53 Series · SOC 53-5011
Sailors and Marine Oilers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $51,520
- Median / year
- $83,620
- Top 10% earn
- +2.3%
- Growth '23–'33
- 31,670
- US workers
Sailors and Marine Oilers earn a median of $51,520 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $51,520, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $34,560 (10th percentile) to $83,620 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 31,670 US workers. Hawaii pays the most ($76,140), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Sailors and Marine Oilers earn a median of $51,520, putting them below the typical US occupation and higher than 37% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #27 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 2.3% by 2033.
- $51,520
- Median annual wage
- Top 63%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #27 of 50
- in Transportation and Material Moving
- 2.4×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Hawaii at $76,140. Typical entry-level education: No formal educational credential.
Sailors and Marine Oilers (SOC 53-5011) pays a national median of $51,520 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $34,560 at the 10th percentile to $83,620 at the 90th, with a mean of $56,830 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 31,670 Americans work in this occupation across 36 reporting states and 66 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +2.3% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 3,900 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is No formal educational credential and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of C for this role, with a fatality rate of 17.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 4.8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Hawaii pays the highest state median at $76,140, which is +48% above the national figure. The top metro is Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA at $79,870 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$51,520
per year
Median Hourly
$24.77/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$56,830
average
Employment
31,670
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Sailors and Marine Oilers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$51,520 Bottom 37% higher than 37% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Sailors and Marine Oilers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 53-series occupations with growth data, Sailors and Marine Oilers sits on the slower-growing side at +2.3% growth and $51,520 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+2.3%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
3,900
per year (projected)
Typical Education
No formal educational credential
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Moderate Risk
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
17.5/100K
Injury Rate
4.8/100
Danger Index
28/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Sailors and Marine Oilers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ 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.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$34,560
25th Percentile
$41,430
Median
$51,520
75th Percentile
$67,590
90th Percentile
$83,620
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 36 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $76,140 | +48% above national |
| 2 | New Jersey | $71,880 | +40% above national |
| 3 | Oregon | $70,410 | +37% above national |
| 4 | Washington | $66,700 | +29% above national |
| 5 | Alaska | $63,130 | +23% above national |
| 6 | Tennessee | $60,580 | +18% above national |
| 7 | Delaware | $60,040 | +17% above national |
| 8 | Florida | $57,930 | +12% above national |
| 9 | Minnesota | $56,680 | +10% above national |
| 10 | Indiana | $56,570 | +10% above national |
| 11 | Texas | $55,610 | +8% above national |
| 12 | California | $55,180 | +7% above national |
| 13 | New York | $54,210 | +5% above national |
| 14 | Ohio | $53,520 | +4% above national |
| 15 | Missouri | $51,940 | +1% above national |
| 16 | Michigan | $51,310 | same as national |
| 17 | South Carolina | $50,500 | 2% below national |
| 18 | Mississippi | $50,390 | 2% below national |
| 19 | Virginia | $49,120 | 5% below national |
| 20 | Illinois | $49,090 | 5% below national |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $48,880 | 5% below national |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $48,860 | 5% below national |
| 23 | Iowa | $48,100 | 7% below national |
| 24 | Kentucky | $47,460 | 8% below national |
| 25 | West Virginia | $47,370 | 8% below national |
| 26 | Maine | $46,800 | 9% below national |
| 27 | Louisiana | $46,610 | 10% below national |
| 28 | Connecticut | $45,280 | 12% below national |
| 29 | North Carolina | $44,770 | 13% below national |
| 30 | Massachusetts | $44,070 | 14% below national |
| 31 | Alabama | $43,000 | 17% below national |
| 32 | Pennsylvania | $38,810 | 25% below national |
| 33 | Georgia | $37,500 | 27% below national |
| 34 | Puerto Rico | $30,700 | 40% below national |
| 35 | Virgin Islands | $29,990 | 42% below national |
| 36 | Arkansas | $23,960 | 53% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 66 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $79,870 | +55% above national |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $76,330 | +48% above national |
| 3 | Jacksonville, FL | $75,530 | +47% above national |
| 4 | Duluth, MN-WI | $74,920 | +45% above national |
| 5 | Anchorage, AK | $73,320 | +42% above national |
| 6 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $68,780 | +34% above national |
| 7 | Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $68,740 | +33% above national |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $68,740 | +33% above national |
| 9 | Western Washington nonmetropolitan area | $66,560 | +29% above national |
| 10 | Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | $65,940 | +28% above national |
| 11 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $63,900 | +24% above national |
| 12 | Coast Oregon nonmetropolitan area | $62,880 | +22% above national |
| 13 | Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $62,650 | +22% above national |
| 14 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $62,610 | +22% above national |
| 15 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $62,550 | +21% above national |
| 16 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $61,870 | +20% above national |
| 17 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $61,630 | +20% above national |
| 18 | Barnstable Town, MA | $61,510 | +19% above national |
| 19 | Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $61,120 | +19% above national |
| 20 | Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $59,100 | +15% above national |
| 21 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $57,870 | +12% above national |
| 22 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $57,450 | +12% above national |
| 23 | Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $57,320 | +11% above national |
| 24 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $55,610 | +8% above national |
| 25 | Cleveland, OH | $53,520 | +4% above national |
| 26 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $52,950 | +3% above national |
| 27 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $52,110 | +1% above national |
| 28 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $52,000 | +1% above national |
| 29 | Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area | $51,750 | same as national |
| 30 | Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area | $51,720 | same as national |
| 31 | Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $51,320 | same as national |
| 32 | Mobile, AL | $50,480 | 2% below national |
| 33 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $50,050 | 3% below national |
| 34 | Naples-Marco Island, FL | $49,670 | 4% below national |
| 35 | Northeast Maine nonmetropolitan area | $49,580 | 4% below national |
| 36 | Lafayette, LA | $49,500 | 4% below national |
| 37 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $49,400 | 4% below national |
| 38 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $49,190 | 5% below national |
| 39 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $48,560 | 6% below national |
| 40 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $48,530 | 6% below national |
| 41 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $48,530 | 6% below national |
| 42 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $48,500 | 6% below national |
| 43 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $48,290 | 6% below national |
| 44 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $48,270 | 6% below national |
| 45 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $48,210 | 6% below national |
| 46 | Paducah, KY-IL | $47,550 | 8% below national |
| 47 | Baton Rouge, LA | $47,520 | 8% below national |
| 48 | Wilmington, NC | $46,910 | 9% below national |
| 49 | Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $45,630 | 11% below national |
| 50 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $45,610 | 11% below national |
| 51 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $45,600 | 11% below national |
| 52 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $44,880 | 13% below national |
| 53 | Eastern North Carolina nonmetropolitan area | $44,550 | 14% below national |
| 54 | Corpus Christi, TX | $44,520 | 14% below national |
| 55 | South Florida nonmetropolitan area | $44,440 | 14% below national |
| 56 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $44,350 | 14% below national |
| 57 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $44,070 | 14% below national |
| 58 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $43,630 | 15% below national |
| 59 | New Haven, CT | $43,360 | 16% below national |
| 60 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $42,710 | 17% below national |
| 61 | Savannah, GA | $42,360 | 18% below national |
| 62 | Lake Charles, LA | $38,600 | 25% below national |
| 63 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $38,480 | 25% below national |
| 64 | Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL | $38,470 | 25% below national |
| 65 | Pittsburgh, PA | $37,920 | 26% below national |
| 66 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $30,700 | 40% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 53 (transportation and material moving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Sailors and Marine Oilers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $67,590/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Hawaii leads at $76,140/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.