SOC 53-5011.00

    Sailors and Marine Oilers

    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.

    Median pay
    $51,520
    Growth
    +3.2%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    3,600
    Typical education
    No formal credential

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $34,560
    Median
    $51,520
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $83,620
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    31,670 people work in this occupation.

    What sailors and marine oilers do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    100 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    27 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    4 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    24 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    49 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCI. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    81
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    81
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    80
    Handling and Moving Objects
    79
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    75
    Performing General Physical Activities
    73
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    72
    Getting Information
    70
    Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
    70
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    70
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operations Monitoring
    • Operation and Control
    • Monitoring
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Repairing
    • Troubleshooting
    • Active Learning
    • Active Listening
    • Coordination
    • Critical Thinking

    Knowledge

    • Transportation
    • English Language
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Geography
    • Mechanical
    • Education and Training
    • Administration and Management
    • Computers and Electronics
    • Mathematics
    • Telecommunications

    Abilities

    • Far Vision
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Control Precision
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Depth Perception
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Perceptual Speed
    • Auditory Attention
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Attention to Detail
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance
    • Cooperation
    • Adaptability
    • Self-Control
    • Self-Confidence
    • Humility

    Also called

    AB Seaman (Able Bodied Seaman) · AB Watchman (Able Bodied Watchman) · Able Seaman · Barge Hand · Bargeman · Boat Deckhand · Boat Hand · Boatman · Buoy Tender · Deck Hand

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What sailors and marine oilers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    7 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Federal

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

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    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

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    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.