SalariesWhat the occupation covers
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.
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 53-5011.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $34,560 | $2,880 | $665 | $16.61 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $41,430 | $3,452 | $797 | $19.92 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $51,520 | $4,293 | $991 | $24.77 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $67,590 | $5,632 | $1,300 | $32.50 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $83,620 | $6,968 | $1,608 | $40.20 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Sailors and Marine Oilers is $51,520, which is about the same. Among the 50 occupations of the field Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks number 27 by median pay. With 31,670 jobs, it makes up about 2.0 of every 10,000 jobs in the country. The average ($56,830) is well above the median, a sign that a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up.
Sailors and Marine Oilers pay by state
The highest median pay was in Hawaii ($76,140), New Jersey ($71,880) and Oregon ($70,410). The lowest was in Arkansas ($23,960), Virgin Islands ($29,990) and Puerto Rico ($30,700). The most jobs were in Louisiana (7,580), Texas (4,270) and Virginia (2,970). The occupation is most concentrated in Louisiana, where its share of all jobs is 19.2 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 340 | $76,140 | $75,430 | $36.60 |
| New Jersey | 520 | $71,880 | $66,900 | $34.56 |
| Oregon | 210 | $70,410 | $70,000 | $33.85 |
| Washington | 1,590 | $66,700 | $67,170 | $32.07 |
| Alaska | 480 | $63,130 | $64,800 | $30.35 |
| Tennessee | 870 | $60,580 | $60,730 | $29.12 |
| Delaware | 80 | $60,040 | $58,220 | $28.86 |
| Florida | 2,710 | $57,930 | $58,400 | $27.85 |
| Minnesota | 90 | $56,680 | $57,410 | $27.25 |
| Indiana | 570 | $56,570 | $58,970 | $27.20 |
| Texas | 4,270 | $55,610 | $62,110 | $26.74 |
| California | 1,680 | $55,180 | $55,750 | $26.53 |
| New York | 1,570 | $54,210 | $56,050 | $26.06 |
| Ohio | 140 | $53,520 | $50,320 | $25.73 |
| Missouri | 220 | $51,940 | $55,150 | $24.97 |
| Michigan | 250 | $51,310 | $51,410 | $24.67 |
| South Carolina | 210 | $50,500 | $58,800 | $24.28 |
| Mississippi | 490 | $50,390 | $51,680 | $24.22 |
| Virginia | 2,970 | $49,120 | $50,160 | $23.62 |
| Illinois | 420 | $49,090 | $53,130 | $23.60 |
| Wisconsin | 110 | $48,880 | $51,150 | $23.50 |
| Rhode Island | 210 | $48,860 | $58,960 | $23.49 |
| Iowa | 70 | $48,100 | $49,590 | $23.13 |
| Kentucky | 1,470 | $47,460 | $48,720 | $22.82 |
| West Virginia | 100 | $47,370 | $49,920 | $22.77 |
| Maine | 240 | $46,800 | $49,920 | $22.50 |
| Louisiana | 7,580 | $46,610 | $54,950 | $22.41 |
| Connecticut | 400 | $45,280 | $54,160 | $21.77 |
| North Carolina | 310 | $44,770 | $46,790 | $21.52 |
| Massachusetts | 420 | $44,070 | $50,550 | $21.19 |
| Alabama | 290 | $43,000 | $50,240 | $20.68 |
| Pennsylvania | 210 | $38,810 | $46,820 | $18.66 |
| Georgia | 80 | $37,500 | $40,160 | $18.03 |
| Puerto Rico | not published | $30,700 | $30,370 | $14.76 |
| Virgin Islands | 120 | $29,990 | $34,580 | $14.42 |
| Arkansas | 70 | $23,960 | $35,470 | $11.52 |
| Maryland | 310 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
- Airfield Operations Specialists$56,850 a year
- Hoist and Winch Operators$56,450 a year
- Rail Transportation Workers, All Other$56,360 a year
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$49,690 a year
- Dredge Operators$49,640 a year
- Bus Drivers, School$47,920 a year
Common questions
How much do Sailors and Marine Oilers earn in the United States?
The median pay was $51,520 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $34,560 and the highest-paid 10% more than $83,620.
How many people work as Sailors and Marine Oilers?
About 31,670 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.