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Tugboat Jobs (NOW HIRING)

McMillen Inc.

Tugboat Captain

Little Rock, AR · On-site

Tugboat Captain McMillen, Inc. is seeking a Tugboat Captain for a project in Barling, AR. All Construction Division offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background ...

McMillen, Inc.

Tugboat Captain

Barling, AR

Tugboat Captain McMillen, Inc.is seeking a Tugboat Captain for a project in Barling, AR. All Construction Division offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background ...

McMillen, Inc.

Tugboat Captain

Little Rock, AR · On-site

Tugboat Captain McMillen, Inc. is seeking a Tugboat Captain for a project in Barling, AR. All Construction Division offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background ...

Webuildidaho

Tugboat Captain

Barling, AR

Tugboat Captain McMillen, Inc.is seeking a Tugboat Captain for a project in Barling, AR. All Construction Division offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background ...

New

McMillen, Inc.

Tugboat Captain

Barling, AR · On-site

Tugboat Captain McMillen, Inc. is seeking a Tugboat Captain for a project in Barling, AR. All Construction Division offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background ...

Next Gen Logistics

Tugboat Deckhand

New Orleans, LA · Remote

Tugboat Deckhand Your New Company: YOUR COMPASS TO SUCCESS At Next Generation Logistics Companies, we are committed to workplace safety. We are a trusted maritime transportation, construction and ...

McMillen, Inc.

Tugboat Captain

Barling, AR · On-site

Tugboat Captain McMillen, Inc. is seeking a Tugboat Captain for a project in Barling, AR. All Construction Division offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background ...

McMillen, Inc.

Tugboat Captain

Little Rock, AR · On-site

Tugboat Captain McMillen, Inc. is seeking a Tugboat Captain for a project in Barling, AR. All Construction Division offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background ...

Robbins Maritime Inc

Tugboat Captain

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$725/day

If you are a dedicated and an experienced Tugboat Captain looking to join a dynamic team, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application on our website using the following link ...

Next Gen Logistics

Tugboat Trip Pilot

New Orleans, LA · Remote

Tugboat Trip Pilot YOUR COMPASS TO SUCCESS Your New Company: At NGL Companies we are committed to workplace safety.We are a trusted maritime transportation, construction and logistics company ...

Robbins Maritime Inc

Tugboat Captain

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$725/day

If you are a dedicated and an experienced Tugboat Captain looking to join a dynamic team, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application on our website using the following link ...

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Tugboat information

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$19K

$104.2K

$181.5K

How much do tugboat jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 12, 2026, the average yearly pay for tugboat in the United States is $104,157.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,000.00 and $128,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Tugboat job?

A tugboat job involves operating or assisting in the operation of tugboats, which are small but powerful vessels used to maneuver larger ships in harbors, rivers, and other confined waters. Crew members may work as captains, deckhands, or engineers, ensuring safe navigation, towing, and docking operations. Responsibilities vary but often include maintaining the vessel, securing tow lines, and assisting with navigation. Tugboat jobs require physical fitness, maritime training, and certifications, depending on the role.

Is working on a tugboat worth it?

Working as a tugboat operator can be rewarding for those interested in maritime work, offering opportunities for hands-on navigation and vessel handling. The job often requires certifications such as a Merchant Mariner Credential and involves working in challenging environments with irregular hours. Compensation varies based on experience and location, but it can provide a stable career in the maritime industry.

What boat job pays the most?

The highest-paying boat jobs typically include offshore oil rig workers, marine captains, and specialized engineers, with salaries often exceeding $100,000 annually. These roles require advanced certifications, extensive experience, and often involve working in challenging environments such as deep-sea or industrial settings.

What qualifications do you need to work on a tugboat?

To work on a tugboat, individuals typically need a valid Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) issued by the Coast Guard, which requires relevant maritime experience, a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), and completion of safety training such as STCW courses. Additionally, positions often require a minimum age of 18 and physical fitness to handle demanding conditions at sea.

What does a typical day look like for a tugboat operator and what kinds of vessels or assignments might they encounter?

A typical day for a tugboat operator involves assisting ships in docking and undocking, towing barges or other vessels, and navigating busy harbors under various weather and sea conditions. You might operate in coastal ports, rivers, or busy shipping lanes, interacting closely with harbor pilots and other maritime professionals to coordinate safe maneuvers. Assignments can vary, from moving massive container ships to transporting materials along inland waterways, each with its own set of challenges and responsibilities. Tugboat operators often work in rotating shifts, including nights and weekends, and the work environment requires constant vigilance and quick decision-making. This dynamic role offers exposure to different types of vessels and situations, contributing to valuable experience and potential advancement into senior marine positions.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Tugboat position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Tugboat Operator, you generally need strong navigational skills, mechanical aptitude, and a valid merchant mariner credential such as a U.S. Coast Guard license. Experience with marine communication equipment, towing winches, and vessel maneuvering systems is essential. Attention to detail, teamwork, and adaptability are key soft skills, especially when working in changing weather or port conditions. These skills ensure operational safety, efficient vessel handling, and effective coordination with harbor and ship crews.

How do you get a job on a tugboat?

To get a job on a tugboat, candidates typically need to obtain relevant maritime certifications such as a Merchant Mariner Credential and a TWIC card, along with experience in maritime or related fields. Entry-level positions often require physical fitness, good communication skills, and the ability to work in challenging environments; some roles may also require completing maritime training programs or apprenticeships.
More about Tugboat jobs
What cities are hiring for Tugboat jobs? Cities with the most Tugboat job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Tugboat jobs? The most popular types of Tugboat jobs are:
What states have the most Tugboat jobs? States with the most job openings for Tugboat jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Tugboat jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Tugboat jobs are:
Tugboat jobs near you
Infographic showing various Tugboat job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, and 12% Part Time. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $104,157 per year, or $50.1 per hour.
Tugboat Captain

Tugboat Captain

McMillen Inc.

Little Rock, AR • On-site

Other

Posted 10 days ago

Job description


Design a career and build your future... Because it matters!

Tugboat Captain

McMillen, Inc. is seeking a Tugboat Captain for a project in Barling, AR. All Construction Division offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check and drug screen. In accordance with client requirements, security clearance is required and is determined based on background check results

Responsibilities: includes the following, other duties may be assigned.

  • Operates and provides maintenance and upkeep of the boat on which they are assigned
  • Operates and navigates boat to and from designated areas
  • Transports crew and materials when necessary
  • Maintains daily logs, ledgers, record books as necessary
  • Responsible for practicing safe work standards
  • Must be able to tolerate vibrations, heat, confined spaces, and high noise levels

Qualifications:

  • Pass a drug test and background check
  • Valid driver's license
  • Reliable transportation to and from work

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit, climb, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, crawl, kneel, bend, and reach with hands and arms above their shoulders. The employee must regularly lift and/or move 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.

Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stopping, and handling of materials.

Ability to work on feet and/or standing 8-10 hours each day, maintain balance while walking on 12-24" wide steel beams.

Ability to work in all-weather environments including heat, cold, dusty and dirty work.

Must have a sense of balance and understanding, how to work on the water out of a boat.

Who We Are: McMillen, Inc. (McMillen) is an engineering, environmental, and construction firm providing scalable, multi-disciplinary capabilities. We are a design and build firm providing clients with balanced perspective and realistic solutions. With experts in the United States, Canada, Australia, and France, our staff bring best practices from the water resources, energy, dams, infrastructure, fisheries, aquaculture, and restricted access markets.

We balance technical precision with collaborative delivery throughout all project phases. We have the resources and expertise to contribute to a project at the feasibility and planning stage, navigate the regulatory and permitting requirements, develop detailed designs, self-perform construction, and participate in startup, testing, and commissioning. We offer strategic planning, technical expertise, comprehensive project management, and integration of multi-disciplinary studies for traditional and alternative project delivery methods.

We want our employees to make a career doing what they love to do. We aren't looking for the complacent or the comfortable. We are looking for the highly technical, the creators, the manic obsessives, the outliers who know being the best is a journey, not a finish line. We support our employees' efforts to stay on the cutting edge of technology while fostering a great work-life balance.

EEO: McMillen, Inc. is an EEO/Affirmative Action Employer and will make all employment related decisions without race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Visa sponsorship, including renewal during employment, will not be provided for this position.

No recruiters, please.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled and veterans.
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