Boat deckhand vs fishing vessel operator

The differences between boat deckhands and fishing vessel operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a boat deckhand and a fishing vessel operator. Additionally, a boat deckhand has an average salary of $35,090, which is higher than the $34,424 average annual salary of a fishing vessel operator.

Boat deckhand vs fishing vessel operator overview

	Boat Deckhand	Fishing Vessel Operator
Yearly salary	$35,090	$34,424
Hourly rate	$16.87	$16.55
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	674	26,391
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	2	2

Boat deckhand vs fishing vessel operator salary

Boat deckhands and fishing vessel operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Boat Deckhand	Fishing Vessel Operator
Average salary	$35,090	$34,424
Salary range	Between $21,000 And $58,000	Between $26,000 And $44,000
Highest paying City	Baton Rouge, LA	-
Highest paying state	New Jersey	-
Best paying company	David Evans and Associates	-
Best paying industry	Professional	-

Differences between boat deckhand and fishing vessel operator education

There are a few differences between a boat deckhand and a fishing vessel operator in terms of educational background:

	Boat Deckhand	Fishing Vessel Operator
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 52%	Bachelor's Degree, 75%
Most common major	Biology	Business
Most common college	-	-

Boat deckhand vs fishing vessel operator demographics

Here are the differences between boat deckhands' and fishing vessel operators' demographics:

	Boat Deckhand	Fishing Vessel Operator
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 87.6% Female, 12.4%	Male, 77.8% Female, 22.2%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.9% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 8.3% Asian, 5.9% White, 71.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 7.8%	Black or African American, 2.4% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 5.3% Asian, 4.4% White, 75.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 8.8%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between boat deckhand and fishing vessel operator duties and responsibilities

Boat deckhand example responsibilities.

Spearhead cross-functional initiative to achieve successful whole shipments of wild Alaskan salmofrozen and gut.
Spearhead cross-functional initiative to achieve successful whole shipments of wild Alaskan salmofrozen and gut.
Involve in client relations, navigation, hunter safety, boat maintenance and general operation of an Alaskan bush camp.

Fishing vessel operator example responsibilities.

Manage the master calendar and schedule resources such as communication equipment, weapons, transportation and ammunition forecast and delivery.
Monitor combat missions through satellite and computer global positioning systems in order to prepare accurate reports for unit commanders.
Identify business through analyzing results, sales plan and effectively utilize payroll hours

Boat deckhand vs fishing vessel operator skills

Common boat deckhand skills

Boats, 28%
Safety Drills, 27%
Unload Materials, 27%
Coast Guard Regulations, 9%
General Maintenance, 6%
Engine Room, 4%

Common fishing vessel operator skills

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Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Industry
Boat Deckhand
Boat Deckhand vs Fishing Vessel Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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