Sailors and Marine Oilers Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of sailors and marine oilers to grow 3.2% from 2025 to 2035 (about 1,100 more jobs), with about 3,600 openings a year, and the May 2025 median pay of $51,520 a year ranks 521st of 825 occupations.
- Projected change
- +3.2%
- Openings a year
- 3,600
- Median pay
- $51,520
- Pay rank
- 521st of 825
Is employment of sailors and marine oilers growing or shrinking?
Growing: BLS projects employment of sailors and marine oilers to rise 3.2% (about 1,100 more jobs) from 2025 to 2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations. That is slower than the +4.3% summed from BLS's employment levels across the 50 transportation and material moving occupations with a projection. That change ranks 380th of 830 projected occupations.
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Employment, 2025 | 33,000 |
| Employment, 2035 | 34,100 |
| Projected change | +3.2% |
| Openings a year | 3,600 |
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035. A projection is a BLS estimate, not a count. The 33,000 jobs here differ from the 31,670 on the salary page because Employment Projections also counts the self-employed and a wider set of workers, while OEWS counts wage and salary jobs in May 2025. BLS published these projections on August 27, 2026; checked November 10, 2026. Confirm any figure in the BLS Employment Projections tables.
BLS's reasons for this projection are at the Occupational Outlook Handbook. State projections are at Projections Central; projections by industry are left to BLS. Education, licensing and work context at O*NET.
How many job openings are there each year?
About 3,600 openings a year, from job growth and from workers leaving the occupation, the 449th most of 830 occupations. About 97% of them replace workers who change occupations or leave the labor force; the rest come from the 110 jobs added in an average year.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
How does pay for sailors and marine oilers rank?
The median of $51,520 a year ranks 521st of 825 occupations with a published median. It sits in the lower half of occupations on both pay and openings.
Source: BLS OEWS national file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Ranks count only the occupations with that published figure: 830 for projected change, 830 for openings, 825 for median pay, which is why the totals differ.
What does it take to start?
- Typical entry-level education: no formal educational credential.
- Typical on-the-job training: moderate-term on-the-job training.
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, education and training assignments.
How do related jobs compare on outlook?
| Occupation | Change | Openings a year | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | +4.0% | 3,800 | $92,460 |
| Ship Engineers | +2.7% | 900 | $109,530 |
| Motorboat Operators | +4.9% | 300 | $47,520 |
| Dredge Operators | +0.7% | 100 | $49,640 |
| Hoist and Winch Operators | +0.2% | 300 | $56,450 |
| Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | +0.8% | 900 | $68,840 |
| Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | +2.8% | 1,300 | $58,870 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | +3.8% | 3,500 | $68,080 |
Related occupations from O*NET; projections from BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035; pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.