Sailors and Marine Oilers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for sailors and marine oilers in the U.S. is $51,520 ($24.77 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $51,520
- Mean annual wage
- $56,830
- Median hourly wage
- $24.77
- Employment
- 31,670
31,670 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,560 | $16.61 |
| 25th percentile | $41,430 | $19.92 |
| Median (50th) | $51,520 | $24.77 |
| 75th percentile | $67,590 | $32.50 |
| 90th percentile | $83,620 | $40.20 |
Highest-paying states for sailors and marine oilers
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,140 | 340 |
| New Jersey | $71,880 | 520 |
| Oregon | $70,410 | 210 |
| Washington | $66,700 | 1,590 |
| Alaska | $63,130 | 480 |
| Tennessee | $60,580 | 870 |
| Delaware | $60,040 | 80 |
| Florida | $57,930 | 2,710 |
| Minnesota | $56,680 | 90 |
| Indiana | $56,570 | 570 |
Lowest-paying states
- Arkansas: $23,960 median annual wage
- Georgia: $37,500 median annual wage
- Pennsylvania: $38,810 median annual wage
- Alabama: $43,000 median annual wage
- Massachusetts: $44,070 median annual wage
About this occupation
Stand watch to look for obstructions in path of vessel, measure water depth, turn wheel on bridge, or use emergency equipment as directed by captain, mate, or pilot. Break out, rig, overhaul, and store cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, and running gear. Perform a variety of maintenance tasks to preserve the painted surface of the ship and to maintain line and ship equipment. Must hold government-issued certification and tankerman certification when working aboard liquid-carrying vessels. Includes able seamen and ordinary seamen.
Typical tasks
- Tie barges together into tow units for tugboats to handle, inspecting barges periodically during voyages and disconnecting them when destinations are reached.
- Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks.
- Operate, maintain, or repair ship equipment, such as winches, cranes, derricks, or weapons system.
- Paint or varnish decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ships.
- Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.
- Chip and clean rust spots on decks, superstructures, or sides of ships, using wire brushes and hand or air chipping machines.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: No formal educational credential
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 10.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 36.8% |
| Some college, no degree | 25.8% |
| Associate's degree | 9.3% |
| Bachelor's degree | 15.3% |
| Master's degree | 2.3% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 0.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$40,240
- Stockers and Order Fillers$37,330
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,640
- Light Truck Drivers$44,860
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$46,420
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,890
- Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,280
- Driver/Sales Workers$38,770
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.