Farming, Fishing & Forestry
Fishing and Hunting Workers
Also called: Commercial Fisherman, Commercial Fishing Vessel Operator, Deckhand, Fisherman
US median pay
—
not published
Job growth 2025–35
-4.2%
declining
Openings a year (US)
3,300
28,200 employed
Typical entry education
No formal educational credential
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
Hunt, trap, catch, or gather wild animals or aquatic animals and plants. May use nets, traps, or other equipment. May haul catch onto ship or other vessel.
What they do day to day
- Steer vessels and operate navigational instruments.
- Remove catches from fishing equipment and measure them to ensure compliance with legal size.
- Direct fishing or hunting operations, and supervise crew members.
- Interpret weather and vessel conditions to determine appropriate responses.
- Travel on foot, by vehicle, or by equipment such as boats, snowmobiles, helicopters, snowshoes, or skis to reach hunting areas.
- Select, bait, and set traps, and lay poison along trails, according to species, size, habits, and environs of birds or animals and reasons for trapping them.
- Maintain engines, fishing gear, and other on-board equipment and perform minor repairs.
- Connect accessories such as floats, weights, flags, lights, or markers to nets, lines, or traps.
- Wash decks, conveyors, knives, and other equipment, using brushes, detergents, and water.
- Harvest marine life for human or animal consumption, using diving or dredging equipment, traps, barges, rods, reels, or tackle.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Time Management2.9/5
- Instructing2.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.8/5
- Troubleshooting2.6/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.6/5
- Operations Monitoring2.6/5
Knowledge
- Geography3.5/5
- Mechanical3.4/5
- Law and Government3.3/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.3/5
- Biology3.3/5
- Sales and Marketing3.0/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): No formal educational credential.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Less than high school45%
- High school diploma30%
- Some college15%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.