Ice Pilot (Polar Navigation Specialist)
Median salary, education path, job outlook, and related careers — based on U.S. labor data.
Median salary
$130,000/yr
Typical range
$95,000 – $180,000
Education
Professional degree
Time to entry
About 7-8 years (bachelor's + professional school)
What a Ice Pilot (Polar Navigation Specialist) does
Guides icebreakers and expedition vessels through Arctic or Antarctic sea ice, reading ice conditions and pressure ridges to find safe passages where no standard nautical charts exist.
Education & path
The typical entry point is a professional degree. About 7-8 years (bachelor's + professional school).
Estimated cost of that path: ~$150,000. Estimated payback: ~6 years. Estimates only — actual cost varies widely by school and financial aid; payback assumes ~20% of income applied.
Related careers
- Seaplane Pilot — $72,000/yr
- Via Ferrata Route Developer — $52,000/yr
- High-Angle Rope Access Technician — $62,000/yr
- Bell Founder — $58,000/yr
- Thatching Contractor — $62,000/yr
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