How much does a sailor make?
a year · about $25 an hour
A typical sailor in the United States makes $51,520 a year, about $25 an hour, about the same as a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
On deck, a sailor scans for boats and buoys, handles thick mooring lines, and chips rust or paints. In the engine room, an oiler checks gauges, lubricates gears, and helps maintain pumps and engines.
Did you know? In shallow or unfamiliar water, a sailor may use a weighted line called a leadline to measure depth, then call it up to the bridge.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $34,560 and $83,620How do you become one?
Most entry-level sailors in the U.S. need no degree; at 18 or older, one route is an apprenticeship with onboard training. Many jobs require a TSA TWIC and Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credential, plus required checks.
School needed: High school plus some training
Good for people who like building and doing and keeping things organized
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, Coast Guard credentials, tanker skills, employer, and location. Hours and schedules matter too: some crews work at sea for long stretches, while BLS wage estimates leave out overtime and shift premiums.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in New Jersey ($71,880), lowest in Louisiana ($46,610).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $34,560 | $51,520 | $83,620 | about 32,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $71,880 | about 520 |
| Washington | $66,700 | about 2,000 |
| Tennessee | $60,580 | about 870 |
| Florida | $57,930 | about 3,000 |
| Indiana | $56,570 | about 570 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/OOH/transportation-and-material-moving/water-transportation-occupati
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/53-5011.00
- www.dco.uscg.mil/nmc/merchant_mariner_credential
- www.seafarers.org/training-and-careers/admissions/apprentice-program-overview
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY