Shipwright

About this occupation

Shipwrights build and repair small type of water vessels from pleasure craft to naval vessels. They prepare preliminary sketches and create templates. They use hand and power tools to construct smaller boat themselves or supervise a team of shipbuilders. They also construct cradles and slipways for the ship’s construction, transportation, launching and slipping. Depending on the vessels, they might work with different materials such as metal, wood, fibreglass, aluminium etc.

• Replace defective parts of machine, or adjust clearances and alignment of moving parts.
• Align machines or equipment, using hoists, jacks, hand tools, squares, rules, micrometers, lasers, or plumb bobs.
• Insert shims, adjust tension on nuts and bolts, or position parts, using hand tools and measuring instruments, to set specified clearances between moving and stationary parts.
• Signal crane operator to lower basic assembly units to bedplate, and align unit to centerline.
• Conduct preventative maintenance and repair, and lubricate machines and equipment.
• Assemble and install equipment, using hand tools and power tools.

Typical education (US)

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Preparation

Job Zone 2 of 5

Interests

Realistic, Conventional, Investigative

Top skills: Installation, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Critical Thinking, Operations Monitoring, Repairing

US median pay: US$65,700 a year (2025), 40,330 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

Subjects this work relies on

How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).

• MetalworkO*NET: MechanicalExtremely important (4.8)
• Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (4.4)
• WoodworkO*NET: Building and ConstructionVery important (4.2)
• English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageImportant (3.4)
• Design and TechnologyO*NET: Design + Engineering and TechnologyImportant (3.4)
• Technical DrawingO*NET: DesignImportant (3.3)
• PhysicsO*NET: PhysicsImportant (3.2)
• Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.1)

O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.

Preparation needed

Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed

Most common education (US)

High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)

Education

Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience

Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Training

Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training.

O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.