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Vessel Traffic Service Operator Jobs (NOW HIRING)

D&S MARINE SERVICE LLC

Wheelman

Gray, LA · On-site

Based in South Louisiana, D&S Marine Service is a family owned and operated inland marine ... Uses radio communication and vision to navigate waterways, docks, locks, and other vessel traffic.

PRWT Services, Inc.

Bridge Operator

Newport News, VA · On-site

$18/hr

Facilities, Inc., a consolidated building maintenance services company, is seeking a Bridge ... Ensures that motor vehicle traffic and vessel traffic are properly controlled when opening and ...

Pacer Group

Equipment Service Operator

Rochester, NY · On-site

$20/hr

Equipment Service Operator Location: Rochester, NY 14626 Duration: 12 Months Shift: B Shift (2:30 ... Vessels in the clean marshaling area with a vessel card are considered clean unless otherwise ...

Turn Services

Captain- Port Arthur, TX

Port Arthur, TX · On-site

Maintain radio watch as required and utilize radio communication and visual navigation to safely maneuver waterways, docks, locks, and other vessel traffic. * Represent Turn Services professionally ...

BUFFALO MARINE SERVICE INC

Wheelman

Houston, TX

Navigate vessel safely by properly operating navigational controls, propulsion, engines, gears ... Consider many conditions, including weather, vessel and waterway characteristics, traffic, and the ...

City of Caldwell (ID)

Service Operator II

Caldwell, ID

$23.55 - $26.59/hr

... traffic, and related hazards. Responsibilities Installs, tests, and calibrates water meters of ... Provides training and guidance to Field Service Operator 1 staff. Operates and maintains AMR/AMI ...

BUFFALO MARINE SERVICE INC

Wheelman

Houston, TX · On-site

Navigate vessel safely by properly operating navigational controls, propulsion, engines, gears ... Consider many conditions, including weather, vessel and waterway characteristics, traffic, and the ...

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Vessel Traffic Service Operator information

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How much do vessel traffic service operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for vessel traffic service operator in the United States is $19.45, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $22.12 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What jobs pay 2000 a day?

Vessel Traffic Service Operators typically do not earn $2000 a day; their salaries are generally lower and depend on experience and location. High-paying jobs that can reach this level include specialized roles such as senior executives, certain medical specialists, or high-level consultants, but these are not related to vessel traffic control. Most jobs paying $2000 daily require advanced skills, certifications, or significant experience in their respective fields.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Vessel Traffic Service Operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Vessel Traffic Service Operator, you need strong situational awareness, maritime knowledge, and typically a background in marine operations or coast guard training. Familiarity with radar, VHF radio communication, AIS systems, and specialized vessel traffic management software is essential. Excellent communication, decision-making, and stress management skills help operators coordinate safely and efficiently with vessels and emergency services. These competencies are critical to ensuring the safe and orderly movement of maritime traffic, preventing accidents, and protecting marine environments.

What are Vessel Traffic Service Operators?

Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) Operators are maritime professionals responsible for monitoring and managing the movement of ships within designated waters, such as harbors, ports, and coastal areas. They use radar, radio communications, and computer systems to ensure safe navigation, prevent collisions, and coordinate vessel traffic. VTS Operators provide vital information and instructions to ship captains, respond to emergencies, and help enforce maritime regulations. Their role is essential for maintaining the safety and efficiency of busy waterways.

What is the highest paid job on a ship?

The highest paid jobs on a ship are typically senior officers such as the captain or master, who oversee all vessel operations and safety. These roles require extensive experience, certifications, and leadership skills, and they often command the highest salaries among crew members. Salaries vary based on vessel size, company, and region but captains generally earn the most on a ship.

What are some common challenges faced by Vessel Traffic Service Operators and how are they typically addressed?

Vessel Traffic Service Operators often face challenges such as managing high volumes of maritime traffic, responding to emergencies, and maintaining clear communication with vessels of various nationalities and languages. These challenges are typically addressed through rigorous training, adherence to standardized protocols, and the use of advanced radar and communication technologies. Operators also work closely with port authorities, pilots, and emergency response teams to ensure the safety and efficiency of vessel movements within their jurisdiction.

What is the difference between Vessel Traffic Service Operator vs Marine Radio Operator?

AspectVessel Traffic Service OperatorMarine Radio Operator
Required CertificationsVTS certification, maritime safety trainingMarine radio license, communication certifications
Work EnvironmentControl centers, port areas, maritime traffic zonesShip decks, radio stations, maritime communication hubs
Employer & Industry UsagePorts, maritime authorities, coast guardShipping companies, maritime communication providers
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The main difference is that Vessel Traffic Service Operators manage and monitor maritime traffic within designated areas, ensuring safety and efficiency, while Marine Radio Operators handle communication via radio on ships or at ports. Both roles require maritime communication skills, but VTS Operators focus more on traffic coordination and safety management.

What is a vessel traffic service operator?

A vessel traffic service (VTS) operator monitors and manages ship movements within designated waterways to ensure safety and efficiency. They use radar, radio communication, and surveillance tools to coordinate vessel traffic, often working in control centers with specific certifications and knowledge of maritime regulations.

How to get a job on a vessel?

To work on a vessel, candidates typically need relevant maritime certifications such as STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping), relevant experience, and sometimes a maritime license depending on the role. Applying through maritime employment agencies, completing necessary training, and gaining experience in maritime operations can improve chances of securing a vessel job.
More about Vessel Traffic Service Operator jobs
What cities are hiring for Vessel Traffic Service Operator jobs? Cities with the most Vessel Traffic Service Operator job openings:
What states have the most Vessel Traffic Service Operator jobs? States with the most job openings for Vessel Traffic Service Operator jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Vessel Traffic Service Operator jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Vessel Traffic Service Operator jobs are:
Vessel Traffic Service Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Vessel Traffic Service Operator job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $40,463 per year, or $19.5 per hour.
Vessel Traffic Control Specialist

Vessel Traffic Control Specialist

U.S. Coast Guard

San Francisco, CA • On-site, Remote

$93K - $121K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

Summary
This vacancy is for a GS - 2150 - 11, Vessel Traffic Control Specialist located in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Coast Guard, SECTOR SAN FRANCISCO WATERWAYS MANAGEMENT DIVISION in SAN FRANCISCO, California.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
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You will serve as a Vessel Traffic Control Specialist and be responsible for directing vessel traffic management services and responsible for promoting the safe and efficient movement of maritime traffic in assigned geographic area.
Being a Coast Guard civilian makes you a valuable member of the Coast Guard team. Typical work assignments include:
  • Monitoring, informing, advising and directing the movement of vessel traffic in the assigned sector.
  • Gathering, analyzing and disseminating nautical data and navigational safety information.
  • Coordinating advisory information between participating and non-participating vessels and small craft, many of which may be involved in activities such as regattas, fishing or other marine events.
  • Providing radar tracking or other sensor information in support of other Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, law enforcement, and military missions.
  • Operating a variety of surveillance sensors, communications, and data processing equipment.
  • Participating in training exercises to prepare for maritime accidents or natural disasters.

Mandatory training is required which must be successfully completed and other training may occur as necessary for success in the position.
Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. Reasonable Accommodation Information
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
Do NOT include the following types of information in your resume:
  • Social Security Number (SSN)
  • Date of Birth (DOB)
  • Photos of yourself (if included on your resume you will not be considered for this position)
  • Personal information: such as age, gender, religious affiliation, etc.

Key Requirements:
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen.
  • Must be registered or exempt from the Selective Service. See www.sss.gov
  • A one-year probationary period may be required.
  • To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo and successfully pass a background investigation. This position requires a Secret clearance.
  • This is not a Bargaining Unit position.
  • Selectee must be able to obtain/maintain a valid state driver's license.
  • All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit.
  • This position requires the selectee to pass a pre-employment drug test.

The Office of Personnel management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule, C, Non-career SES or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Qualifications
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.
  • Promoting the safe and efficient movement of maritime traffic.
  • Ensuring that vessel traffic is properly informed, advised, or directed in order to reduce the probability of collisions, rammings, groundings, and environmental damage.
  • Monitoring the progress of vessels, and informing, advising, or directing vessel operators.
  • Employing computers and communications technology to provide critical information and guidance to a master, pilot, or the persons in charge of vessels or commercial maritime experience engaging with a VTS.

OR
Have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.
OR
A combination of specialized experience and graduate level education that meets 100% of the qualification requirements for this position.
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 can 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.
Additional information
E-Verify
DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
Fair Chance Act
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to sabrina.w.lee@uscg.mil.
Suitability Statement
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
Shared Certificates Statement
Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
Special Employment Consideration
The Department of Homeland Security encourages persons with disabilities to apply, to include persons with intellectual, severe physical or psychiatric disabilities, as defined by 5 CFR 213.3102(u), and or Disabled Veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30 percent or more as defined by 5 CFR 315.707. Veterans, Peace Corps, VISTA volunteers, and persons with disabilities possess a wealth of unique talents, experiences, and competencies that can be invaluable to the DHS mission. If you are a member of one of these groups, you may not have to compete with the public for federal jobs. To determine your eligibility for non-competitive appointment and to understand the required documentation, click on the links above or contact the servicing Human Resources Office listed at the bottom of this announcement.
Moving expenses will be paid in accordance with appropriate regulations.
If you are unable to apply online, please contact sabrina.w.lee@uscg.mil. Decisions on granting reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. Visit Reasonable Accommodation
More than 1 selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade, and unit occur within 45 days from the date the certificate was issued.
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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays.
Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select "Benefits." Disabled veteran leave will be available to any federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service- connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

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