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How Much Do Seafarers Earn in 2025?
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: August 2025 | 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 | 9568 USD | 14817 USD | 8880 USD | 9319 USD | 9106 USD |
| 2 | 2nd Engineer | 7393 USD | 11556 USD | 7146 USD | 7410 USD | 6093 USD |
| 3 | 3rd Engineer | 3643 USD | 4911 USD | 4029 USD | 3754 USD | 3584 USD |
| 4 | Chief Officer | 7441 USD | 11497 USD | 7597 USD | 7192 USD | 7000 USD |
| 5 | Chief Engineer | 9307 USD | 13690 USD | 8915 USD | 9308 USD | 8712 USD |
| 6 | ETO | 5673 USD | 7328 USD | 6098 USD | 5880 USD | 7008 USD |
| 7 | 2nd Officer | 3668 USD | 4751 USD | 3682 USD | 3699 USD | 4553 USD |
| 8 | 3rd Officer | 3108 USD | 4278 USD | 3237 USD | 3122 USD | 3600 USD |
| 9 | AB Seaman | 1664 USD | 1611 USD | 1807 USD | 1688 USD | 3577 USD |
| 10 | OS | 1289 USD | 932 USD | 1508 USD | 1260 USD | 1339 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.