Maritime manufacturing combines stability and great pay with future-forward tech and growth potential.
What kind of careers are we talking about?
Careers in maritime manufacturing encompass everything from design and production to the assembly of various naval vessels and their components.
Additive Manufacturing
For the creators
3D print the parts that run the submarine.
CNC Machining
For the shapers
Shape everyday materials into extraordinary submarine components with advanced technology.
Metrology
For the inspectors
Use your knack for numbers and keen eye to ensure quality and spot mistakes.
Non-Destructive Testing
For the experimenters
Ensure that every submarine component is of the highest quality and safe for service.
Welding
For the makers
Use your torch to forge impenetrable bonds and piece together parts, systems and platforms.
CNC Machining
Retail Worker
toolkit
Day
The career you choose now will inform what you'll be doing every day for the next several decades (no pressure). Let's take a look at a typical day at each job to see how you might spend your time.
The night crew didn't do ANY folding last night. The store is a mess.
Sorry to hear that! This is what I've been working on:
Are you kidding me? I'm folding sweaters and you're doing THAT?!
Yeah, so today our mentors are helping us test this code we created to make this super-critical part that goes into naval airplane navigation systems. The machine cuts through metal like butter to make these perfect parts every time. I should make an ASMR video.
That's awesome. I've also done a cool thing:
How ... um ... exciting? 😴
Do you have an office? What's it like?
Wow. My "office" is basically a storage closet.
What, your office doesn’t have futuristic machines?
Nope, but it does have jeans that seem to magically unfold themselves.
You. Must. Escape. Now.
rights
Let's face it. Some careers come with more of the intangible "it factor" than others. When someone asks you what you do for a living, how will you answer?
The stuff I make helps crews navigate undersea mountains.
I can fold shirts faster than anybody in the men's department.
I build defense systems that use lasers to disable enemy drones.
I help customers find items in their size and recommend items to create outfits. I'm basically a celebrity stylist.
In short, I protect nations using G-code.
I'm pretty legendary at pushing merch during the holiday season.
What will your career trajectory look like? Let’s compare paths to see what your future could hold.
JANUARY 2025
Get Paid to Do Expedited Training
All my training and my room and board are FREE through the ATDM program!
FEBRUARY 2025
Grow My Skillset
I’ll learn how to write G-code, work with and maintain machines, read technical specs and more.
MARCH 2025
Pay Training Tuition
FREE
Putting that money I would have spent on training if it weren't free toward saving for my first home. 🏠
MAY 2025
Get My First Paycheck
Up to $54K/year
You know what's better than getting your first paycheck? No debt! 😎💰
JANUARY 2030
Level Up to a CNC Machinist II
Up to $63K/year
Skills upgraded: check. Title upgraded: check! Raise secured: much bigger check!
JANUARY 2035
Growing My Career as a CNC Programmer
Up to $72K/year
I write the programs that instruct machines to turn raw materials into functional equipment.
JANUARY 2025
Look for a Job
I'm applying to every online retail posting I can find. So far, no one has gotten back to me. 😕
FEBRUARY 2025
Get First Interview
The store manager said I didn't have enough experience for the entry-level job. Er, isn't that what "entry-level" means?
MARCH 2025
Land My First Job
Finally! I got a shift at a clothing store ... they said I start in a month. 😬
MAY 2025
Get My First Paycheck
Up to $33K/year
Cha-ching! First paycheck is ... not stretching as far as I thought.
JANUARY 2030
Still a Retail Sales Associate
Up to $47K/year
I greet customers, fold and display garments, and label merchandise. Wheee!
JANUARY 2035
Become a Store Supervisor
Up to $76K/year
I train all associates on store policies and procedures. Amazon is still killing us and my feet hurt most days, but that's the business!
Your journey starts here
Everyone’s path is different; it’s about finding what’s right for you. Some paths include include greeting customers and straightening socks. Some include writing unique code to build machines that Maverick and Rooster might fly.
What will you choose?
Sources
Training Length: 4 months - 2 years
“About ATDM.” ATDM, The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, www.atdm.org/about-atdm, Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
"Occupational Outlook Handbook: Machinists and Tool and Die Makers," U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, www.bls.gov/ooh/production/machinists-and-tool-and-die-makers.htm#tab-4. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Training Cost: FREE
“About ATDM.” ATDM, The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, www.atdm.org/about-atdm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Average Salary: $55K
"Salary Assessor®: CNC Machine Operator," ERI Economic Research Institute, Inc.,www.erieri.com/salaryassessor. Accessed 25 Apr 2024.
Training Length: 10 hours
"Wanna Fix Stores? Empirical Evidence Of What You Might Be Missing," Retail Systems Research, www.rsrresearch.com/research/wanna-fix-stores-empirical-evidence-of-what-you-might-be-missing. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Training Cost: N/A
"Occupational Outlook Handbook: Retail Sales Workers," U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/retail-sales-workers.htm#tab-4. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Average Salary: $31K
"Occupational Outlook Handbook: Retail Sales Workers," U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/retail-sales-workers.htm#tab-5. Accessed 3 May 2024.
Sources
Expedited Training
“About ATDM.” ATDM, The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, www.atdm.org/about-atdm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
First Paycheck, Up to $54K/year
"Salary Assessor®: CNC Machine Operator," ERI Economic Research Institute, Inc., www.erieri.com/salaryassessor. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
CNC Machinist II, Up to $63K/year
"Salary Assessor®: CNC Machine Operator," ERI Economic Research Institute, Inc., www.erieri.com/salaryassessor. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
CNC Programmer, Up to $72K/year
"Salary Assessor®: CNC Machine Operator," ERI Economic Research Institute, Inc., www.erieri.com/salaryassessor. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
First Paycheck, Up to $33K/year
2022 Modeled Wage Estimates, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24 Aug. 2023, www.bls.gov/mwe/tables.htm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Retail Sales Associate, Up to $47K/year
"Occupational Outlook Handbook: Retail Sales Workers," U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, www.bls.gov/ooh/sales/retail-sales-workers.htm#tab-5. Accessed 3 May 2024.
Store Supervisor, Up to $76K/year
"Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: 41-1011 First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers," U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, www.bls.gov/oes/2019/may/oes411011.htm Accessed 3 May 2024.