Stevedore and Dock Worker
Impact: Enabling global trade by loading and unloading the ships that carry the world's goods
Load and unload cargo from ships at a port or dock, operating specialist cargo handling equipment and working as part of a gang to turn around vessels efficiently and safely. Operate ship cranes, reach stackers, and port handling equipment; load and unload containers, bulk cargo, and breakbulk freight; secure cargo; and maintain port safety compliance. Develop expertise in a specific cargo type such as containers, bulk grain, timber, or steel.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 70% Team / 30% Solo
- Client facing
- Rarely
- Impact visibility
- Moderate
- Travel
- None
- Schedule flexibility
- Structured
- Remote work
- On-site Only
- Typical work hours
- 40-55 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $48,000
- Entry-level
- $28,000 - $40,000
- Senior
- $70,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 3% (port automation growing; global trade sustaining demand for dock workers)
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Very Low
- Salary growth potential
- High -- 70-140% growth from dock worker to gang supervisor or port operations manager
- Typical student debt
- $0 - $5,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Ship crane operation
- Reach stacker operation
- Container handling
- Bulk cargo handling
- Cargo securing
- Port safety compliance (PUWER
- LOLER)
Soft skills
- Physical fitness
- Teamwork
- Safety awareness
- Attention to detail
- Reliability
Technical complexity: Moderate
How to get there
- Minimum education
- High School Diploma
- Licensing
- Yes
- Years to mid-career
- 2-4 years
- Years to senior
- 5-10 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
- Warehouse Operative
- Forklift Truck Operator
Where you can go from here
- Gang Supervisor
- Port Operations Manager
Typical progression
- Dock Worker
- Senior Dock Worker
- Gang Supervisor
- Port Operations Manager
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 25% -- automated port equipment is growing but specialist cargo handling remains human
- AI disruption risk
- Low
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 7/10
- Meaning
- 7/10
- Work-life balance
- 6.5/10
- Prestige
- 6/10
- Social perception
- Moderate