Deck Cadet Jobs

Deck Cadet jobs are open across commercial shipping, cruise lines, offshore energy, and inland waterway transport, from entry-level trainee roles to cadet officer positions, with specializations in navigation, cargo operations, and vessel safety. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

Find Deck Cadet Jobs

Overview

Open roles13
Top stateMissouri
Top employerDollar General
Top cityCadet, MO
Work type100% On-site
Top industryGovernment

Showing 5 of 13+ Deck Cadet jobs

Program Administrator, Cadet Aviation
We won't show you this job again
Added 6d ago
Program Administrator, Cadet Aviation
Civil Air Patrol
Montgomery, Alabama
Healthcare Administration
Patient Services & Wellbeing
Social Work & Counseling
$52k - $65k/yr
High school diploma or GED

Have you applied for this role?

TPWD - Game Warden/State Park Police Trainee (Cadet)
We won't show you this job again
Added 1w ago
TPWD - Game Warden/State Park Police Trainee (Cadet)
Texas Water Development Board
Hamilton, Texas
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
Learning & Development
Recruiting & Talent Acquisition
Bachelor's degree
201-500

Have you applied for this role?

Cadet Program Manager
We won't show you this job again
Added 2w ago
Cadet Program Manager
City of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Project & Program Management
Human Resources
Corporate Training & Learning Development
Project Management
$76k - $95k/yr
On-Site
Bachelor's

Have you applied for this role?

Cadet Program Manager - PPD
We won't show you this job again
Added 2w ago
Cadet Program Manager - PPD
City of Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
$76k - $95k/yr
Bachelor's degree in public administration

Have you applied for this role?

Cadet Recruiter - De Pere, WI
We won't show you this job again
Added 3w ago
Cadet Recruiter - De Pere, WI
WEL Companies
De Pere, Wisconsin
Business Operations
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
Recruiting & Talent Acquisition
Associate's degree in logistics
501-1,000

Have you applied for this role?

See All 13 Deck Cadet Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Deck Cadet Jobs

Deck Cadet Job Market

Who's Hiring

Dollar General3 open roles
PINAL COUNTY2 open roles
Fort Worth Independent School District2 open roles

Top Industries Hiring

  • Government & Public Sector

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in deck cadet jobs.

  • STCW Basic Safety Training certification from an accredited maritime institution
  • Enrollment in or completion of an accredited maritime academy cadet program
  • Valid Merchant Mariner Credential or proof of active application with the USCG
  • Proficiency in COLREGS Rules of the Road and basic chart navigation
  • Documented sea service hours aboard commercial or training vessels
  • Physical fitness standards meeting USCG or company-specified medical requirements

Tips for Your Deck Cadet Job Search

List your STCW certifications prominently

Hiring managers for deck cadet roles scan for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping credentials before reading anything else. Put your STCW Basic Safety Training modules at the top of your resume, not buried in an appendix.

Tailor your sea service record

Your discharge book or sea service letters are your proof of sea time. Format them by vessel type, gross tonnage, and trade area so recruiters can confirm you meet the flag state's minimum watchkeeping hours at a glance.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists deck cadet openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your endorsements and vessel experience and apply directly to each listing.

Target postings by vessel type

Filter openings by vessel category, tanker, bulker, container, or passenger, because each uses different cargo systems and watchkeeping procedures. Applying to roles that match your onboard experience shortens the vetting process significantly.

Prepare for practical seamanship questions

Deck cadet interviews often include scenario questions on COLREGS Rule of the Road, chart plotting, and emergency muster procedures. Review your navigation fundamentals and be ready to walk through a watchkeeping handover from memory.

Negotiate your joining date, not just your wage

Vessel rotations and port schedules are fixed well in advance, so your joining date is often the most flexible term in an offer. Confirm the rotation cycle, relief schedule, and home time before accepting so the contract fits your life.

Deck Cadet Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most deck cadets?

The most active employers for deck cadets right now are Dollar General, PINAL COUNTY, and Fort Worth Independent School District, and the most openings are in Missouri, Texas, and Arizona, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Shipping companies, cruise operators, and offshore service firms account for the bulk of active postings.

How many deck cadet jobs are remote?

About 0% of deck cadet openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, vessel-based nature of the role. Shore-side training coordination, maritime academy administration, and cadet program management roles are the sub-areas most likely to offer any remote flexibility.

How do you become a deck cadet?

You enroll in a U.S. Coast Guard-approved maritime academy or cadet training program, complete your STCW Basic Safety Training, and accumulate the required sea service hours aboard a training or commercial vessel. After graduation you apply for a Merchant Mariner Credential with the appropriate officer endorsement and begin your watchkeeping career at the deck officer level.

Can you get a deck cadet job with no prior sea experience?

Yes, most entry-level deck cadet positions are designed for candidates still in or just out of a maritime academy, so employers expect limited sea time. What matters most is your STCW certification, your enrollment or graduation status, strong academic performance in navigation and seamanship subjects, and any time spent on training voyages or cadet shipping pools.

What does the deck cadet interview process look like?

Most employers start with a credentials review to confirm your STCW certificates and sea service record, followed by a technical interview covering COLREGS, basic watchkeeping procedures, and emergency response protocols. Some operators add a medical fitness assessment and a practical chart or simulator exercise before extending an offer and assigning a vessel rotation.

Where can I find and apply to deck cadet jobs?

You can find and apply to deck cadet jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your certifications and vessel experience, then apply directly to each one that fits.

See All 13 Deck Cadet Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Deck Cadet Jobs