How to hire a deckhand

How to hire a deckhand, step by step

Here's a step-by-step deckhand hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a deckhand job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new deckhand
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a deckhand do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The deckhand hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a deckhand to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a deckhand that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of deckhand salaries for various roles:

   Type of Deckhand	Description	Hourly rate
   Deckhand	Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. The vessels travel to and from foreign ports across the ocean and to domestic ports along the coasts, across the Great Lakes, and along the country’s many inland waterways.	$10-69
   Cadet	A cadet is responsible for assisting police officers on their duties to keep the peace and order within the society. Cadets undergo training programs covering police officer disciplines and law enforcement procedures... Show more	$12-30
   Bosun	A bosun is responsible for monitoring the deck crew operations, delegating tasks, and inspecting the ship's equipment and facilities to ensure the safety and security of the premises. Bosuns must have excellent technical and mechanical skills to manage the deck's conditions, analyzing weather inconsistencies and geographical positioning... Show more	$10-58

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • TWIC
   • Vessel Maintenance
   • Mooring Lines
   • Ladders
   • Customer Service
   • USCG
   • Safety Procedures
   • Passenger Safety
   • Safety Equipment
   • Boats
   • Maintenance Tasks
   • CPR
   • General Upkeep
   • Safety Drills

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Conduct daily JSA's, occasionally lead weekly fire and boat drills.
   • Spearhead cross-functional initiative to achieve successful whole shipments of wild Alaskan salmofrozen and gut.
   • Qualify shipboard firefighting and water survival, certify CPR human resources.
   • Maintain working order of multiple boats including water taxis, ferries, yachts, and passenger vessels.
   • Comply with all environmental and CFR regulations.
   • Sign DOI and go over pretransfer procedures.

   More deckhand duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your deckhand job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A deckhand salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a deckhand in Wyoming may be lower than in New Jersey, and an entry-level deckhand usually earns less than a senior-level deckhand. Additionally, a deckhand with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average deckhand salary

   $56,163yearly

   $27.00 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level deckhand salary

   $21,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 18, 2026

   Average deckhand salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Jersey	$84,028	$40
   2	Massachusetts	$71,307	$34
   3	Virginia	$66,789	$32
   4	Pennsylvania	$64,153	$31
   5	Illinois	$61,243	$29
   6	Texas	$50,166	$24
   7	California	$48,966	$24
   8	Louisiana	$47,283	$23
   9	Alabama	$45,871	$22
   10	Kentucky	$44,956	$22
   11	Alaska	$42,587	$20
   12	Indiana	$41,872	$20
   13	Florida	$40,311	$19
   14	Tennessee	$38,678	$19
   15	Missouri	$35,707	$17
   16	Washington	$30,699	$15

   Average deckhand salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Enterprise Products Partners	$105,274	$50.61
   2	Goldbelt Falcon	$104,885	$50.43
   3	Martin Midstream GP	$102,375	$49.22	2
   4	GPAC	$91,370	$43.93
   5	Tetra Tech	$76,131	$36.60
   6	Foss & Co	$59,124	$28.43
   7	Weeks Marine	$55,655	$26.76
   8	EPCO Holdings, Inc.	$54,498	$26.20
   9	SLS	$53,752	$25.84
   10	Lehigh Hanson	$52,776	$25.37
   11	TG Gallagher	$51,751	$24.88
   12	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$51,453	$24.74
   13	Global Diving & Salvage	$50,350	$24.21	1
   14	Associated Terminals	$50,130	$24.10
   15	Savage	$49,927	$24.00	2
   16	ADM	$48,508	$23.32	8
   17	Great Lakes Dredge & Dock	$46,803	$22.50	1
   18	Canal Barge	$46,523	$22.37
   19	Vulcan Materials	$46,120	$22.17	2
   20	American Commercial Lines	$45,250	$21.75	5

4. Writing a deckhand job description

   A good deckhand job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a deckhand job description:

   Deckhand job description example

   About You
   You have a strong work ethic, are reliable and consider yourself a go-getter. You enjoy working outside with your hands while performing a wide variety of daily tasks. You manage your time wisely and feel accomplished after a hard day's work. You like a challenge and can always be counted on to exercise sound judgement on and off the jobsite.
   
   Position SnapshotDeck Hands at US Ecology provide support at company sites by performing routine vessel operations.
   
   Day in the Life
   While no two days are the same, you can typically expect to:
   Meet with Supervisor to discuss daily work plan(s) Don appropriate safety gear Ensure all deck space is kept clear and clean to maintain a safe work zone Handle equipment as instructed by the captain and/or senior officer(s) Act as a point of contact to our customer if the Master is unable to answer the radio or phone Perform marine technician work, industrial maintenance and potentially spill response Perform other duties as assigned Must be able to communicate well in both verbal and written word and be proficient in the use of the computer in all aspects of communication Be prepared to travel to other fleet vessels to fill-in or occasionally support operations as needed for vessel deployments and shipyard periods
   
   What you need to apply
   High School Diploma or GED equivalent preferred Individual preferred to have experience and skills in vessel maintenance Years of service on commercial vessels Ability to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Valid driver's license Willingness to work extended hours or shift work, weekend hours and on-call hours Ability to pass pre-employment background checks and drug screening Be physically able to wear personal protective equipment when necessary
   
   For your hard work
   Opportunity for professional growth Employer paid certifications and training100% employer paid medical for you Paid Time OffCash Recognition ProgramsFind out more at www.usecology.com
   
   US Ecology is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status, among other factors.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right deckhand for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with deckhands they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit deckhands who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your deckhand job on Zippia to find and recruit deckhand candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting deckhands requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new deckhand

   Once you have selected a candidate for the deckhand position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new deckhand. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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How much does it cost to hire a deckhand?