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Cook

Ship's Cook — all galley operations and crew catering. Under MLC 2006, vessels above 10 crew must carry a certified cook.

Route
Ship's Cook Certificate (national, per MLC 2006 Regulation 3.2).
Watches
Day-work; early start for breakfast.
Progression
Messman → Cook → Chief Cook
Discussion
Forum · catering

Published ranges

VesselRegionLowMedianHighYearSource
GeneralITF TCC$2,200$2,400$2,6502025ITF TCC scale
BulkerITF TCC$2,000$2,230$2,4702025ITF TCC scale
Suezmax tankerGlobal$2,900$3,400$3,9002025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
Aframax tankerGlobal$2,700$3,200$3,7002025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
LR2 product tankerGlobal$2,650$3,100$3,5502025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
MR product tanker (alt)Global$2,500$2,950$3,4002025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
Chemical tanker IMO IGlobal$2,750$3,250$3,7502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Bitumen tankerGlobal$2,350$2,750$3,1502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Asphalt tankerGlobal$2,250$2,650$3,0502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
LNG carrier (membrane Q-Flex)Global$3,250$3,850$4,4502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report)
LNG carrier (DFDE/MEGI)Global$3,350$3,950$4,5502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report)
LNG carrier (Q-Max)Global$3,550$4,200$4,8502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report)
Ethane carrierGlobal$3,200$3,750$4,3002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
VLEC (Very Large Ethane Carrier)Global$3,250$3,850$4,4502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Ammonia carrierGlobal$3,100$3,650$4,2002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Bulk carrier (Newcastlemax)Global$2,400$2,850$3,3002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk)
VLOC (Valemax)Global$2,500$2,950$3,4002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk)
Bulk carrier (Kamsarmax)Global$2,350$2,750$3,1502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Bulk carrier (Ultramax)Global$2,250$2,650$3,0502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Container (Neo-Panamax)Global$2,500$2,950$3,4002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container)
Container (12,000–15,000 TEU)Global$2,650$3,100$3,5502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container)
Container (24,000 TEU ULCV)Global$2,800$3,300$3,8002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Heavy lift project carrierGlobal$2,400$2,850$3,3002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream specialised)
Cement carrierGlobal$2,150$2,550$2,9502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Wood chip carrierGlobal$2,050$2,400$2,7502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Live animal carrierGlobal$1,950$2,300$2,6502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Reefer (refrigerated cargo)Global$2,150$2,550$2,9502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
PCTC (large)Global$2,500$2,950$3,4002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
OSV — PSV (large)North Sea$2,500$2,950$3,4002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
OSV — AHTS (deepwater)North Sea / West Africa$3,000$3,500$4,0002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
FPSOGlobal$3,250$3,850$4,4502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
DrillshipGlobal$3,350$3,950$4,5502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
Semi-submersible MODUGlobal$3,250$3,850$4,4502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
Jack-up rigMiddle East$3,000$3,500$4,0002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
MPSV / DSVGlobal$3,100$3,650$4,2002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
Cable layerGlobal$3,000$3,500$4,0002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Wind farm SOVNorthern Europe$2,650$3,100$3,5502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind)
Wind farm CTVNorthern Europe$1,550$1,850$2,1502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind)
Harbour ASD tugEurope$1,550$1,850$2,1502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug)
Escort tugNorth Sea$1,800$2,100$2,4002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug)
Ocean-going tugGlobal$2,150$2,550$2,9502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug)
Salvage tug (specialist)Global$2,650$3,100$3,5502025Industry wage surveys (Salvage Industry)
Cruise ship (luxury, Silversea/Seabourn)Global$3,200$3,750$4,3002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise)
Expedition cruise (polar)Global$3,000$3,500$4,0002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise)
Riverboat cruise (Europe)Europe (Rhine/Danube)$1,550$1,850$2,1502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Ferry / RoPax (Baltic)Baltic$1,800$2,100$2,4002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Ferry / RoPax (Mediterranean)Mediterranean$1,850$2,200$2,5502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Yacht (50–80 m)Mediterranean / Caribbean$2,400$2,850$3,3002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht)
Yacht (80–120 m)Mediterranean / Caribbean$3,350$3,950$4,5502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht)
Yacht (>120 m)Mediterranean / Caribbean$4,500$5,300$6,1002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht)
Inland barge tow (Mississippi)USA inland$2,150$2,550$2,9502025USCG-licensed inland wage survey
Inland push-tow (Rhine)Rhine$1,400$1,650$1,9002025Industry wage surveys (CCNR)
Coaster (≤ 3000 GT)Europe / domestic$1,300$1,550$1,8002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
AllIBF Standard Framework$2,000$2,150$2,3002025BIMCO IBF Framework (TCC 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.

Low confidenceData sources and methodologyHow we grade

See the annual Seafarer salary benchmark 2026 for cross-rank synthesis and the career maps for trajectory analysis.