EDMONDS, Wash. — The state ferry system is looking to hire dozens of new deckhands, with the plan for them to move up over time.
The State Ferry system is eventually looking for new captains to work on the ferry boats.
According to the Herald, 62 percent of the system's captains are 55 or older.
Washington State Ferries says an aging workforce and staff increases have created a demand for new captains.
Currently, the ferry system has 79 captains.
The director of marine operations told the Herald that many of the captains are likely to retire in the next decade.
The hope is to fill those positions with some of the 60 new hires as the captains retire.
Deckhands start out making about $47,300 a year.
Captains with at least five years of sea time make about $100,000.
A fitness test is required.
A deckhand could rise up to a captain position in as little as six years, but the average time is closer to 10 years.
KIRO
