Career Pathways

Trade & Support Route

Cost: $0⇔$21,000
Pay: $40,000 ⇔ $150,000
Includes Benefits (Depending upon which path you take!)

Do you like solving problems and working with your hands? A Digital Shipbuilding Career in the Trades might just be your dream job. There are jobs in local shipyards, repair yards and in the local marine industry. Your job could be as a welder, machinist, electrician, or pipefitter. Check out these links to learn about these exciting jobs. You can find your dream job in the trades and supporting the trades through multiple pathways, including enrolling in one of the shipbuilding apprentice programs, going to community college, or entering the job market into a shipyard or industry job right after high school.

• Pipefitter
• Machinist
• Electrician
• Welder

Apprentice Programs

Cost: $250 Application fee
Pay: $14-$19/hr
Includes Benefits

There are four apprenticeship programs in the Norfolk area; The Apprentice School (Newport News Shipyard), Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship Program, BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair Apprenticeship Program, Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc.’s Apprenticeship Program. Check out the following links to learn more about these programs.

• The Apprenticeship School
• Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship Program
• BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair Apprenticeship Program
• Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc.’s Apprenticeship Program

Apprentice

Cost: $0
Pay: $40,000 ⇔$66,0000
Includes Benefits

Apprentice Programs are typically 4-5 years. Students graduating from the Apprentice School receive a Certificate of Apprenticeship and students graduating from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship Program are converted to a journeyman of their trade.

• The Apprenticeship School (Newport News Shipyard)
• Norfolk Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship Program
• BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair Apprenticeship Program
• Colonna’s Shipyard, Inc.’s Apprenticeship Program

Skilled Trade

Cost: $0
Pay: $55,750 ⇔ $67,500
Includes Benefits (Depending upon which path you take!)

5-15 years: Graduates of apprenticeship programs can enter into job such as Marine Welder, Deck Electrician, and Pipefitter. Graduates on average will spend the next 5-15 years perfecting their craft within this trade.

Management

Cost: $0
Pay: $55,000 to $110,000
Includes Benefits

With a management route, individuals end up progressing into titles of Foreman, construction supervisor, and superintendent.

• Huntington Ingalls Foreman Hiring

Specialist

Cost: $0
Pay: $63,500⇔ $72,000
Includes Benefits

Marine Welder: After completion of Welding School, you will use a wide range of welding filer metals and welding processes to perform structural and/or pipe welds in all phases of ship construction.

Deck electricians: Largely responsible for the installation, repair, overhaul, and operational testing of the electrical systems aboard the ship. Electricians can be working on one of the many electrical systems aboard the ship including lighting, power distribution, communication or navigation. Electricians read and interpret complex electrical and electronic schematics.

Pipefitters: Responsible ofr installing complex piping systems on the ship and in the shop. As a pipefitter you will learn to read blueprints, fabricate, install, inspect and test the many piping systems aboard a ship or submarine.

• HII Skilled Craftsmen Recruitment Video

General Foreman / Superintendent

Cost: $0⇔$21,000
Pay: $75,000 to $150,000
Includes Benefits

A Foreman leads diverse teams of various skilled trade members to fulfill and execute specific time sensitive projects through overseeing all efforts and managing the work requirements for said project. Construction supervisor and superintendent have similar responsibilities but also may include development of workflow strategies, allocation of materials, purchase orders, be responsible for inspections, safety risks, etc.

• Huntington Ingalls Foreman Hiring

Community College Pre-Hire

Cost: $250 tuition fee (fee is reimbursed if the student/candidate is hired by Newport News Shipbuilding) + Community College Tuition
Pay: $0

You can enter shipyard trainee programs with a High School Diploma or GED. These trainee programs are a joint partnership between Newport News Shipbuilding and community colleges in the Norfolk/Newport News area. Possilbe trainee positions include a Marine Welder Trainee and Deck Electrician Trainee.

• Marine Skills Trades Training Program Video

Entry Support

Cost: Previous Cost of Community College
Pay: $37,000 ⬄ $51,000
Includes Benefits

A entry support team member has many titles, you could be a specification writer in which your responsibilities will be to help the team in preparing engineering documentation, collecting and allocating data, maintain customer drawings and help contribute and generate procedures for the various projects requirements. Other titles fall within logistics support in which you are helping facilitate documentation in logistics in and around purchases, material movement, making sure the right equipment is ready for the project, and importantly a key asset within the team in preparing for project build and project life cycle.

Experienced Support

Cost: Previous Cost of Community College
Pay: $46,000 ⬄ $67,000
Includes Benefits

Experience support members take on more responsibility and in most cases oversee a small group of other support members. Works directly with and advises management as well as fulfills schedule requirements and all general interdepartmental activity.

Management

Cost: Previous Cost of Community College
Pay: $55,000 ⬄ $70,000
Includes Benefits

With a management route, individuals end up progressing into titles of Foreman, construction supervisor, and superintendent.

• Huntington Ingalls Foreman Hiring

General Foreman / Superintendent

Cost: Previous Cost of Community College
Pay: $60,000 ⬄ $150,000
Includes Benefits

A Foreman leads diverse teams of various skilled trade members to fulfill and execute specific time sensitive projects through overseeing all efforts and managing the work requirements for said project. Construction supervisor and superintendent have similar responsibilities but also may include development of workflow strategies, allocation of materials, purchase orders, be responsible for inspections, safety risks, etc.

• Huntington Ingalls Foreman Hiring