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.
Additive Manufacturing
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.
Wow, boring start to the day, huh? This is what I'm working on:
Are you kidding me? I'm folding sweaters and you're doing THAT?!
So this submarine is in a dry dock getting needed repairs and they found out they can no longer get this critical part because the company who made it is out of business. Since they couldn't order it, we just ... 3D printed it! BOOM. Fixed.
That's awesome. I've also done a cool thing:
Well ... I guess that's important, too, lol.
Do you have an office? What's it like?
Wow. My "office" is basically a storage closet.
What, your office doesn’t have 3D printers and fighter jets?
Nope, but it does have jeans that seem to magically unfold themselves.
hahahaha
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?
I use futuristic technology to build undersea navigation systems.
I can fold shirts faster than anybody in the men's department.
Submarine crews rely on the CAD files I design to print and replace critical components that fail when they’re at sea.
I help customers find items in their size and recommend items to create outfits. I'm basically a celebrity stylist.
I literally print parts that are used in military machines like fighter jets and submarines.
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
Start Expedited Training
Training will take about four months, which is sweet!
FEBRUARY 2025
Grow My Skillset
I'll learn to use CAD software to 3D print basic prototypes and parts to be used in military systems.
MARCH 2025
Pay Training Tuition
FREE
Thanks to the ADTM program, I may not have to pay for training at all. No debt!
MAY 2025
Get My First Paycheck
Up to $87K/year
Wow, first paycheck already and no loan payments to make! 😎💰
JANUARY 2030
Proud to Be an Additive Manufacturing Technologist
Up to $105K/year
I'm leading technical projects involving the design and development of new products and processes, and collaborating with engineering teams and scientists.
JANUARY 2035
Lead Tech for Additive Manufacturing Operations
Up to $123K/year
I'm responsible for supporting various AM technologies, upholding safety measures and operating and maintaining large-format AM machines ... and that's just before lunch!
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 greeting customers and straightening socks. Some use science fiction-level technology to "print" parts that keep ships in the water and ensure we deter adversaries all over the world.
What will you choose?
Sources
Training Length: 4 months
“About ATDM.” ATDM, The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, www.atdm.org/about-atdm. 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: $103K
"Salary Assessor®: Additive Manufacturing Engineer," 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.
Training Tuition, FREE
“About ATDM.” ATDM, The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research, www.atdm.org/about-atdm. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
First Paycheck, Up to $87K/year
"Salary Assessor®: Additive Manufacturing Engineer," ERI Economic Research Institute, Inc., www.erieri.com/salaryassessor. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Additive Manufacturing Technologist, Up to $105K/year
"Salary Assessor®: Additive Manufacturing Engineer," ERI Economic Research Institute, Inc., www.erieri.com/salaryassessor. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Additive Manufacturing Operations, Up to $123K/year
"Salary Assessor®: Additive Manufacturing Engineer," 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.