Sailors and Marine Oilers salary in the U.S.
Sailors and Marine Oilers in the U.S. earn a median of $51,520 a year ($24.77 an hour), based on BLS data for 31,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $34,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,620 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $56,830, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sailors and marine oilers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $34,560 | $16.61 |
| 25th percentile | $41,430 | $19.92 |
| Median | $51,520 | $24.77 |
| 75th percentile | $67,590 | $32.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $83,620 | $40.20 |
| Average (mean) | $56,830 | $27.32 |
Half of sailors and marine oilers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $4,293.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,146.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $1,981.54 |
| Weekly | $990.77 |
| Hourly | $24.77 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $51,520 salary, see how much house you can afford at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Sailors and Marine Oilers salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Texas | $55,610 | 4,270 |
| California | $55,180 | 1,680 |
| New York | $54,210 | 1,570 |
| Ohio | $53,520 | 140 |
| Missouri | $51,940 | 220 |
| Michigan | $51,310 | 250 |
| South Carolina | $50,500 | 210 |
| Mississippi | $50,390 | 490 |
| Virginia | $49,120 | 2,970 |
| Illinois | $49,090 | 420 |
| Wisconsin | $48,880 | 110 |
| Rhode Island | $48,860 | 210 |
| Iowa | $48,100 | 70 |
| Kentucky | $47,460 | 1,470 |
| West Virginia | $47,370 | 100 |
| Maine | $46,800 | 240 |
| Louisiana | $46,610 | 7,580 |
| Connecticut | $45,280 | 400 |
| North Carolina | $44,770 | 310 |
| Massachusetts | $44,070 | 420 |
| Alabama | $43,000 | 290 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,810 | 210 |
| Georgia | $37,500 | 80 |
| Puerto Rico | $30,700 | n/a |
| Virgin Islands | $29,990 | 120 |
| Arkansas | $23,960 | 70 |
Best-paying metro areas for sailors and marine oilers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $79,870 | 200 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $76,330 | 250 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $75,530 | 700 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $74,920 | 50 |
| Anchorage, AK | $73,320 | 80 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $68,780 | 410 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $68,740 | 110 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $68,740 | 1,080 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $65,940 | 70 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $63,900 | 160 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $62,650 | 560 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $62,610 | 620 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $62,550 | 1,720 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,630 | 150 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | $61,510 | 40 |
Metro areas with the most sailors and marine oilers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 3,470 | $55,610 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 2,830 | $48,210 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 2,140 | $48,500 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 1,940 | $43,630 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,720 | $62,550 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 1,310 | $47,520 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,150 | $57,870 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 1,080 | $68,740 |
| Paducah, KY-IL | 1,070 | $47,550 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 700 | $75,530 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 660 | $48,530 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 620 | $62,610 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 560 | $62,650 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 410 | $68,780 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 340 | $44,070 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $92,460 | $44.45 |
| Ship Engineer | $109,530 | $52.66 |
| Motorboat Operator | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | $30.23 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,770 | $18.64 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $37,290 | $17.93 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-5011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sailors and marine oilers make in the U.S.?
The median salary for sailors and marine oilers in the U.S. is $51,520 a year, or $24.77 an hour. Pay ranges from $34,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $83,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sailors and marine oilers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of sailors and marine oilers in the U.S. earn at least $83,620 a year. The top 25% earn $67,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for sailors and marine oilers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $34,560 a year, and a quarter of sailors and marine oilers earn $41,430 or less.
How many sailors and marine oilers work in the U.S.?
About 31,670 sailors and marine oilers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.