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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 (BLS)

$51,520

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$35k – $84k

Job outlook

+2% (about average)

AI exposure

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Education

Typical entry: No degree required

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How to qualify

EstimateLicense required

Cost to qualify

$100–$2,600

Time to qualify

3.1 yr

Renewal

$50/yr

  1. 1

    Registered apprenticeship (paid)

    Experience

    Earn-while-you-learn training — apprentices are paid during the program; fees are tools/books, not tuition.

    $0–$2,000 · 36 months · varies by state source

  2. 2

    Journeyman exam & state/local license

    License

    Most states and municipalities test and license journeyman-level trades workers.

    $100–$600 · 1 months · varies by state · renews every 2 yr source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Sailors and Marine Oilers" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Junior Sailors and Marine Oilers

    Entry / Junior

    $34,560

    ~2 yrs to advance

  2. Sailors and Marine Oilers

    Established

    $51,520

    ~3 yrs to advance

  3. Senior Sailors and Marine Oilers

    Senior

    $67,570

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

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.