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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: July 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 | 9712 USD | 14614 USD | 9832 USD | 9543 USD | 9576 USD |
| 2 | 2nd Engineer | 7603 USD | 11336 USD | 7843 USD | 7671 USD | 6637 USD |
| 3 | 3rd Engineer | 3746 USD | 4806 USD | 4178 USD | 3827 USD | 3494 USD |
| 4 | Chief Officer | 7575 USD | 11508 USD | 7774 USD | 7594 USD | 7321 USD |
| 5 | Chief Engineer | 9520 USD | 13648 USD | 9682 USD | 9521 USD | 9020 USD |
| 6 | ETO | 5881 USD | 7040 USD | 6435 USD | 6121 USD | 7436 USD |
| 7 | 2nd Officer | 3795 USD | 4788 USD | 3718 USD | 3805 USD | 5458 USD |
| 8 | 3rd Officer | 3206 USD | 4194 USD | 3291 USD | 3218 USD | 4775 USD |
| 9 | AB Seaman | 1745 USD | 1656 USD | 1852 USD | 1785 USD | 2917 USD |
| 10 | OS | 1381 USD | 923 USD | 1506 USD | 1349 USD | 1408 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.