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Deck officer

Also called chief mate, first mate, ship deck officer

Deck officers or mates perform the watch duties on board of vessels like determining the course and speed, manoeuvring to avoid hazards, and continuously monitoring the vessels position using charts and navigational aids. They maintain logs and other records tracking the ship's movements. They ensure that the proper procedures and safety practices are followed, check that equipment is in good working order, and oversee the loading and discharging of cargo or passengers. They supervise crew members engaged in maintenance and the primary upkeep of the vessel.

Will there be jobs?Average prospects27 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Science and engineering associate professionalsWhat does it pay?About averageFrom about €1,600 (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Science and engineering associate professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually post-secondary or a short degree4 in 10 have a degree.Science and engineering associate professionalsWill AI change it?Very littleLevel 1 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Ships' deck officers and pilots · ILO

What you'd do

Ships' deck officers and pilots · ILO
  • Commanding and navigating ship or similar vessel at sea or on inland waterways
  • Controlling and participating in deck and bridge-watch activities
  • Navigating vessels into and out of ports and through channels, straits and other waters where special knowledge is required
  • Ensuring safe loading and unloading of cargo and observance of safety regulations and procedures by crew and passengers
  • Performing technical supervision of maintenance and repair of ship to ensure compliance with specifications and regulations
  • Applying knowledge of principles and practices relating to ship‚Äôs operation and navigation in order to identify and solve problems arising in the course of their work
  • Ordering ship‚Äôs stores and recruiting crew as required and maintaining record of operations
  • Transmitting and receiving routine and emergency information with shore stations and other ships
Ensure smooth on board operationsHandle stressful situations in the work placeWork in a water transport teamPlot shipping navigation routesStay up-to-date with maritime transportation technology+ 11 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Mostly outdoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Constant contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels"

Will there be jobs?

Average prospects

A typical number of jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as science and engineering associate professionals in the EU
7.4m7.3m7.49m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
142,000 new jobs 1,835,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Science and engineering associate professionals27
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of ships' deck officers and pilots, 4 a surplus.
Ships' deck officers and pilots · EURES

What does it pay?

About average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,600 a month (Bulgaria) to €6,500 (Denmark), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among technicians and associate professionals in the EU, women earn 16% less per hour than men. Technicians and associate professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually post-secondary or a short degree

Post-secondary training or a short degree in law is the usual route.

Highest qualification of science and engineering associate professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 41%Vocational 43%General secondary 7%Basic schooling 9%
Fields that teach it
Law · Occupational health and safety · Transport services
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Business and law graduates in a matching job
66% in the EU

1,314 institutions in the EU offer business and law bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Very little

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.29 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Transmitting and receiving routine and emergency information with shore stations and other ships0.54
Ordering ship’s stores and recruiting crew as required and maintaining record of operations0.32
Applying knowledge of principles and practices relating to ship’s operation and navigation in order to identify and solve problems arising in the course of their work0.29
Navigating vessels into and out of ports and through channels, straits and other waters where special knowledge is required0.27
Performing technical supervision of maintenance and repair of ship to ensure compliance with specifications and regulations0.25
Controlling and participating in deck and bridge-watch activities0.23
Commanding and navigating ship or similar vessel at sea or on inland waterways0.21
Ensuring safe loading and unloading of cargo and observance of safety regulations and procedures by crew and passengers0.19

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for ships' deck officers and pilots. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).