Career fit quiz

Is Deckhand the Right Career for You?

A quick, free 8-question quiz to see how well the deckhand career fits your personality, preferences and goals.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
How this quiz works

Rate how much you agree with each statement. The quiz compares your answers with the realities of the deckhand job and gives you an honest fit score in under two minutes. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.

Statement 1 of 8I love being on the water
Statement 2 of 8I can be away for weeks at a time
Statement 3 of 8I like hard physical work
Statement 4 of 8I work well in a small crew
Statement 5 of 8I want long breaks between hitches
Statement 6 of 8I’d like to become a captain someday
Statement 7 of 8I’m willing to spend about 1–4 weeks training for this career
Statement 8 of 8A typical salary around $51,520 a year would meet my needs

What this career really involves

Sailors and marine oilers, often called deckhands, handle lines, stand watch, load and secure cargo, maintain vessels and help operate tugboats, barges, ferries and ships.

  • Handle mooring lines and tie up vessels
  • Build and break barge tows
  • Stand lookout and security watches
  • Load, secure and check cargo
  • Clean, chip and paint the vessel

Read a full day in the life or see deckhand salary data.

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