At an ocean-freight agency, port authority, or maritime trade office, you administer programs related to ocean transportation — managing licensing, supporting trade-policy implementation, coordinating with industry stakeholders, and the public-sector operational work behind ocean trade.
Days mix program administration, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory coordination — supporting OTI license processing through the FMC, coordinating with ocean carriers and forwarders on regulatory matters, supporting trade-program implementation, engaging with international maritime stakeholders. Program throughput, stakeholder satisfaction, and regulatory-compliance posture shape the visible measures.
What gets demanding is the federal-regulatory complexity — ocean-trade regulation involves FMC, USCG, CBP, and IMO frameworks that interact in detailed ways, and administrators carry the responsibility for applying them consistently. Variance across employers is wide: FMC and federal maritime agencies run with formal regulatory authority; state and port authorities run with operational programs; industry associations and trade-policy organizations run with advocacy and education functions.
The role tends to fit folks who carry maritime industry knowledge, comfort with regulatory frameworks, and the diplomatic touch that public-sector trade work requires. FIATA, maritime credentials, and growing trade-policy experience anchor advancement. The trade-off is the slow-arc nature of trade-policy work and the modest pay typical of public-sector administration.
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Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
At an ocean-freight agency, port authority, or maritime trade office, you administer programs related to ocean transportation — managing licensing, supporting trade-policy implementation, coordinating with industry stakeholders, and the public-sector operational work behind ocean trade.
Median pay for an Ocean Program Administrator is about $161K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $80K to $208K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Science, Critical Thinking, Monitoring, Reading Comprehension, and Active Listening.
Most people in this role hold a bachelor's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 3.7% through 2034, with roughly 100,870 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Program Director, Environmental Program Manager, and Research Manager.
Your job belongs to your employer.
Your career belongs to you.