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Seafarer Index

Ordinary Seafarer (OS)

Ordinary Seafarer — entry-level deck rating learning the trade.

Route
BST + Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (II/4).
Watches
Watch with OOW/AB.
Progression
OS → AB
Discussion
Forum · deck

Published ranges

VesselRegionLowMedianHighYearSource
ContainerITF TCC$1,400$1,550$1,7002025ITF TCC scale
Suezmax tankerGlobal$2,000$2,350$2,7002025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
Aframax tankerGlobal$1,850$2,200$2,5502025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
LR2 product tankerGlobal$1,800$2,100$2,4002025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
MR product tanker (alt)Global$1,750$2,050$2,3502025Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker)
Chemical tanker IMO IGlobal$1,850$2,200$2,5502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Bitumen tankerGlobal$1,600$1,900$2,2002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Asphalt tankerGlobal$1,550$1,800$2,0502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
LNG carrier (membrane Q-Flex)Global$2,250$2,650$3,0502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report)
LNG carrier (DFDE/MEGI)Global$2,300$2,700$3,1002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report)
LNG carrier (Q-Max)Global$2,400$2,850$3,3002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report)
Ethane carrierGlobal$2,150$2,550$2,9502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
VLEC (Very Large Ethane Carrier)Global$2,250$2,650$3,0502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Ammonia carrierGlobal$2,150$2,500$2,9002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Bulk carrier (Newcastlemax)Global$1,650$1,950$2,2502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk)
VLOC (Valemax)Global$1,750$2,050$2,3502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk)
Bulk carrier (Kamsarmax)Global$1,600$1,900$2,2002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Bulk carrier (Ultramax)Global$1,550$1,800$2,0502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Container (Neo-Panamax)Global$1,750$2,050$2,3502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container)
Container (12,000–15,000 TEU)Global$1,800$2,100$2,4002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container)
Container (24,000 TEU ULCV)Global$1,900$2,250$2,6002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Heavy lift project carrierGlobal$1,650$1,950$2,2502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream specialised)
Cement carrierGlobal$1,500$1,750$2,0002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Wood chip carrierGlobal$1,400$1,650$1,9002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Live animal carrierGlobal$1,350$1,600$1,8502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Reefer (refrigerated cargo)Global$1,500$1,750$2,0002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
PCTC (large)Global$1,750$2,050$2,3502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
OSV — PSV (large)North Sea$1,750$2,050$2,3502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
OSV — AHTS (deepwater)North Sea / West Africa$2,050$2,400$2,7502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
FPSOGlobal$2,250$2,650$3,0502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
DrillshipGlobal$2,300$2,700$3,1002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
Semi-submersible MODUGlobal$2,250$2,650$3,0502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
Jack-up rigMiddle East$2,050$2,400$2,7502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
MPSV / DSVGlobal$2,150$2,500$2,9002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore)
Cable layerGlobal$2,050$2,400$2,7502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Wind farm SOVNorthern Europe$1,800$2,100$2,4002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind)
Wind farm CTVNorthern Europe$1,100$1,300$1,5002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind)
Harbour ASD tugEurope$1,100$1,300$1,5002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug)
Escort tugNorth Sea$1,250$1,450$1,6502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug)
Ocean-going tugGlobal$1,500$1,750$2,0002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug)
Salvage tug (specialist)Global$1,800$2,100$2,4002025Industry wage surveys (Salvage Industry)
Cruise ship (luxury, Silversea/Seabourn)Global$2,150$2,550$2,9502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise)
Expedition cruise (polar)Global$2,050$2,400$2,7502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise)
Riverboat cruise (Europe)Europe (Rhine/Danube)$1,100$1,300$1,5002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream)
Ferry / RoPax (Baltic)Baltic$1,250$1,450$1,6502025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Ferry / RoPax (Mediterranean)Mediterranean$1,300$1,500$1,7002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
Yacht (50–80 m)Mediterranean / Caribbean$1,650$1,950$2,2502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht)
Yacht (80–120 m)Mediterranean / Caribbean$2,300$2,700$3,1002025Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht)
Yacht (>120 m)Mediterranean / Caribbean$3,050$3,600$4,1502025Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht)
Inland barge tow (Mississippi)USA inland$1,500$1,750$2,0002025USCG-licensed inland wage survey
Inland push-tow (Rhine)Rhine$1,000$1,150$1,3002025Industry wage surveys (CCNR)
Coaster (≤ 3000 GT)Europe / domestic$900$1,050$1,2002025Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker)
AllIBF Standard Framework$1,350$1,450$1,5502025BIMCO 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.

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