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Sailors and Marine Oilers: Career Overview
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.
What Do Sailors and Marine Oilers Perform?
The day-to-day responsibilities of sailors and marine oilers cover:
- 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.
- Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.
- Read pressure and temperature gauges or displays and record data in engineering logs.
- Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses.
- Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.
- Examine machinery to verify specified pressures or lubricant flows.
- Maintain a ship's engines under the direction of the ship's engineering officers.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top sailors and marine oilers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Sailors and Marine Oilers Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman)
- Able Bodied Watchman (AB Watchman)
- Able Seaman
- Aerographer's Mate
- Barge Hand
- Barge Worker
- Bargeman
- Boat Crew Deck Hand
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 1,376,177 sailors and marine oilers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +14.1% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Sailors and Marine Oilers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $27,038 |
| Hourly median | $13.00 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,549 |
| 75th percentile | $31,526 |
| 90th percentile | $36,015 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Sailors and Marine Oilers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $68,700 |
| Texas | $65,680 |
| Washington | $64,860 |
| Hawaii | $63,280 |
| New Jersey | $61,610 |
| Alaska | $61,030 |
| New York | $61,010 |
| Delaware | $57,900 |
| Connecticut | $56,190 |
| California | $54,980 |
| Minnesota | $53,760 |
| Michigan | $52,000 |
| Mississippi | $49,030 |
| South Carolina | $48,870 |
| Alabama | $48,340 |
| Illinois | $48,300 |
| Tennessee | $48,220 |
| Wisconsin | $48,180 |
| Rhode Island | $48,180 |
| Indiana | $47,900 |
| Maryland | $46,520 |
| Florida | $46,070 |
| Virginia | $44,720 |
| Louisiana | $44,380 |
| Ohio | $43,640 |
| North Carolina | $43,250 |
| Maine | $42,890 |
| Iowa | $41,940 |
| Kentucky | $41,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,150 |
| Massachusetts | $37,850 |
| Missouri | $37,830 |
| Georgia | $36,830 |
| Virgin Islands | $27,830 |
Where Sailors and Marine Oilers Earn the Most
Compensation for sailors and marine oilers vary by region. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $65,680 | 17.9% | 1.99 |
| Far Western US | $60,786 | 14.9% | 2.04 |
| Middle Atlantic | $56,904 | 8.1% | 0.61 |
| Great Lakes | $48,270 | 4.4% | 0.41 |
| New England | $47,453 | 3.0% | 0.98 |
| Southeast | $44,892 | 50.4% | 10.15 |
| Plains States | $41,710 | 0.9% | 0.23 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $27,830 | 0.4% | 15.55 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | OR | $85,580 | 170 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $76,430 | 450 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | HI | $70,950 | 160 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $70,660 | 4,640 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | WA | $65,480 | 210 |
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $65,120 | 80 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | TX | $64,540 | 110 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | WA | $62,800 | 90 |
Industry Breakdown
The bulk of sailors and marine oilers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 22,880 | $50,060 |
| Construction | 980 | $41,710 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 400 | $60,610 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 390 | $45,130 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 380 | $61,720 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 310 | $37,600 |
| Wholesale Trade | 290 | $61,480 |
| Manufacturing | 240 | $54,500 |
Sailors and Marine Oilers work in the following industries:
Software Sailors and Marine Oilers Use
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for sailors and marine oilers reflects the following characteristics:
- Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
- Exposed to Contaminants
Education and Training
Most sailors and marine oilers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This career aligns with Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (Supplemental)
- Fishing and Hunting Workers (Supplemental)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Primary-Long)
- Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Roustabouts, Oil and Gas (Supplemental)
- Helpers–Extraction Workers (Supplemental)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Supplemental)
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians (Supplemental)
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-5011.00 (Sailors and Marine Oilers).
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