Seafarer salaries in 2026 still depend heavily on rank, vessel type, experience, company, trading area and contract duration.
The difference between the same position on different vessel types can amount to several thousand dollars per month. This is especially noticeable when comparing dry cargo vessels, tankers, offshore vessels and yachts.
In this article, we look at how much seafarers can earn in 2026, which sectors offer the highest salaries and what should be considered when looking for a new contract.
The figures below are approximate market values. Actual salaries may vary depending on the company and specific vacancy.
Seafarer salaries on container ships in 2026
The container fleet remains one of the largest sectors of global merchant shipping.
Average salary offers for key positions in 2026 are approximately:
Master — around $11,500 per month
Chief Engineer — around $11,500
Chief Officer — around $9,200
2nd Engineer — around $9,250
ETO — around $7,400
2nd Officer — around $4,600
3rd Officer — around $3,900
3rd Engineer — around $4,600
Able Seaman (AB) — around $2,150–2,200
Fitter / Welder — around $3,000
Senior officers on modern container ships can earn more than $10,000 per month, while ratings generally earn several thousand dollars per month.
👉 View current container ship vacancies on CREW ARIA.
Container Ship vacancies
How much do seafarers earn on bulk carriers?
Salary levels on Bulk Carriers in 2026 are generally similar to those on container ships.
Approximate averages:
Master — around $11,700
Chief Engineer — around $11,500
Chief Officer — around $9,100
2nd Engineer — around $9,200
ETO — around $7,100
2nd Officer — around $4,600
3rd Officer — around $3,900
3rd Engineer — around $4,550
AB — around $2,150
Fitter / Welder — around $3,200
For most positions, salaries remain relatively stable, although actual offers can vary significantly depending on the company, vessel deadweight and trading area.
👉 Find current Merchant Fleet vacancies.
Merchant Fleet vacancies
Seafarer salaries on tankers
The tanker fleet traditionally remains one of the highest-paying sectors of the maritime industry.
This is especially true for Crude Oil Tankers, Chemical Tankers, LNG and LPG vessels, where experience and certification requirements are generally higher.
Approximate salaries on Crude Oil Tankers in 2026 are:
Master — around $16,500 per month
Chief Engineer — around $16,100
Chief Officer — around $13,000
2nd Engineer — around $12,650
ETO — around $8,300
2nd Officer — around $5,750
3rd Engineer — around $5,500
3rd Officer — around $4,400
AB — around $2,400
Salaries on Product Tankers are usually slightly lower but still remain above many standard Merchant Fleet sectors.
On LNG and LPG vessels, some offers for senior officers may be even higher.
👉 View current Tanker Fleet vacancies.
Tanker Fleet vacancies
Why do tanker crews earn more?
Higher salaries are not only related to the type of cargo.
Working on tankers usually requires specialized certificates, experience on a specific tanker type, additional safety procedures and strict compliance with company and flag-state requirements.
As a result, a seafarer with strong tanker experience often has a higher market value than a candidate in the same rank whose experience is limited to dry cargo vessels.
How much do Masters and Chief Engineers earn?
Master and Chief Engineer remain two of the highest-paid positions in the merchant fleet.
Depending on the vessel type, monthly salaries may be approximately:
Bulk Carrier / Container Ship — $11,000–12,000
Product Tanker — $13,000–14,000
Crude Oil Tanker — $16,000–17,000
LNG/LPG and specialized vessels — some offers may be even higher.
👉 View Master vacancies.
Master vacancies
👉 View Chief Engineer vacancies.
Chief Engineer vacancies
ETO salary in 2026
The Electro-Technical Officer (ETO) position remains in demand as modern vessels rely increasingly on electronics, automation and complex power systems.
On standard container ships and bulk carriers, ETO salaries are often around $7,000–7,500 per month, while tanker salaries may be higher.
On LNG, LPG and specialized vessels, experienced ETOs may receive significantly higher offers.
👉 View current ETO vacancies.
ETO vacancies
How much do ratings earn?
Ratings earn significantly less than officers, although their salaries also depend heavily on vessel type and employer.
For an Able Seaman (AB) in the Merchant Fleet, a typical salary in 2026 is approximately $2,100–2,400 per month.
Rates on tankers are often slightly higher than on bulk carriers and container ships.
A Fitter / Welder may earn approximately $3,000–3,300, depending on the vessel and employer requirements.
On offshore vessels and specialized projects, salaries are often calculated as a day rate, making direct comparison with a standard monthly salary less accurate.
Offshore Fleet
The offshore sector differs significantly from the conventional Merchant Fleet.
Salary levels depend on vessel type, operating region, project, DP class, offshore certificates and rotation system.
On AHTS, PSV, DSV, Research Vessels and other specialized vessels, daily rates are commonly used.
An experienced Master, Chief Engineer, DPO or technical specialist may earn significantly more than a standard Merchant Fleet salary.
At the same time, rotations such as 4/4 or 6/6 weeks make direct comparisons with conventional monthly contracts more difficult.
👉 View current Offshore vacancies.
Offshore Fleet vacancies
Yacht crew salaries in 2026
The Yacht Fleet follows a very different salary structure.
Salary depends heavily on yacht size, Private or Charter operation, candidate experience and service level.
Approximate salary ranges:
Yacht Captain — €5,000–€23,000+ per month
Chief Officer / First Mate — €3,200–€15,000
Chief Engineer — €4,500–€15,000
ETO — around €6,000–€8,000+
Chief Steward / Stewardess — €4,000–€9,000+
Stewardess — around €2,800–€3,500 for junior candidates and higher for experienced crew
Bosun — approximately €3,500–€5,500
Deckhand — approximately €2,500–€4,500
Head Chef — €4,000–€11,000+
On large superyachts, salaries for senior crew can be significantly higher than on smaller yachts.
Crew working on Charter Yachts may also receive tips, which can significantly increase total earnings.
👉 View current Yacht Fleet vacancies.
Yacht Fleet vacancies
What determines a seafarer’s salary?
Rank is far from the only factor.
Employers usually consider:
experience in rank;
experience on a specific vessel type;
size and technical characteristics of previous vessels;
English language skills;
valid certificates;
available visas;
references from previous employers;
readiness for urgent joining;
trading area and contract duration.
This means that two seafarers holding the same rank may receive very different salary offers.
Why can the same rank differ by several thousand dollars?
For example, a Chief Engineer on a Bulk Carrier and a Chief Engineer on a Crude Oil Tanker perform the same core professional role, but the requirements for candidates are different.
In specialized fleets, employers are paying not only for the rank itself but also for experience on the specific vessel type.
Therefore, moving from one sector to another does not always immediately result in a higher salary — relevant vessel experience usually needs to be gained first.
Should you choose a vacancy based only on salary?
A high salary is attractive, but several other conditions should also be considered before signing a contract:
contract duration, trading area, vessel condition, crew composition, company reputation, rotation system, repatriation conditions and prospects for continued employment.
Sometimes a slightly lower salary combined with a better rotation and a stable company can be more attractive in the long term.
Where to find maritime jobs in 2026
Today, seafarers increasingly find jobs through specialized online platforms and professional maritime communities.
CREW ARIA publishes vacancies across several maritime sectors:
Merchant Fleet
Tanker Fleet
Offshore Fleet
Passenger Fleet
Yacht Fleet
Seafarers can select their rank, browse current opportunities and apply directly to employers.
👉 View all current maritime vacancies on CREW ARIA.
Vacancies
When searching for the next contract, it is better to look not only at average salary figures but also at real vacancies currently being published.
Current job offers provide the clearest indication of what employers are prepared to pay seafarers with specific experience.
In 2026, the highest salaries continue to be found in the tanker fleet, specialized offshore sector and large yachts, while the Merchant Fleet remains the largest source of stable employment opportunities for most maritime positions.
