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Cargo Shipping
Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd
Sailors and Marine Oilers
This job is hands-on ship work: cleaning decks, moving liquid cargo through hoses and pumps, rigging gear, repairing lines, and standing watch for hazards while the vessel is underway. It stands out because the work mixes maintenance, cargo handling, and lookout duties in a setting that can change with the weather and the motion of the ship. The tradeoff is simple: you can enter without a degree and build real maritime skills, but the work is physical, repetitive, and often keeps you away from home for long stretches.
Also known as DeckhandOrdinary SeamanAble Bodied SeamanMarine OilerVessel Deckhand
Median Salary
$49,610
Mean $55,320
U.S. Workforce
~31K
3.9K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+2.3%
32.1K to 32.8K
Entry Education
No formal educational credential
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Sailors and Marine Oilers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~31K workers, with a median annual pay of $49,610 and roughly 3.9K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 32.1 K in 2024 to 32.8K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with No formal educational credential, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Entry-level deckhand and can progress toward Vessel Operations Supervisor. High-value skills usually include Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, and Shipboard Pumps, Valves & Cargo Transfer Systems, paired with soft skills such as Active Listening, Situational Awareness, and Teamwork.
Core Responsibilities
- Clean decks and remove oil, dirt, rust, and debris so the ship stays safe and workable.
- Connect hoses and run pumps to move liquid cargo into or out of storage tanks.
- Set up, take down, and store ropes, rigging, and cargo gear used for moving materials.
- Fix damaged ropes, wire cables, and other deck lines with hand tools.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Clean decks and remove oil, dirt, rust, and debris so the ship stays safe and workable.
02 Connect hoses and run pumps to move liquid cargo into or out of storage tanks.
03 Set up, take down, and store ropes, rigging, and cargo gear used for moving materials.
04 Fix damaged ropes, wire cables, and other deck lines with hand tools.
05 Keep watch from exposed spots on the ship and report obstacles, buoys, lighthouses, or other signs in the vessel’s path.
06 Paint, touch up, and maintain ship surfaces and equipment so corrosion does not spread.
Industries That Hire
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Offshore Energy
Shell, Chevron, BP
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Passenger Ferries and Cruises
Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line
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Inland Barge Transport
Kirby Corporation, Ingram Barge Company, American Commercial Barge Line
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Port and Marine Services
SSA Marine, Crowley, Tidewater
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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You can get started without a formal degree, and the job typically uses moderate-term on-the-job training instead of years of school.
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Pay is solid for a hands-on role, with a median annual wage of $49,610 and a mean of $55,320.
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There are about 3.9K annual openings, so people with the right credentials and sea experience can find recurring hiring opportunities.
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The work builds practical skills that transfer to other shipboard jobs, including pumps, rigging, maintenance, and watchkeeping.
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Strong workers can earn more responsibility by proving they can safely monitor equipment and handle tasks without constant supervision.
Challenges
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Growth is slow, at just 2.3% through 2034, which means employment is only expected to rise by about 0.7K jobs.
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The work is physically rough: you spend time in wet, dirty, and greasy conditions, and tasks like rust chipping and deck washing are repetitive.
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Ship schedules can be hard on personal life because many assignments involve long stretches away from home and rotating watches.
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Safety risks are built into the job, from heavy gear and moving machinery to slippery decks and rough weather.
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The career ceiling can be limited without extra credentials, because many of the higher-paying shore-side or officer roles require moving into more specialized or licensed work.
Career Progression
Entry-level deckhand
0-1 years
$34K-$42K
Learns basic safety, cleaning, line handling, and watch duties while working under close supervision.
Sailor and Marine Oiler
1-4 years
$43K-$58K
Handles routine deck work, cargo transfer support, lookout duties, and basic maintenance with less supervision.
Able Seaman / Lead Deckhand THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$59K-$74K
Takes on harder deck assignments, helps coordinate crew tasks, and may cover more demanding watch responsibilities.
Bosun / Deck Crew Supervisor
8-15 years
$75K-$93K
Leads deck crews, assigns work, checks equipment condition, and keeps maintenance and cargo tasks on schedule.
Vessel Operations Supervisor
15+ years
$94K-$120K
Oversees deck or vessel operations, handles planning and compliance, and manages crews across longer voyages or larger ships.
Education Paths
No formal educational credential
Many workers enter directly and learn on the job, with moderate-term training and no degree required.
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
This is the most common formal pathway in the data, appearing for 78% of workers in the education distribution.
Some College Courses
Some college coursework appears for 62% of workers in the education distribution and can help with maritime or mechanical basics.
Merchant Mariner Credential or STCW Safety Training
A certification route can be a practical alternative for getting hired into shipboard entry work, especially if you want to qualify faster than a degree path.
Key Skills
Technical
Operations Monitoring 78%
Operation and Control 72%
Shipboard Pumps, Valves & Cargo Transfer Systems 70%
Monitoring 65%
Rigging, Wire Rope & Cargo Gear 64%
Repairing 62%
Troubleshooting 62%
Lookout Procedures & Navigation Aids 62%
Marine Hand Tools, Wire Brushes & Chipping Equipment 60%
Complex Problem Solving 60%
Soft Skills
Active ListeningSituational AwarenessTeamworkClear CommunicationAttention to DetailDependability Job Outlook and Trends
+2.3%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
3.9K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 32.1K to 32.8 K over the next decade, representing 2.3% growth. Around 3.9 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.