---

Sailors and Marine Oilers in California

Considering working as a Sailors and Marine Oilers in California? Below are the key facts. 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 Make in California?

The sailors and marine oilers working in California, the typical annual salary is $54,980 per year (or about $26.43/hour).Annual wages span from $37,450 at the 10th percentile to $77,620 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$37,450	$18.00
25th percentile	$43,050	$20.70
Median (50th)	$54,980	$26.43
75th percentile	$68,850	$33.10
90th percentile	$77,620	$37.32

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in California relative to the national average — is 0.50, meaning fewer sailors and marine oilers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, sailors and marine oilers earn a median of $27,038 per year ($13.00/hour), exceeding the California median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 1,376,177 sailors and marine oilers nationwide. In California alone, about 1,830 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 290 sailors and marine oilers.

Top California Metros for Sailors and Marine Oilers

These are the California metros with the most sailors and marine oilers in California.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	630	$46,680
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	450	$76,430
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	210	$46,770
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	70	$44,550
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	50	$43,050

Top States for Sailors and Marine Oilers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most sailors and marine oilers work.

State	Number Employed
Louisiana	7,470
Texas	5,600
Florida	2,590
Virginia	2,390
Washington	1,910
California	1,830
New York	1,340
Kentucky	1,180
Tennessee	730
New Jersey	570
Mississippi	560
Indiana	450
Alaska	440
Illinois	440
Connecticut	350
North Carolina	310
Pennsylvania	290
Oregon	280
Maryland	270
Massachusetts	260

Highest-Paying States for Sailors and Marine Oilers

Where sailors and marine oilers earn the most: sailors and marine oilers.

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

Skills

Key sailors and marine oilers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Key knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for sailors and marine oilers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Sailors and Marine Oilers typically:

• 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.
• Break out, rig, and stow cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, or running gear.
• Lubricate machinery, equipment, or engine parts, such as gears, shafts, or bearings.
• Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur.
• Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.

Work Activities

• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Getting Information
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Handling and Moving Objects
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

Related Careers

Other careers like sailors and marine oilers include:

• Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
• Fishing and Hunting Workers
• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
• Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
• Roustabouts, Oil and Gas
• Helpers–Extraction Workers

Also Known As

Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman), Able Bodied Watchman (AB Watchman), Able Seaman, Aerographer's Mate, Barge Hand, Barge Worker, Bargeman, Boat Crew Deck Hand, Boat Deckhand, Boat Hand, Boat Laborer, Boat Person, Boatman, Boatswain's Mate, Bosun.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-5011.00