Skilled Trades
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. 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.
Median salary
$49,610
Typical range
$33k – $82k
Job outlook
+2% (about average)
AI exposure
Plan a path to Sailors and Marine Oilers
Education
Typical entry: No degree required
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Sailors and Marine Oilers
Entry / Junior
$33,350
~2 yrs to advance
Sailors and Marine Oilers
Established
$49,610
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Sailors and Marine Oilers
Senior
$65,750
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.