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What is a tug boat engineer and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a tug boat engineer. For example, did you know that they make an average of $32.01 an hour? That's $66,580 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 500 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreTug Boat EngineerUS Average
Salary
5.2

Avg. Salary $66,580

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.9

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.72%

Asian 3.95%

Black or African American 12.71%

Hispanic or Latino 9.97%

Unknown 9.45%

White 62.20%

Gender

female 4.00%

male 96.00%

Age - 31
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 31
Stress level
6.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
3.1

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a tug boat engineer

  1. Explore tug boat engineer education requirements

    Most common tug boat engineer degrees

    High School Diploma

    36.4 %

    Associate

    27.3 %

    Bachelor's

    18.2 %
  2. Complete relevant tug boat engineer training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New tug boat engineers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a tug boat engineer based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real tug boat engineer resumes.
  3. Research tug boat engineer duties and responsibilities

    • Repair and maintain air compressors, electrical systems, plumbing, HVAC systems, etc.
    • Assist in handling, hook-up and securing of discharge lines and dredge anchors.
    • Operate, maintain and repair ship equipment such as winches, cranes, lines, wires, etc.
    • Pull and guide nets, traps and lines onto vessel, by hand and using hoisting equipment.
  4. Apply for tug boat engineer jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a tug boat engineer job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first tug boat engineer job

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Average tug boat engineer salary

The average tug boat engineer salary in the United States is $66,580 per year or $32 per hour. Tug boat engineer salaries range between $30,000 and $146,000 per year.

Average tug boat engineer salary
$66,580 Yearly
$32.01 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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