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Marine Transport Professionals

Marine Transport Professionals control and manage the operations of ships, boats and marine equipment.

Transport & logisticsLicensed workANZSCO 2312
$3,365/wkMedian full-time pay
11kPeople employed
+12% ▲Growth to 2035
87%Work full time
49Median age
Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 2312.More about our sources: How we check our facts

What they do

The main tasks of this occupation, from the national occupation standard.

directing fishing operations by using knowledge about the species sought, fishing areas, seasons and the capabilities of the vessel and crewdirecting crew in catching fish, molluscs and crustacea at varying depths using nets, lines, poles, pots and trapsplanning, controlling and coordinating the operational and maintenance requirements of a ship's propulsion and domestic plant and equipmentoperating plant and equipment and performing routine maintenance on ship's systems including mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, steam generating, and fire prevention and control systemscontrolling and directing shipping operations to ensure the safe and efficient loading and transport of cargo and passengersensuring compliance with regulations pertaining to safety at sea and protection of the marine environment
Source: JSA occupation profileTask list from the Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profile for ANZSCO 2312 (ANZSCO task statements).More about our sources: How we check our facts

The outlook

Room for 1,300 more people in marine transport professionals by 2035 ▲

The field grew 1% in the year to February 2026, adding about 100 workers. Most of the jobs are in QLD and NSW, with WA third.

Source: JSA · ABS, 2025-26ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 2312.More about our sources: How we check our facts
10.5k2025
11.1k2030 PROJ.
11.8k2035 PROJ.

Getting in

Most marine transport professionals came through a certificate or diploma. 55% did.

A university degree is rare here: 21% hold one. The trade qualification is the standard way in. These are the nationally recognised courses mapped to this occupation, with the number of registered training providers that offer each one.

Source: JSA · training.gov.auEducation split: JSA (Jobs and Skills Australia) occupation profile, using ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Census data, ANZSCO 2312. Qualification mapping and provider counts: training.gov.au, the national register of vocational education, October 2026. Listed providers are current registered training providers (private providers and TAFE institutes).More about our sources: How we check our facts

Nationally recognised training · most offered first

MAR20324Certificate II

Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal)

Maritime Training Package · licensed work.

See 33 providers
MAR30924Certificate III

Certificate III in Maritime Operations

Maritime Training Package · licensed work.

See 22 providers
MAR30824Certificate III

Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 Near Coastal)

Maritime Training Package · licensed work.

See 21 providers

Licensed work: several of these courses lead to work that also needs a state or territory licence. Training is the first step; licensing rules are set by each state.

See all 11 mapped courses
MAR20324Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Coxswain Grade 1 Near Coastal) · 33 providers
MAR30924Certificate III in Maritime Operations · 22 providers
MAR30824Certificate III in Maritime Operations (Marine Engine Driver Grade 2 Near Coastal) · 21 providers
MAR20424Certificate II in Maritime Operations (Marine Engine Driver Grade 3 Near Coastal) · 17 providers
MAR40324Certificate IV in Maritime Operations (Master up to 45 metres Near Coastal) · 10 providers
MAR40224Certificate IV in Maritime Operations (Marine Engine Driver Grade 1 Near Coastal) · 8 providers
MAR50120Diploma of Marine Engineering · 4 providers
MAR50320Diploma of Maritime Operations · 4 providers
MAR60120Advanced Diploma of Marine Engineering (Class 1) · 3 providers
MAR60220Advanced Diploma of Maritime Operations (Master Unlimited) · 2 providers
MAR31225Certificate III in Autonomous Maritime Systems · 0 providers

Providers are shown in A-Z order on each course page. A listing is not a recommendation.

Jobs open right now

11k Australians do this work. See who is hiring this month.

Search job ads by state

Each link opens seek.com.au in a new tab, showing ads posted in the last month. SEEK is a job site; we link there because that is where most Australian jobs are advertised. We have no commercial relationship with SEEK.

Source: ABS · JSA, 2025-26State chart shows people employed, not current job ads. ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) Labour Force via Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA), February 2026; ABS Employee Earnings and Hours May 2025; JSA Employment Projections, May 2025 base. ANZSCO 2312.More about our sources: How we check our facts

People employed by state, 2025-26

QLD2.6k
NSW2.4k
WA1.7k
VIC1.6k
SA0.8k
TAS0.6k
NT0.2k
ACT0.2k