TransportationCompare

Ship Captain

O*NET: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels·53-5021.00

The Verdict:Ship captains command vessels across unpredictable oceans, making split-second judgments on weather, currents, and hazards no current system can match. Physical docking, inspections, and crew direction demand human presence on deck amid real-world variability. Legal requirements for licensed human accountability remain absolute. Fully autonomous ocean ships are far from viable.

Resilience Score

/100

Highly Resilient

Score tiers

Highly Resilient81–100

Resilient61–80

Moderate Risk41–60

High Risk21–40

Critical Risk0–20

How is this scored?

Task Resilience

How much of this role's daily work remains beyond AI and robotic automation.

30% of score

Physical Presence

The degree to which this job needs a human present — hands-on, in the field, or in the room.

20% of score

Human Necessity

How important the unique human edge is — for trust, accountability, or judgment.

15% of score

Regulatory Shield

How strong the legal requirement is for a human in this job (by law, licensing, or credentials).

13% of score

Technological Maturity

How far AI remains from performing this role's core functions.

10% of score

Displacement Evidence

The volume of jobs in this field being eliminated by AI or automation right now.

12% of score

Score last updated: March 2026Full methodology

Avg Salary

Median annual wage from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 release.

$86k

Job Growth (10yr)

Projected change in total number of jobs (not salary) from 2024–2034. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections.

+0.5%

AI Exposure

Percentage of this role's analyzed tasks that AI can handle autonomously or nearly so. 2 of 30 tasks are classified as AI-exposed.

Low exposure

Task Analysis

This role's core work is hard to automate.
20 of 30 tasks require human judgment, presence, or trust. The 27% that are AI-leverage offer an edge — professionals who learn these tools will outperform those who don't.

2exposed

8AI leverage

20human-essential

View all 30 tasks

AI Can Handle This2 tasks

Tasks AI can do autonomously or nearly so

Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, or cargo or passenger status.

Purchase supplies or equipment.

AI Leverage8 tasks

Master these tools — humans who do outperform those who don't

Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.

Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.

Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.

Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.

Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures.

Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.

Learn to operate new technology systems and procedures through instruction, simulators, or models.

Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired.

Human Advantage20 tasks

Tasks requiring trust, presence, or novel judgment

Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.

Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.

Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.

Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.

Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.

Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.

Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.

Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations.

Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.

Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.

Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries.

Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers.

Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.

Direct or coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading or unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, or operating, maintaining, or repairing ship equipment.

Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.

Tow and maneuver barges or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations.

Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports or harbors or patrolling beaches.

Assign watches or living quarters to crew members.

Interview and hire crew members.

Conduct safety drills such as man overboard or fire drills.

Resilience Landscape

Ship Captain lands in Stable & Well-Paid

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