Quick Facts
Median Salary$39,943
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth-6.04%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
A Fisher or Fishing Worker catches, maintains, cultivates or harvests marine or freshwater fish and shellfish. May work for large commercial or private operations to catch and sell fish to local and/or international markets. Some are deckhands and boat operators for recreational charter fishing trips.
Core Tasks:
- 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.
- Maintain engines, fishing gear, and other on-board equipment and perform minor repairs.
- 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.
- Wash decks, conveyors, knives, and other equipment, using brushes, detergents, and water.
- Connect accessories such as floats, weights, flags, lights, or markers to nets, lines, or traps.
- Harvest marine life for human or animal consumption, using diving or dredging equipment, traps, barges, rods, reels, or tackle.
- Oversee the purchase of supplies, gear, and equipment.
- Load and unload vessel equipment and supplies, by hand or using hoisting equipment.
What to expect as a Fishers / Fishing Workers
1Earn a High school or GED Diploma
20% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Fishers / Fishing Workers related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
1010 openings for Fishers / Fishing Workers
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
The career progression is an interactive way to explore careers related to Fishers / Fishing Workers. Click on each career to see its associated salary, job availability, skills, and more.



