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How Much Do Seafarers Earn in 2026?
Discover the most accurate and up-to-date seafarer salary statistics based on over 100,000 verified job offers collected for the last 12 months.
Use our interactive salary calculator to explore earnings by rank, vessel type, and contract type. Track monthly trends and compare market rates to make informed career or hiring decisions.
Last updated: November 2026 | Data coverage: 60+ seafarer ranks across 38 vessel types
Seafarer Salary Statistics
Are you approaching your next contract negotiation or considering a new maritime position? Our Maritime Salary Calculator analyzes thousands of verified job offers on Maritime Zone so you can see salary ranges by rank and vessel type.
With this tool you can:
• Compare min / avg / max monthly salaries.
• Track salary trends by month and year.
• View earnings by vessel category (AHTS, LPG, Tanker, etc.).
Whether you're a seafarer planning your next contract or a crew manager setting budgets, these data-driven insights help you negotiate with confidence.
Use the filters to pick a position and vessel type — we’ll show salary ranges, trend charts, and live job offers for that role.
We also provide information on the average expected salary of candidates, salary trend charts over a selected period, and salary comparison charts for the same position across different vessel types. Click on this link to view detailed statistics.
Salary Checker
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*For the maritime salary calculator, we only include positions and vessel types for which we have a sufficient amount of data to ensure an accurate assessment.
Result for the
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The estimated monthly salary for is .
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What are the most popular salaries by role?
View salaries for the most popular vessel types and job roles queried by users:
| # | Position | Bulk Carrier | VLCC Vessel | Heavy lift | Container Ship | AHTS Vessel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Master | 9741 USD | 14731 USD | 9930 USD | 9575 USD | 9661 USD |
| 2 | 2nd Engineer | 7622 USD | 11334 USD | 7894 USD | 7687 USD | 6689 USD |
| 3 | 3rd Engineer | 3776 USD | 4814 USD | 4153 USD | 3838 USD | 3771 USD |
| 4 | Chief Officer | 7614 USD | 11551 USD | 7826 USD | 7613 USD | 7662 USD |
| 5 | Chief Engineer | 9553 USD | 13815 USD | 9736 USD | 9535 USD | 9045 USD |
| 6 | ETO | 5909 USD | 7124 USD | 6552 USD | 6136 USD | 7371 USD |
| 7 | 2nd Officer | 3825 USD | 4828 USD | 3743 USD | 3818 USD | 5894 USD |
| 8 | 3rd Officer | 3228 USD | 4205 USD | 3328 USD | 3234 USD | 4775 USD |
| 9 | AB Seaman | 1777 USD | 1790 USD | 1848 USD | 1791 USD | 3381 USD |
| 10 | OS | 1393 USD | 1096 USD | 1520 USD | 1358 USD | 1414 USD |
Super Yacht
FPSO
Offshore construction vessel
If you want to work on vessels with the highest salaries, pay attention to:
• Jack-up vessels, large offshore construction vessels, cranes, FPSO, drilling vessels, etc. The captain's salary on such vessels can easily reach $1,000-$1,400 per day or more. Other positions, including entry-level roles, will also receive high salaries.
• Passenger ships (cruise liners): The pay range can vary, especially for service staff, but officers and technical personnel often receive significantly higher salaries compared to the regular merchant fleet.
• Superyachts – on these exclusive vessels, senior command staff salaries are generally much higher than in other fleets.
Factors affecting salary levels
Vessel type
Specialized vessels pay more, but securing a position on them is more challenging.
Experience and tenure
More contracts and experience increase a seafarer's value.
Rare certifications
DP qualification, offshore courses, and helicopter training can boost salaries.
Region of work
The North Sea, the Arctic, and complex navigation areas offer higher wages
Tips for increasing your salary
Obtain additional certifications (DP, LNG/LPG, Oil&Gas related)
Work on vessels with a narrow specialization.
Aim for a more responsible position (Pumpman, Gangway Operator, etc.).
Ensure stable career growth by moving to companies with better conditions.
Update your profile on Maritime Zone and indicate a desired salary higher than your current one.
We welcome and encourage the use of our data for various purposes, including research, analysis, and publication. However, it is mandatory to provide a clear and visible attribution to our website as the source of the data. When using our maritime salary statistics, job vacancy listings, or any other information provided on our site, please ensure to include a reference to Maritime Zone with a link to our website.