, carpentry, or mechanical work, and often require a high school diploma or equivalent. Many positions require safety training and certifications like OSHA, and applying through the company's employment portal or local labor unions is common practice.
More about Shipyard jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Shipyard jobs in California?

The most popular types of Shipyard jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Shipyard jobs?

Cities in California with the most Shipyard job openings:

Shipyard jobs near you
Infographic showing various Shipyard job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 89% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $53,129 per year, or $25.5 per hour.

Hiring Firewatch for Shipyard

San Diego, CA

Labor One Staffing
Recruiting and Staffing Services • 201 - 500 employees
Learn more about Labor One Staffingexternal

Full-time

Re-posted 28 days ago

Job description

Labor One is hiring Firewatch for a shipyard in San Diego, California.

Please contact our team for more information!
Cell: (619)657-5507 or (858)717-1672
• Please send us a text if we don't answer*
Walk-ins Accepted! Apply today!
1625 Hoover Avenue National City, CA 91950
Office Hours: 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Job Summary
• Observes for sparks and flames during welding and works as a laborer to assist trades; sweeps, hoses and performs tasks related to clean up on-board ship, in drydock, on piers and throughout the shipyard.
• Performs other related tasks as assigned, some of which may become essential to the position.
Qualification Standards
• High school graduate or GED with prior experience preferred.
• Ability to read and write (in English) and understand verbal instructions required.
• Requires observation skills, ability to respond quickly, housekeeping skills, good judgement and on-going safety awareness.
• Must be able to access and move around ship safely, work at heights and in confined areas with limited visibility.
• Must be clean shaven for respirator fit (modest mustache is fine).
Essential Job Tasks
• Assists in setting up equipment, including helping the welder running leads, hoses, operation of air an electric power tools; moves metal pieces for re-fitting; removes scrap from work area.
• Moves fire bottle to areas of work; observes for sparks from welding and grinding;extinguishes fire when necessary.
• Maintains a clean, hazard-free work area.
• Sorts, inspects and stacks lumber and metal scaffold components.
Materials, Tools Equipment, Work Aids
Fire retardant material, hoses, leads, cleaning equipment and supplies, lights, fire bottle. Metal, wood, scaffold sub-section, bolts, clips, hand tools, cable lines and rope lines.
Physical/Mental Involvement
Lifting/carrying of objects weighing up to 50 lbs.; standing, walking, climbing/balancing, pushing/pulling, kneeling, crawling, stooping, crouching, reaching, handling, fingering, eye/hand/foot coordination, seeing, hearing and speaking. Understanding written and verbal directions, recognizing and avoiding potential safety hazards, following established procedures.
Marginal Job Tasks
None identified.
Environmental Factors
Works 50% of the time inside, 50% outside, on board ship, drydock, balanced on scaffolding in shipyard. Exposed to wind, heat, constant wet and humid conditions, vibrations; works near constantly moving machinery, mechanical parts and traffic from other trades. Exposed to fumes, odors, dust, toxic or caustic chemicals. Exposed to constant loud machinery noise.
Labor One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.

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About Labor One Staffing

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Labor One specializes in matching skilled craft laborers with marine and industrial services needs throughout Texas, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina, Virginia and California. We ensure our clients receive the right candidates they need, while providing reliable work to our wide network of talent. At Labor One, our mission is to create partnerships between clients and staff within the marine and industrial services fields in order to create greater productivity and satisfaction for both. By utilizing a unique recruitment process, our mission is to create a wide network of vetted and qualified talent from which we can draw in order to create these mutually beneficial relationships. We envision, and are implementing, staffing solutions that deliver skilled, timely, and affordable labor to our clients. We also envision, and are implementing, a recruitment process that prepares job candidates for placement in jobs where their skills and training are useful, valued, and rewarded.

Industry

Recruiting and staffing services

Company size

201 - 500 Employees

Headquarters location

Brownsville, TX, US

Social media

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