Fishing and Hunting Workers

Hunt, trap, catch, or gather wild animals or aquatic animals and plants. May use nets, traps, or other equipment. May haul catch onto ship or other vessel.

Jobs growth:
-5% projected 2024–2034
No formal educational credential
Typical Entry-Level Education

What They Do

Fishing and hunting workers spend their days tracking, capturing, and harvesting wild animals and aquatic life in outdoor environments. They set and monitor traps for terrestrial animals, cast nets from boats to catch fish, or dive beneath the water's surface to collect shellfish and other marine resources. Their work varies dramatically by season and location—some operate on commercial fishing vessels far from shore for days or weeks at a time, while others work inland waterways, forests, or marshlands closer to home. Daily tasks include maintaining and repairing equipment like nets, traps, and boats, navigating to productive hunting or fishing grounds, and properly handling and storing their catch to preserve quality. The work is physically demanding, requiring workers to lift heavy loads, withstand harsh weather conditions, and maintain their balance on unstable surfaces like boat decks. Success in this field requires physical stamina, practical knowledge of animal behavior and habitats, the ability to work independently for extended periods, and a willingness to adapt to unpredictable conditions. They must also stay current with regulations governing seasons, catch limits, and protected species.

Programs That Prepare You

College programs linked to this occupation, ranked by graduate earnings

Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(masters)University of Florida, FL
$53,216
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, WI
$42,297
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Lake Superior State University, MI
$34,729
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science, NY
$34,321
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Texas A&M University-College Station, TX
$33,410
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Oregon State University, OR
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Oregon State University-Cascades Campus, OR
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill, NY
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)University of Alaska Fairbanks, AK
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)University of Alaska Southeast, AK
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, AR
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Utah State University, UT
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Colorado State University-Fort Collins, CO
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Delaware State University, DE
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Eastern Michigan University, MI
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Juniata College, PA
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)University of Idaho, ID
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)University of Rhode Island, RI
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)University of Rio Grande, OH
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)University of Washington-Seattle Campus, WA
$33,314
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Northern Michigan University, MI
$31,386
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)Purdue University-Main Campus, IN
$31,317
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt, CA
$29,862
Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management(bachelors)University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MN
$26,655

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