Sailors and marine oilers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,560 | $16.61 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $51,520 | $24.77 |
| Mean (average) | $56,830 | $27.32 |
| 90th percentile | $83,620 | $40.20 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Sailors and marine oilers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 37 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,000 | $38,370 | $70,300 | 290 | 0.67 |
| Alaska | $63,130 | $40,200 | $91,730 | 480 | 7.19 |
| Arkansas | $23,960 | $22,880 | $60,300 | 70 | 0.27 |
| California | $55,180 | $37,210 | $79,290 | 1,680 | 0.45 |
| Connecticut | $45,280 | $37,600 | $73,790 | 400 | 1.16 |
| Delaware | $60,040 | $44,990 | $63,860 | 80 | 0.78 |
| Florida | $57,930 | $34,230 | $79,150 | 2,710 | 1.34 |
| Georgia | $37,500 | $25,870 | $48,350 | 80 | 0.08 |
| Hawaii | $76,140 | $46,810 | $108,010 | 340 | 2.62 |
| Illinois | $49,090 | $37,450 | $85,870 | 420 | 0.34 |
| Indiana | $56,570 | $34,470 | $102,210 | 570 | 0.88 |
| Iowa | $48,100 | $35,820 | $60,470 | 70 | 0.24 |
| Kentucky | $47,460 | $36,580 | $62,080 | 1,470 | 3.61 |
| Louisiana | $46,610 | $29,730 | $92,420 | 7,580 | 19.23 |
| Maine | $46,800 | $39,550 | $60,840 | 240 | 1.81 |
| Maryland | Data unavailable | 310 | 0.56 | ||
| Massachusetts | $44,070 | $34,180 | $75,130 | 420 | 0.56 |
| Michigan | $51,310 | $37,100 | $62,130 | 250 | 0.28 |
| Minnesota | $56,680 | $36,680 | $79,780 | 90 | 0.16 |
| Mississippi | $50,390 | $35,430 | $61,790 | 490 | 2.07 |
| Missouri | $51,940 | $30,810 | $75,920 | 220 | 0.37 |
| New Jersey | $71,880 | $38,480 | $94,470 | 520 | 0.6 |
| New York | $54,210 | $34,070 | $78,860 | 1,570 | 0.8 |
| North Carolina | $44,770 | $33,420 | $60,240 | 310 | 0.31 |
| Ohio | $53,520 | $31,770 | $58,270 | 140 | 0.13 |
| Oregon | $70,410 | $45,040 | $91,140 | 210 | 0.51 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,810 | $35,810 | $61,630 | 210 | 0.17 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,700 | $23,130 | $32,320 | ||
| Rhode Island | $48,860 | $31,200 | $110,290 | 210 | 2.08 |
| South Carolina | $50,500 | $33,890 | $83,300 | 210 | 0.45 |
| Tennessee | $60,580 | $33,070 | $78,070 | 870 | 1.31 |
| Texas | $55,610 | $38,360 | $95,820 | 4,270 | 1.49 |
| Virgin Islands | $29,990 | $26,920 | $47,950 | 120 | 18.29 |
| Virginia | $49,120 | $32,660 | $60,650 | 2,970 | 3.54 |
| Washington | $66,700 | $45,200 | $84,120 | 1,590 | 2.2 |
| West Virginia | $47,370 | $35,160 | $69,050 | 100 | 0.68 |
| Wisconsin | $48,880 | $33,070 | $76,860 | 110 | 0.18 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for sailors and marine oilers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 3,600. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 0.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for sailors and marine oilers
- Typical entry education
- No formal educational credential
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- NO MATCH CIP 99.9999
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.
- Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.
- Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses.
- Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.
- Operate, maintain, or repair ship equipment, such as winches, cranes, derricks, or weapons system.
- Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.
- Lubricate machinery, equipment, or engine parts, such as gears, shafts, or bearings.
- Chip and clean rust spots on decks, superstructures, or sides of ships, using wire brushes and hand or air chipping machines.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- KNMI TurboWin
- Kongsberg Maritime K-Log Deck Logbook
- Log book software
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Coordination.
Common job titles: AB Seaman (Able Bodied Seaman), AB Watchman (Able Bodied Watchman), Able Seaman, Deck Hand, Deckhand, Deckhand Engineer, Oiler, Pilot Boat Deckhand, Relief Deckhand, Tankerman.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do sailors and marine oilers make?
The national median annual wage for sailors and marine oilers was $51,520 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $34,560 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $83,620. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do sailors and marine oilers need?
BLS lists no formal educational credential as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is sailors and marine oilers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of sailors and marine oilers to change +3.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 3,600 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay sailors and marine oilers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Hawaii ($76,140), New Jersey ($71,880), Oregon ($70,410). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.