Resources
Students
Who Am I?
Not sure what you want to be when you grow up? Take a career interest
inventory to get started in the right direction.
Where can I start my career?
Shipyards offer you rewarding and challenging careers and are located throughout the United States. Click on the links below to find out what shipyards are located in your region of the country.
Great Lakes & Inland Waterways
How much can I earn?
Shipyards offer competitive wages. Your education and skill levels determine how much you make. Below are a few examples of what you can expect to earn working in today's shipyards:
Foremen and computer-aided draftsmen earn between $35,000 and $60,000
a year.
Skilled craftsmen such as welders, riggers, electricians, machinists, and
carpenters earn between $42,000 and $45,000 annually.
Naval architects and engineers make $51,000 to $95,000 each year.
Learn more about salaries and benefits by clicking on the links below:
Salaries and benefits by occupation
Salaries and benefits by occupation and region
Occupational Outlook Handbook 2008-09
Learn everything you wanted to know about an occupation
Visit the sites below to search for jobs where you live.
Career One Stop
Job search tools and additional resources
Job search tools and additional resources
can i move up once I start working at a shipyard?
The shipbuilding and repair industry offers a variety of career paths and opportunities for advancement. Whether you choose to work your way up the career ladder on the yard or to go to college to earn a degree, with the right technical and leadership skills and a good work ethic, there's no limit to where you can go!
Shipbuilding and Repair Career Paths
Where can I learn new skills?
While valued, a college education is not needed; most shipyards will train on-the-job through formal apprenticeship or other in-house training programs. However, many shipyards offer tuition assistance for employees who want to advance on the job by earning a formal degree.
Below are links to colleges offering programs related to shipbuilding and repair:
Alabama
Bishop State Community College
Louisiana
Mississippi
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Virginia
Washington
Skagit Valley Community College
If you're college bound, visit the sites below for other resources:
Resources for the college-bound student
Education and training finder
School finder
I know what I want to do, now what?
Resources to help you apply for and land the right job:
Resume and interview preparation
If you're interested in working in the shipbuilding and repair industry,
post your resume here.
Maritime Career Spotlight
Video Library Learn what others working in the industry are saying, watch a video about
apprenticeship, and get a feel for different jobs found in a shipyard.
Games and Other Downloads
Strike and Retrieve: Navy Training Exercise
Test your mental abilities in this challenging game