Master
The Master has overall command, statutory responsibility for ship, crew and cargo. Reports to flag state, owner, and charterer.
- Route
- CoC Master Unlimited. Typical path: cadet → OOW (II/1) → Chief Mate (II/2) → Master (II/2 Master).
- Watches
- No formal watch — overall responsibility 24/7. On pilotage and close-quarters, takes the con.
- Progression
- Master under training → Master (general trade) → Master (tanker / LNG / passenger — specific endorsements)
Discussion
Forum · deckPublished ranges
| Vessel | Region | Low | Median | High | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLCC | Global | $14,000 | $16,500 | $19,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| Container (post-Panamax) | Global | $11,000 | $13,500 | $16,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Bulk carrier (Capesize) | Global | $9,500 | $11,500 | $14,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| LNG carrier | Global | $16,500 | $19,000 | $22,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Cruise | Global | $13,000 | $16,000 | $20,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| OSV / PSV | North Sea / West Africa | $11,000 | $13,000 | $15,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| AHTS | Global | $13,000 | $15,500 | $18,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Tug (harbour) | Northern Europe | $7,500 | $9,000 | $11,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Chemical tanker | Global | $11,500 | $13,500 | $15,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Ro-ro / PCTC | Global | $10,500 | $12,500 | $14,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Suezmax | Global | $12,500 | $14,500 | $17,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Aframax / LR2 | Global | $11,500 | $13,500 | $15,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| MR product tanker | Global | $10,500 | $12,500 | $14,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Chemical tanker (IMO II) | Global | $11,000 | $13,000 | $15,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| LPG carrier (VLGC) | Global | $14,000 | $16,500 | $19,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Bulk carrier (Panamax) | Global | $8,500 | $10,000 | $11,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Bulk carrier (Supramax) | Global | $8,000 | $9,500 | $11,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Bulk carrier (Handysize) | Global | $7,500 | $8,800 | $10,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Container (ULCV) | Global | $13,000 | $15,500 | $18,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Container (Feeder) | Global | $8,000 | $9,500 | $11,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| PCTC (Pure Car/Truck Carrier) | Global | $10,500 | $12,500 | $14,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Cruise ship (mid-size) | Global | $14,000 | $18,000 | $24,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Cruise ship (mega) | Global | $18,000 | $24,000 | $32,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Offshore PSV | North Sea | $9,000 | $10,500 | $12,500 | 2025 | Spinnaker wage surveys |
| Offshore AHTS | Global | $10,500 | $12,500 | $14,500 | 2025 | Spinnaker wage surveys |
| FPSO | Global | $14,500 | $17,500 | $21,000 | 2025 | Industry surveys |
| Tug (harbour) | Europe | $5,500 | $7,000 | $9,000 | 2025 | Industry surveys |
| Coaster (≤ 5000 GT) | Northern Europe | $6,500 | $7,800 | $9,000 | 2025 | Industry surveys |
| Ferry / RoPax | Europe / domestic | $6,000 | $8,000 | $11,000 | 2025 | Industry surveys |
| Yacht (≥ 50 m) | Mediterranean / Caribbean | $11,000 | $15,000 | $25,000 | 2025 | Yacht crew surveys |
| Suezmax tanker | Global | $13,200 | $15,500 | $17,850 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| Aframax tanker | Global | $12,350 | $14,500 | $16,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| LR2 product tanker | Global | $11,900 | $14,000 | $16,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| MR product tanker (alt) | Global | $11,500 | $13,500 | $15,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| Chemical tanker IMO I | Global | $12,600 | $14,800 | $17,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Bitumen tanker | Global | $10,650 | $12,500 | $14,350 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Asphalt tanker | Global | $10,200 | $12,000 | $13,800 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| LNG carrier (membrane Q-Flex) | Global | $14,900 | $17,500 | $20,150 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report) |
| LNG carrier (DFDE/MEGI) | Global | $15,300 | $18,000 | $20,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report) |
| LNG carrier (Q-Max) | Global | $16,150 | $19,000 | $21,850 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report) |
| Ethane carrier | Global | $14,450 | $17,000 | $19,550 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| VLEC (Very Large Ethane Carrier) | Global | $14,900 | $17,500 | $20,150 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Ammonia carrier | Global | $14,050 | $16,500 | $19,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Bulk carrier (Newcastlemax) | Global | $11,050 | $13,000 | $14,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk) |
| VLOC (Valemax) | Global | $11,500 | $13,500 | $15,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk) |
| Bulk carrier (Kamsarmax) | Global | $10,650 | $12,500 | $14,350 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Bulk carrier (Ultramax) | Global | $10,200 | $12,000 | $13,800 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Container (Neo-Panamax) | Global | $11,500 | $13,500 | $15,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container) |
| Container (12,000–15,000 TEU) | Global | $11,900 | $14,000 | $16,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container) |
| Container (24,000 TEU ULCV) | Global | $12,750 | $15,000 | $17,250 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Heavy lift project carrier | Global | $11,050 | $13,000 | $14,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream specialised) |
| Cement carrier | Global | $9,800 | $11,500 | $13,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Wood chip carrier | Global | $9,350 | $11,000 | $12,650 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Live animal carrier | Global | $8,950 | $10,500 | $12,050 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Reefer (refrigerated cargo) | Global | $9,800 | $11,500 | $13,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| PCTC (large) | Global | $11,500 | $13,500 | $15,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| OSV — PSV (large) | North Sea | $11,500 | $13,500 | $15,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| OSV — AHTS (deepwater) | North Sea / West Africa | $13,600 | $16,000 | $18,400 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Drillship | Global | $15,300 | $18,000 | $20,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Semi-submersible MODU | Global | $14,900 | $17,500 | $20,150 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Jack-up rig | Middle East | $13,600 | $16,000 | $18,400 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| MPSV / DSV | Global | $14,050 | $16,500 | $19,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Cable layer | Global | $13,600 | $16,000 | $18,400 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Wind farm SOV | Northern Europe | $11,900 | $14,000 | $16,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind) |
| Wind farm CTV | Northern Europe | $7,250 | $8,500 | $9,800 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind) |
| Harbour ASD tug | Europe | $7,250 | $8,500 | $9,800 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug) |
| Escort tug | North Sea | $8,100 | $9,500 | $10,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug) |
| Ocean-going tug | Global | $9,800 | $11,500 | $13,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug) |
| Salvage tug (specialist) | Global | $11,900 | $14,000 | $16,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Salvage Industry) |
| Cruise ship (luxury, Silversea/Seabourn) | Global | $14,450 | $17,000 | $19,550 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise) |
| Expedition cruise (polar) | Global | $13,600 | $16,000 | $18,400 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise) |
| Riverboat cruise (Europe) | Europe (Rhine/Danube) | $7,250 | $8,500 | $9,800 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Ferry / RoPax (Baltic) | Baltic | $8,100 | $9,500 | $10,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Ferry / RoPax (Mediterranean) | Mediterranean | $8,500 | $10,000 | $11,500 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Yacht (50–80 m) | Mediterranean / Caribbean | $11,050 | $13,000 | $14,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht) |
| Yacht (80–120 m) | Mediterranean / Caribbean | $15,300 | $18,000 | $20,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht) |
| Yacht (>120 m) | Mediterranean / Caribbean | $20,400 | $24,000 | $27,600 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht) |
| Inland barge tow (Mississippi) | USA inland | $9,800 | $11,500 | $13,200 | 2025 | USCG-licensed inland wage survey |
| Inland push-tow (Rhine) | Rhine | $6,400 | $7,500 | $8,650 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (CCNR) |
| Coaster (≤ 3000 GT) | Europe / domestic | $5,950 | $7,000 | $8,050 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| All | IBF Standard Framework | $8,200 | $8,800 | $9,400 | 2025 | BIMCO IBF Framework (TCC tariff) |
| Coastal tanker | USA Jones Act | $19,800 | $22,000 | $24,200 | 2025 | USCG-licensed wage survey + SUP/MMP CBA |
| Tanker / dry bulk | Norway NIS | $12,150 | $13,500 | $14,850 | 2025 | Norsk Sjøoffisersforbund wage tariff |
| Tanker / dry bulk | India NMB | $10,350 | $11,500 | $12,650 | 2025 | National Maritime Board India CBA |
| Tanker / dry bulk | China cabotage | $7,650 | $8,500 | $9,350 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker China) |
| Container | Hong Kong flag | $11,250 | $12,500 | $13,750 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Tanker | UK Red Ensign | $11,700 | $13,000 | $14,300 | 2025 | Nautilus Federation UK CBA |
| Bulker | Greek-flag CBA | $10,350 | $11,500 | $12,650 | 2025 | PNO (Panhellenic Seamen's Federation) CBA |
| Container | Singapore-flag | $12,150 | $13,500 | $14,850 | 2025 | SOS (Singapore Organisation of Seamen) CBA |
| Container | Hapag-Lloyd Germany | $13,050 | $14,500 | $15,950 | 2025 | ver.di / Hapag-Lloyd house CBA |
| Tanker | Brazil cabotage | $9,900 | $11,000 | $12,100 | 2025 | Brazilian Maritime Workers' Federation CBA |
| Coastal trader | Australia coastal | $14,850 | $16,500 | $18,150 | 2025 | Maritime Union of Australia CBA |
| Cabotage tanker | Indonesia cabotage | $5,850 | $6,500 | $7,150 | 2025 | INSA wage survey |
| Cabotage container | Vietnam cabotage | $4,500 | $5,000 | $5,500 | 2025 | Vinamarine wage survey |
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.