"We are Canada's first Indigenous led Coast Guard Auxiliary with a purpose to protect both mariners and citizens through the forging of strong and lasting partnerships between maritime First Nations and the Canadian Coast Guard."
Do you wonder if a job on the water is for you?
If most of these statements apply then you might like making sure people are being safe and responsible in your Nation’s waters.
- It’s important to me to be outside.
- I like to be on the water, and I don’t mind doing the hard work it takes to learn about marine safety.
- I like to support organizations working towards a better understanding of our oceans.
- I am eager to learn new things. I am good at fixing things and I like to solve problems.
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taking care of
What’s It All About?
Jobs in marine safety may involve going to sea or working on land. People who work for the Canadian Coast Guard may act as staff on board a ship or carry out day-to-day operations from one of the regional offices. Other people provide emergency communications on the water and work with rescue centres offering weather information and support for government agencies.
Also in this category, light keepers report local weather to Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS), relay radio messages perform routine maintenance tasks on buildings and grounds, while operating and maintaining equipment used to power lightstation equipment, including diesel electric generators.
What Do You Need?
Inshore rescue boat crew members are full-time post-secondary students who are working for the summer. They have a driver’s licence, a Standard First Aid and CPR “C” Certificate, a Pleasure Craft Operator Card, and a VHF Restricted Radio Operator’s Certificate. The Inshore Rescue Boat training lasts 16 days and begins shortly after the end of the school year. Topics include: seamanship, boat handling, local coastal navigation, search and rescue operations such as when students successfully complete their training they are assigned as crew members to Inshore Rescue Boat stations. For more information visit Inshore Rescue Boat Student Program
Lightkeepers have a high school diploma, first aid, and a restricted radio certificate, plus skills in carpentry, mechanics, and emergency rescue.
Administration and clerical staff are trained as receptionists, librarians, graphic designers, cartographers, and accountants.
Electronics technicians have a two-year Electronics Technologist certificate.
Coast Guard fleet employees train through the Canadian Coast Guard College located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, or by attending marine training institutes.
Lifeboat station crew work for the Canadian Coast Guard and go through a similar training process to the Coast Guard fleet.
Marine engineers usually attend one of the five major marine schools in Canada to receive certification. Some may train through the Canadian Coast Guard.
Marine Communications and Traffic Service (MCTS) Officers attend the Canadian Coast Guard College before applying through the MCTS recruitment process.
Completion of secondary school is required.
Completion of deck officer cadet program from an approved nautical institute or one to three years of experience as a member of a deck crew is required.A deck officer certificate of competency, issued by Transport Canada, is required. For ship pilots, a ship pilot licence and a master certificate of competency are required.
Curious about light keeping? Take a look at this article that paints a picture of the life of a light keeper and why the job is important.
What Can you Earn?
Expect these jobs to be seasonal (i.e., part-time)
Search and rescue crew members usually earn between $31,701 and $66,739 calculated annually ($15.20 and $32.00 per hour).
Deck officers usually earn between $39,626 and $104,280 calculated annually
($19.00/hour and $50.00/hour). Those working as a Coast Guard vessel chief officer are part of this group.
Marine engineers usually earn between $52,453 and $133,478 calculated annually ($25.15/hour and $64/hour in Canada).
The national average salary for an Inshore Rescue Boat Crew Member is $35,392 in Canada.
A Canadian Coast Guard deckhand’s yearly pay is approximately $52,629.
Here are some tips from the Canadian Coast Guard on how to prepare before you apply. (Marine Safety and Navigation)
Sample Employers
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans/Canadian
- Coast Guard
- Transport Canada
- Royal Canadian Navy
- Private marine transportation companies
- Port authorities
- Coastal Nations Coast
- Guard Auxilliary
Sample Jobs
- Inshore Rescue Boat Crew Member
- Lightkeepers
- Administration and Clerical Staff
- Electronics Technician
- Administration and Clerical Staff
- Electronics Technician
- Coast Guard Fleet (includes Officers, Deck Hands, Cooks, etc.)
- Engineers
- Marine Communications and Traffic Service Officers
- Lifeboat Station Crew (includes Officers-in-Charge and Engineers)
Search And Rescue Crew Member – Sports And Recreation in British Columbia. (2022, April 8). Government of Canada Job Bank. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/21226/BC
Deck Officer in British Columbia. (2022, April 8). Government of Canada Job Bank. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/3660/BC
Marine Engineer in British Columbia. (2022, April 8). Government of Canada Job Bank. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/marketreport/wages-occupation/5421/BC
Inshore Rescue Boat Crew Member. (2022, January 20). Glassdoor Job Site. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from https://www.glassdoor.ca/Salaries/inshore-rescue-boat-crew-member-salary-SRCH_KO0,31.htm
Canadian Coast Guard deckhand. (Noted as accurate on the website over past 36 months). Indeed Job Site. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
