Fishing and Hunting Workers
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.
From people doing the work
It's a demanding life, often solitary, battling the elements and relying on instinct and experience. Every day is a gamble, but the connection to nature and the thrill of the catch make it worthwhile.
Drawn from The Fishing Forum, HuntingNet Community, Years of experience
Attribution: Composite
Composite · Synthesised from The Fishing Forum, HuntingNet Community, Years of experience
A day in the life of Fishing and Hunting Workers
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- 65% Team / 35% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Extensive
- Schedule flexibility
- Rigid
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-50
- Stress level
- Moderate
Fishing and Hunting Workers salary, education and outlook at a glance
- Median salary
- $42,580
- Entry-level
- $32,000
- Senior
- $60,000
- Growth by 2033
- -4.6%
- Demand
- Declining
- Freelance potential
- Moderate
- Salary growth potential
- 88%
- Typical student debt
- Moderate
Skills you need as Fishing and Hunting Workers
Hard skills
- Geography
- Complex Problem Solving
- Mechanical
Soft skills
- Coordination
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Critical Thinking
Technical complexity: Low
Tools of the trade
Core tools
- Fishing Rod (Hardware): Used to catch fish individually or in small quantities.
- Fishing Net (Hardware): Used for catching large quantities of fish or other aquatic animals.
- Traps (Hardware): Used to capture animals or aquatic life for harvesting.
- Boat/Vessel (Hardware): Provides mobility and a platform for fishing and hunting activities on water.
Commonly used
- Harpoon (Hardware): Used for hunting large marine animals.
- GPS Device (Hardware): Used for navigation and marking productive fishing or hunting grounds.
- Sonar/Fish Finder (Hardware): Used to locate fish underwater and identify water depth and structure.
- Hunting Rifle (Hardware): Used for hunting land-based wild animals.
How to become Fishing and Hunting Workers
- Minimum education
- Less than High School
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 3-5
- Years to senior
- 10-15
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
- Deckhand: Individuals working on commercial fishing vessels often start as deckhands, gaining practical experience before becoming independent fishing workers.
- Farmworker: Farmworkers involved in aquaculture or animal husbandry may transition to fishing or hunting with relevant skills in animal care and harvesting.
- Outdoor Guide: Guides leading hunting or fishing expeditions possess similar skills in tracking, navigation, and wildlife knowledge.
Where you can go from here
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers: Experienced fishing and hunting workers can advance to supervisory roles, overseeing operations and managing teams.
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels: With further training and certification, fishing workers can become captains or mates, operating larger commercial vessels.
- Wildlife Biologist: A deep understanding of ecosystems and animal behavior gained from fishing and hunting can lead to careers in wildlife conservation and research.
- Commercial Diver: Skills in underwater work and marine environments can be transferred to commercial diving for various purposes, including salvage or construction.
Typical progression
- Fishing and Hunting Workers
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
- or Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals
Fishing and Hunting Workers job outlook and future demand
- Automation probability
- Moderate-High
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Declining
Job satisfaction as Fishing and Hunting Workers
- Overall satisfaction
- 6.5/10
- Meaning
- 7/10
- Work-life balance
- 5.5/10
- Prestige
- 4/10
- Social perception
- Low
Where practitioners gather
Professional organisations
- National Marine Fisheries Service: A government agency dedicated to the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat.
- Ducks Unlimited: A non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of wetlands and waterfowl.
Reddit communities
- r/Fishing: A subreddit for discussing all aspects of fishing, from freshwater to saltwater.
Online communities
- The Fishing Forum: An online forum for anglers to discuss techniques, gear, and fishing reports.
- HuntingNet Community: A large online community for hunters to share experiences, tips, and discuss regulations.