Home › Trades › Marine Transportation

Marine Transportation

2 schools compared · Average earnings $34,846/yr

What Marine Transportation Graduates Do

Your career in marine transportation puts you at the center of global commerce. On the bridge as a mate or pilot, you’ll use advanced electronic charts and radar to navigate massive vessels through open seas and into busy ports, overseeing crew and cargo operations. Alternatively, you could work as a ship engineer in the powerful heart of the vessel, maintaining and repairing the complex engines, pumps, and generators that keep everything running. For a more specialized, high-growth option, commercial diving takes you underwater for construction, inspection, and repair projects.

You'll likely begin as a deckhand or junior engineer, gaining the sea time required to advance. With experience and certifications, you’ll climb the ranks to mate or assistant engineer. This is hands-on work that requires your physical presence; it can’t be automated or done from a remote office. The path leads toward senior roles like Captain or Chief Engineer, where you command the entire vessel and can earn a six-figure income. With thousands of openings each year, demand for skilled mariners remains steady.

Schools Offering

Avg Grad Earnings

$34,846/yr

Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score

42/100

AI-Proof Rating

AI-Proof

82% of tasks AI-shielded

Apprenticeship Paths

View pathways ↓

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 2 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Marine Transportation. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship	Training Hours	Type	Salary RangeSalary	Growth
Officer In Charge Of Navig Watch RAPIDS 1104	3000 hrs ~1.5 yrs	Time	$61K – $85,540 – $125K	0.5%
Pilot, Ship RAPIDS 623	3000 hrs ~1.5 yrs	Time	$61K – $85,540 – $125K	0.5%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Marine Transportation

2 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

#	School	Score	EarningsEarn	ROI
1	Divers Institute of Technology Seattle, WA	47 46–48	$38,699/yr	—
2	Ocean Corporation Houston, TX	42 41–43	$30,992/yr	—

Highest Earning Marine Transportation Programs

Schools where Marine Transportation graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	Score
Divers Institute of Technology	$38,699/yr	47
Ocean Corporation	$30,992/yr	42

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Marine Transportation degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Marine Transportation graduates earn?

The median first-year salary across 2 Marine Transportation programs is $34,846. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($30,992) and highest ($38,699) earning programs is significant.

How safe is Marine Transportation from automation and AI?

Marine Transportation is rated "AI-Proof" for AI resilience — 82% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means the vast majority of career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.

Which school has the best Marine Transportation program?

Based on the TradeSchoolOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Divers Institute of Technology ranks #1 for Marine Transportation with a score of 47/100 and graduate earnings of $38,699/yr.

Is Marine Transportation worth it?

Without reliable aggregate tuition data, ROI varies too much to generalize. Check individual school pages for specific earnings-to-cost ratios.

Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, DOL RAPIDS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →