Second Engineer
Second Engineer — senior watchkeeping engineer, responsible for day-to-day engine operation and maintenance schedule.
- Route
- CoC Second Engineer (STCW III/2). Oral exam + engine management.
- Watches
- 12–4 (noon-to-4) is traditional. Supervises 3/E and 4/E.
- Progression
- Second Engineer → Chief Engineer
Discussion
Forum · engineersPublished ranges
| Vessel | Region | Low | Median | High | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VLCC | Global | $9,000 | $10,500 | $12,000 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys |
| Suezmax tanker | Global | $8,600 | $10,100 | $11,600 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| Aframax tanker | Global | $8,050 | $9,450 | $10,850 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| LR2 product tanker | Global | $7,750 | $9,100 | $10,450 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| MR product tanker (alt) | Global | $7,500 | $8,800 | $10,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Danica, Spinnaker) |
| Chemical tanker IMO I | Global | $8,150 | $9,600 | $11,050 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Bitumen tanker | Global | $6,950 | $8,150 | $9,350 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Asphalt tanker | Global | $6,650 | $7,800 | $8,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| LNG carrier (membrane Q-Flex) | Global | $9,700 | $11,400 | $13,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report) |
| LNG carrier (DFDE/MEGI) | Global | $9,950 | $11,700 | $13,450 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report) |
| LNG carrier (Q-Max) | Global | $10,500 | $12,350 | $14,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker LNG report) |
| Ethane carrier | Global | $9,400 | $11,050 | $12,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| VLEC (Very Large Ethane Carrier) | Global | $9,700 | $11,400 | $13,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Ammonia carrier | Global | $9,150 | $10,750 | $12,350 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Bulk carrier (Newcastlemax) | Global | $7,200 | $8,450 | $9,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk) |
| VLOC (Valemax) | Global | $7,500 | $8,800 | $10,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker dry bulk) |
| Bulk carrier (Kamsarmax) | Global | $6,950 | $8,150 | $9,350 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Bulk carrier (Ultramax) | Global | $6,650 | $7,800 | $8,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Container (Neo-Panamax) | Global | $7,500 | $8,800 | $10,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container) |
| Container (12,000–15,000 TEU) | Global | $7,750 | $9,100 | $10,450 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker container) |
| Container (24,000 TEU ULCV) | Global | $8,300 | $9,750 | $11,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Heavy lift project carrier | Global | $7,200 | $8,450 | $9,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream specialised) |
| Cement carrier | Global | $6,400 | $7,500 | $8,650 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Wood chip carrier | Global | $6,100 | $7,150 | $8,200 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Live animal carrier | Global | $5,800 | $6,850 | $7,900 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Reefer (refrigerated cargo) | Global | $6,400 | $7,500 | $8,650 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| PCTC (large) | Global | $7,500 | $8,800 | $10,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| OSV — PSV (large) | North Sea | $7,500 | $8,800 | $10,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| OSV — AHTS (deepwater) | North Sea / West Africa | $8,850 | $10,400 | $11,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| FPSO | Global | $9,700 | $11,400 | $13,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Drillship | Global | $9,950 | $11,700 | $13,450 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Semi-submersible MODU | Global | $9,700 | $11,400 | $13,100 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Jack-up rig | Middle East | $8,850 | $10,400 | $11,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| MPSV / DSV | Global | $9,150 | $10,750 | $12,350 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore) |
| Cable layer | Global | $8,850 | $10,400 | $11,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Wind farm SOV | Northern Europe | $7,750 | $9,100 | $10,450 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind) |
| Wind farm CTV | Northern Europe | $4,700 | $5,550 | $6,400 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream offshore wind) |
| Harbour ASD tug | Europe | $4,700 | $5,550 | $6,400 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug) |
| Escort tug | North Sea | $5,250 | $6,200 | $7,150 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug) |
| Ocean-going tug | Global | $6,400 | $7,500 | $8,650 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker tug) |
| Salvage tug (specialist) | Global | $7,750 | $9,100 | $10,450 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Salvage Industry) |
| Cruise ship (luxury, Silversea/Seabourn) | Global | $9,400 | $11,050 | $12,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise) |
| Expedition cruise (polar) | Global | $8,850 | $10,400 | $11,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream cruise) |
| Riverboat cruise (Europe) | Europe (Rhine/Danube) | $4,700 | $5,550 | $6,400 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream) |
| Ferry / RoPax (Baltic) | Baltic | $5,250 | $6,200 | $7,150 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Ferry / RoPax (Mediterranean) | Mediterranean | $5,550 | $6,500 | $7,450 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| Yacht (50–80 m) | Mediterranean / Caribbean | $7,200 | $8,450 | $9,700 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht) |
| Yacht (80–120 m) | Mediterranean / Caribbean | $9,950 | $11,700 | $13,450 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht) |
| Yacht (>120 m) | Mediterranean / Caribbean | $13,250 | $15,600 | $17,950 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Faststream yacht) |
| Inland barge tow (Mississippi) | USA inland | $6,400 | $7,500 | $8,650 | 2025 | USCG-licensed inland wage survey |
| Inland push-tow (Rhine) | Rhine | $4,150 | $4,900 | $5,650 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (CCNR) |
| Coaster (≤ 3000 GT) | Europe / domestic | $3,850 | $4,550 | $5,250 | 2025 | Industry wage surveys (Spinnaker) |
| All | IBF Standard Framework | $5,450 | $5,850 | $6,250 | 2025 | BIMCO 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.