How to hire a ship worker

How to hire a ship worker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step ship worker hiring guide:

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

What does a ship worker do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your ship worker job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a ship worker for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A ship worker's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, ship workers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents ship worker salaries for various positions.

   Type of Ship Worker	Description	Hourly rate
   Ship Worker	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.	$9-20
   Mate	A Mate is the seafaring captain's assistant in charge of the ship's welfare and crew on board. The Chief Mate is responsible for leading the team... Show more	$10-31
   Generator Worker	A Generator Worker is in charge of operating generator systems on a daily basis, ensuring efficiency and smooth workflow. Their responsibilities include performing installations and adjustments, understanding blueprints and schematics, and performing regular maintenance checks to ensure efficiency... Show more	$12-19

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Orders
   • Safety Procedures
   • Crisis Intervention
   • Community Resources
   • Customer Service
   • CPR
   • Aided Design
   • Windows
   • Groceries
   • Food Preparation
   • Assembly Line
   • Pallet Jack
   • HVAC
   • Mowing

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Stack ice cream bricks and tubs onto pallets in freezer by hand and move into position by electric pallet jack.
   • General maintenance such as but not limit to HVAC maintenance/repair, electrical maintenance/repair, minor plumbing maintenance/repair.
   • Work the dryers in which the linen are dried in.
   • Used FIFO system to see what need to be pick first.
   • Collect payment in cash, credit and debit using POS systems.
   • build carts, run the wash and robot, unload and load trucks ,

   More ship worker duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your ship worker job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A ship worker salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, ship workers' average salary in texas is 39% less than in vermont.
   • Seniority. Entry-level ship workers earn 55% less than senior-level ship workers.
   • Certifications. A ship worker with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a ship worker's salary.

   Average ship worker salary

   $13.74hourly

   $28,576 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level ship worker salary

   $19,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 26, 2025

   Average ship worker salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Maryland	$32,416	$16
   2	Maine	$32,087	$15
   3	New Jersey	$31,939	$15
   4	Rhode Island	$31,505	$15
   5	Pennsylvania	$30,774	$15
   6	California	$30,705	$15
   7	Illinois	$30,214	$15
   8	New York	$29,650	$14
   9	Washington	$29,561	$14
   10	Massachusetts	$28,901	$14
   11	Minnesota	$27,948	$13
   12	Indiana	$27,456	$13
   13	Delaware	$27,357	$13
   14	Arizona	$27,307	$13
   15	Colorado	$26,347	$13
   16	Virginia	$26,127	$13
   17	Oklahoma	$25,644	$12
   18	Utah	$25,356	$12
   19	Georgia	$25,335	$12
   20	Louisiana	$25,232	$12

   Average ship worker salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Katerra	$53,577	$25.76	4
   2	Columbia University in the City of New York	$50,787	$24.42
   3	PSEG	$48,493	$23.31
   4	UC Merced	$45,202	$21.73
   5	University of California-Berkeley	$44,653	$21.47
   6	Armstrong International	$43,705	$21.01
   7	Prolifics	$41,511	$19.96
   8	UC Santa Barbara	$41,346	$19.88
   9	University of California	$41,140	$19.78	62
   10	Bunge	$41,109	$19.76	2
   11	National Grid plc	$40,394	$19.42
   12	Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs	$40,266	$19.36
   13	FedEx	$39,907	$19.19	2
   14	Shipt	$39,322	$18.90
   15	Cargill	$38,919	$18.71	2
   16	DATTCO	$38,851	$18.68
   17	PPL	$38,369	$18.45
   18	University of Washington	$37,852	$18.20	16
   19	Kirby	$37,488	$18.02
   20	Harvard University	$37,342	$17.95

4. Writing a ship worker job description

   A ship worker job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a ship worker job description:

   Ship worker job description example

   **Position is in the Operating room as an orderly at Tucson Surgery Center 2121 N Craycroft Rd. Bldg. 8, Tucson AZ. Monday through Friday. No weekends or holidays.**
   
   Cleans and maintains buildings/facilities. May be expected to make basic repairs. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. Works under immediate supervision. Primary job functions do not typically require exercising independent judgment. Typically reports to a supervisor/manager. High school diploma or equivalent with at least 2 years previous experience required. Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field.
   
   _Northwest Healthcare is a multi-faceted network dedicated to providing safe, quality care at each of our locations. With three (soon to be four) hospitals, two freestanding emergency centers, three urgent care locations and a large physician practice including primary care and a variety of specialists, Northwest Healthcare offers you a wide range of settings in which to work. Common among them all is not only the commitment to providing safe patient care, but to employee satisfaction and growth. It is a culture of teamwork, respect and appreciation for all employees-whether caring for patients directly or working in a support role. NWHC is accredited by The Joint Commission and is an equal opportunity employer: race, gender, disability and Veteran status, and VEVRAA Federal Contractor - priority referral Protected Veterans requested._
   **Qualifications**
   
   **Education**
   
   **Required**
   
   + High School or better
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
   
   The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find ship workers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any ship workers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level ship workers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit ship workers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 ship worker

   Once you've found the ship worker candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new ship worker. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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