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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: June 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.
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 | 9709 USD | 14607 USD | 9832 USD | 9542 USD | 9523 USD |
| 2 | 2nd Engineer | 7597 USD | 11319 USD | 7847 USD | 7668 USD | 6570 USD |
| 3 | 3rd Engineer | 3745 USD | 4783 USD | 4182 USD | 3824 USD | 3494 USD |
| 4 | Chief Officer | 7575 USD | 11454 USD | 7778 USD | 7577 USD | 7334 USD |
| 5 | Chief Engineer | 9522 USD | 13629 USD | 9667 USD | 9506 USD | 8978 USD |
| 6 | ETO | 5878 USD | 7028 USD | 6433 USD | 6133 USD | 7388 USD |
| 7 | 2nd Officer | 3796 USD | 4780 USD | 3710 USD | 3794 USD | 5404 USD |
| 8 | 3rd Officer | 3205 USD | 4167 USD | 3275 USD | 3219 USD | 4775 USD |
| 9 | AB Seaman | 1735 USD | 1656 USD | 1858 USD | 1782 USD | 3060 USD |
| 10 | OS | 1378 USD | 923 USD | 1527 USD | 1341 USD | 1383 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.