Salary ranges by vessel type
Pay in the maritime industry varies significantly by vessel type. An LNG-certified Chief Engineer earns 25–40% more than the same rank on a dry-bulk carrier; offshore DP rates track the oil-price cycle; cruise hotel pay mixes a low base with variable gratuity income. Select a vessel type below to see rank-by-rank ranges, premium drivers, and commonly asked questions.
Prefer rank-level breakdowns? Main salary table shows all ranks across vessel types. Salary methodology & confidence grades explains how each figure is sourced.
Bulk Carrier
Dry-bulk trades: Capesize, Panamax, Supramax, Handysize, Ultramax.
68 rows in dataset
Container Ship
Box-ship trades from ULCV mega-vessels to feeder and short-sea services.
72 rows in dataset
Oil Tanker
Crude and product tankers — VLCC, Suezmax, Aframax, LR2, MR.
155 rows in dataset
LNG / LPG Carrier
Gas carriers including LNG membrane/MEGI, VLGC, ethane, and ammonia.
112 rows in dataset
Chemical Tanker
Parcel tankers carrying IMO I/II/III chemicals, bitumen, and asphalt.
57 rows in dataset
Cruise Ship
Passenger vessel trades from expedition polar ships to mega-liners.
59 rows in dataset
Offshore Supply & Support
OSV, PSV, AHTS, FPSO, drillships, MODUs, cable layers, wind farm vessels.
184 rows in dataset
Superyacht / Private Yacht
MYBA/MCA Large Yacht Code vessels — 50 m to 120 m and above.
55 rows in dataset
Fishing Vessel
Commercial fishing — trawlers, longliner, factory ships, and coastal fisheries.
Limited dataset — see page