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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: October 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 | 9738 USD | 14720 USD | 9862 USD | 9554 USD | 9679 USD |
| 2 | 2nd Engineer | 7613 USD | 11319 USD | 7828 USD | 7679 USD | 6689 USD |
| 3 | 3rd Engineer | 3766 USD | 4815 USD | 4160 USD | 3833 USD | 3771 USD |
| 4 | Chief Officer | 7609 USD | 11548 USD | 7774 USD | 7612 USD | 7662 USD |
| 5 | Chief Engineer | 9547 USD | 13786 USD | 9708 USD | 9527 USD | 9013 USD |
| 6 | ETO | 5902 USD | 7108 USD | 6532 USD | 6122 USD | 7367 USD |
| 7 | 2nd Officer | 3822 USD | 4831 USD | 3736 USD | 3816 USD | 5892 USD |
| 8 | 3rd Officer | 3224 USD | 4221 USD | 3308 USD | 3232 USD | 4775 USD |
| 9 | AB Seaman | 1778 USD | 1790 USD | 1848 USD | 1797 USD | 3381 USD |
| 10 | OS | 1395 USD | 1085 USD | 1520 USD | 1366 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.