Data current as of August 2026 · sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET
Average base salary, Massachusetts
$52,500 / year
≈ $4,400 per month · $25.24 per hour
BLS May 2025 state data for Massachusetts · median $45,500
25th percentile
$40,000Average
$52,50075th percentile
$60,000
$40,000Average
$52,50075th percentile
$60,000
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Sailors and Marine Oilers salary by state
Alabama$52,000
Alaska$67,000
Arkansas$36,500
California$57,500
Connecticut$56,000
Delaware$60,500
Florida$60,500
Georgia$41,500
Hawaii$78,000
Illinois$55,000
Indiana$61,000
Iowa$51,500
Kentucky$50,500
Louisiana$57,000
Maine$51,500
Massachusetts$52,500
Michigan$53,000
Minnesota$59,500
Mississippi$53,500
Missouri$57,000
New Jersey$69,000
New York$58,000
North Carolina$48,500
Ohio$52,000
Oregon$72,500
Pennsylvania$48,500
Rhode Island$61,000
South Carolina$61,000
Tennessee$63,000
Texas$64,500
Virginia$52,000
Washington$69,500
West Virginia$51,500
Wisconsin$53,000
About this role
Sailors and Marine Oilers is a professional role within the function in the Transportation and Material Moving job family.
Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Sailors and Marine Oilerss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
- Tie barges together into tow units for tugboats to handle, inspecting barges periodically during voyages and disconnecting them when destinations are reached.
- Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks.
- Handle lines to moor vessels to wharfs, to tie up vessels to other vessels, or to rig towing lines.
- Read pressure and temperature gauges or displays and record data in engineering logs.
- Stand watch in ships' bows or bridge wings to look for obstructions in a ship's path or to locate navigational aids, such as buoys or lighthouses.
Top skills: Operations Monitoring Operation and Control Monitoring Troubleshooting Repairing Critical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Sailors and Marine Oilers pay by experience level
Entry level$36,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$43,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$53,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$70,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$86,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+2.3%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
3,900
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Sailors and Marine Oilers salary by industry
Water Transportation
13,540 workers
$59,000Inland Water Transportation
8,960 workers
$55,500Support Activities for Transportation
6,980 workers
$64,500Support Activities for Water Transportation
6,820 workers
$64,000Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation
4,590 workers
$66,500Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
4,270 workers
$57,000Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
2,410 workers
$51,000Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation
1,850 workers
$41,500Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water
1,850 workers
$41,500State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
1,320 workers
$66,000National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Sailors and Marine Oilers pays 14% below the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).
Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving
Motorboat Operator$58,500
Dredge Operator$58,000
Bridge and Lock Tenders$57,500
Traffic Technician$64,500
Taxi Driver$51,500
Careers related to Sailors and Marine Oilers
Ship Engineer$115,500
Motorboat Operator$58,500
Rigger$69,000
Dredge Operator$58,000
Hoist and Winch Operators$70,000
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Sailors and Marine Oilers make?
The average base salary for a Sailors and Marine Oilers in the United States is $59,000 per year, or about $28.37 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $43,000 and $70,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Transportation and Material Moving roles?
The Transportation and Material Moving job family averages $69,000 across 53 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
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