Chief Engineer
Head of the engineering department. Responsible for propulsion, power generation, all ship systems, bunkers, and ER safety.
- Route
- CoC Chief Engineer Unlimited (STCW III/2). Typical path: engine cadet → OOW Engine (III/1) → Second Engineer (III/2) → Chief Engineer (III/2).
- Watches
- No formal watch under UMS operation. Answers all engine alarms and supervises 2/E watchkeeping.
- Progression
- Second Engineer first trip → Chief Engineer (cargo) → Chief Engineer (tanker/LNG)
Discussion
Forum · engineersPublished ranges
| Vessel | Region | Low | Median | High | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLCC | Global | $14,000 | $16,200 | $18,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Container (post-Panamax) | Global | $11,000 | $13,000 | $15,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Bulk carrier (Capesize) | Global | $9,500 | $11,200 | $13,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| LNG carrier | Global | $16,500 | $18,800 | $22,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| MR product tanker | Global | $10,500 | $12,300 | $14,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Suezmax tanker | Global | $12,550 | $14,750 | $16,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| Aframax tanker | Global | $11,750 | $13,800 | $15,850 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| LR2 product tanker | Global | $11,300 | $13,300 | $15,300 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| MR product tanker (alt) | Global | $10,900 | $12,850 | $14,800 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| Chemical tanker IMO I | Global | $11,950 | $14,050 | $16,150 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Bitumen tanker | Global | $10,100 | $11,900 | $13,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Asphalt tanker | Global | $9,700 | $11,400 | $13,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| LNG carrier (membrane Q-Flex) | Global | $14,150 | $16,650 | $19,150 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report) |
| LNG carrier (DFDE/MEGI) | Global | $14,550 | $17,100 | $19,650 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report) |
| LNG carrier (Q-Max) | Global | $15,350 | $18,050 | $20,750 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report) |
| Ethane carrier | Global | $13,750 | $16,150 | $18,550 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| VLEC (Very Large Ethane Carrier) | Global | $14,150 | $16,650 | $19,150 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Ammonia carrier | Global | $13,350 | $15,700 | $18,050 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Bulk carrier (Newcastlemax) | Global | $10,500 | $12,350 | $14,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk) |
| VLOC (Valemax) | Global | $10,900 | $12,850 | $14,800 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk) |
| Bulk carrier (Kamsarmax) | Global | $10,100 | $11,900 | $13,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Bulk carrier (Ultramax) | Global | $9,700 | $11,400 | $13,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Container (Neo-Panamax) | Global | $10,900 | $12,850 | $14,800 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container) |
| Container (12,000–15,000 TEU) | Global | $11,300 | $13,300 | $15,300 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container) |
| Container (24,000 TEU ULCV) | Global | $12,100 | $14,250 | $16,400 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Heavy lift project carrier | Global | $10,500 | $12,350 | $14,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream specialised) |
| Cement carrier | Global | $9,300 | $10,950 | $12,600 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Wood chip carrier | Global | $8,900 | $10,450 | $12,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Live animal carrier | Global | $8,500 | $10,000 | $11,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Reefer (refrigerated cargo) | Global | $9,300 | $10,950 | $12,600 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| PCTC (large) | Global | $10,900 | $12,850 | $14,800 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| OSV — PSV (large) | North Sea | $10,900 | $12,850 | $14,800 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| OSV — AHTS (deepwater) | North Sea / West Africa | $12,900 | $15,200 | $17,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| FPSO | Global | $14,150 | $16,650 | $19,150 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Drillship | Global | $14,550 | $17,100 | $19,650 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Semi-submersible MODU | Global | $14,150 | $16,650 | $19,150 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Jack-up rig | Middle East | $12,900 | $15,200 | $17,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| MPSV / DSV | Global | $13,350 | $15,700 | $18,050 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Cable layer | Global | $12,900 | $15,200 | $17,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Wind farm SOV | Northern Europe | $11,300 | $13,300 | $15,300 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind) |
| Wind farm CTV | Northern Europe | $6,900 | $8,100 | $9,300 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind) |
| Harbour ASD tug | Europe | $6,900 | $8,100 | $9,300 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug) |
| Escort tug | North Sea | $7,700 | $9,050 | $10,400 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug) |
| Ocean-going tug | Global | $9,300 | $10,950 | $12,600 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug) |
| Salvage tug (specialist) | Global | $11,300 | $13,300 | $15,300 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Salvage Industry) |
| Cruise ship (luxury, Silversea/Seabourn) | Global | $13,750 | $16,150 | $18,550 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise) |
| Expedition cruise (polar) | Global | $12,900 | $15,200 | $17,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise) |
| Riverboat cruise (Europe) | Europe (Rhine/Danube) | $6,900 | $8,100 | $9,300 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Ferry / RoPax (Baltic) | Baltic | $7,700 | $9,050 | $10,400 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Ferry / RoPax (Mediterranean) | Mediterranean | $8,100 | $9,500 | $10,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Yacht (50–80 m) | Mediterranean / Caribbean | $10,500 | $12,350 | $14,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht) |
| Yacht (80–120 m) | Mediterranean / Caribbean | $14,550 | $17,100 | $19,650 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht) |
| Yacht (>120 m) | Mediterranean / Caribbean | $19,400 | $22,800 | $26,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht) |
| Inland barge tow (Mississippi) | USA inland | $9,300 | $10,950 | $12,600 | 2025 | USCG-licensed inland wage survey |
| Inland push-tow (Rhine) | Rhine | $6,100 | $7,150 | $8,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (CCNR) |
| Coaster (≤ 3000 GT) | Europe / domestic | $5,650 | $6,650 | $7,650 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| All | IBF Standard Framework | $8,000 | $8,600 | $9,200 | 2025 | BIMCO IBF Framework (TCC tariff) |
| Coastal tanker | USA Jones Act | $18,450 | $20,500 | $22,550 | 2025 | USCG-licensed wage survey + MEBA/AMO CBA |
| Tanker / dry bulk | Norway NIS | $11,700 | $13,000 | $14,300 | 2025 | Det norske maskinistforbund tariff |
Wages are a floor, not a ceiling. Union CBAs, tanker/LNG/cruise differentials, and seniority-based bonuses routinely push above these numbers. Verify with ITF or your union before signing.
See the annual Seafarer salary benchmark 2026 for cross-rank synthesis and the career maps for trajectory analysis.