Discover the 2023 Seaman Salary by Ranks! Get all the info you need about how much sailors make at different levels.
Did you know that people who work on ships, called seafarers, are some of the highest-paid workers around the world?
Yep, they’re like the top earners! And guess what? This kind of job is super popular in the Philippines.
Why?
Well, not only does it pay really well, but it also lets you travel to lots of cool places all over the world. Imagine that!
So instead of working on land, these seafarers work on big ships that sail across the ocean.
They carry stuff and people to different parts of the planet. Because their job is kind of special, they get paid a lot of money. And it’s not just the money – they also get things like health insurance, plans for when they retire, and even bonuses.
Oh, and the coolest part?
While they’re out at sea, they get to explore different countries and see new cultures. It’s like an awesome adventure job!
The amount of money these seafarers make depends on a few things: their job position, how much experience they have, and the type of ship they’re on.
The big bosses, like the Master Mariner we mentioned, make the most money. Like, they can make as much as $1,000.00 (equivalent to Php56,600) in just one day!
But even the lower-ranking crew members still make good money. So, no matter where you are on the ladder, being a seafarer sounds like a pretty sweet deal.
Seaman Salary in the Philippines
Imagine you’re a sailor from the Philippines working on a ship. You get paid around ₱188 for every hour you work. That’s like getting ₱2,346 for a whole day of work! And if you keep working at this rate, you could end up making as much as ₱12,162 every week, or around ₱47,168 every month. That’s a lot of money, right? In a year, you could even earn up to ₱666,205!
But, here’s the catch: not all sailors get paid the same. Different companies might offer different amounts of money for the same job, depending on things like the position you have on the ship and other factors.
Oh, and one more thing to know is that if you’re an able seaman or an ordinary seaman, your pay might not be the same. That’s because the responsibilities and job titles can be different, and that can affect how much you get paid. (Philippine Coast Guard VS Philippine Navy | Ranks And Salary 2023)
Listed below are some Philippine companies and their corresponding seafarer salary offerings.
List of Companies in the Philippines | Monthly salary per month |
Marlow Navigation | ₱20,000 |
TORM | ₱58,000 |
Government of Canada (AB) | ₱25,000 |
Kestrel Maritime (AB) | ₱50,000 |
Prime Software Technologies (AB) | ₱25,000 |
Southeast Asia Shipping (AB) | ₱25,000 |
United Philippine Lines | ₱60,000 |
Yes Marketing | ₱20,000 |
Seaman’s Salary in International Ships
Seaman Salary on Tanker Vessels
Huge ships called tanker vessels. These ships are like super-sized delivery trucks but for liquids like oil and stuff.

They sail from place to place carrying a whole lot of these liquids, mostly crude oil or things made from oil.
And guess what?
The people who work on these tanker vessels get paid a ton of money because the stuff they’re carrying is super valuable.
Now, here’s where things get interesting and a bit adventurous.
Even though the job pays well, it’s not a walk in the park. It’s actually quite risky.
Why?
Well, imagine dealing with stuff that can be harmful, like chemicals, and doing your job in tricky and sometimes really unpredictable situations, like stormy weather.
So, the folks working on these ships have to go through some serious safety training. They learn all the smart ways to stay safe and make sure nothing bad happens.
So, to sum it up, tanker vessel jobs are like high-paying adventures on huge liquid-carrying ships. But because of the valuable and sometimes dangerous cargo, the people on these ships have to be super careful and know all about staying safe. (Philippine Coast Guard Salary And Ranks 2023)
Rank | Product Tanker | Chemical | VLCC | LPG/LNG |
---|---|---|---|---|
Master | 11,500-12,500 | 12,000-14,000 | 8,488-14,067 | 12,800-15,400 |
CH. Mate | 8,000-11,500 | 10,500-11,444 | 8,000-11,062 | 10,900-12,000 |
2nd Mate | 4,000-4,800 | 4,500 | 4,000-4,800 | 4,760-5,250 |
3rd Mate | 3,300-3,800 | 3,500-4,420 | 3,100-3,800 | 3,500-4,500 |
CH. Engineer | 11,200-12,000 | 12,800-13,880 | 10,500-13,200 | 12,300-15,141 |
2nd Engineer | 8,000-11,062 | 10,200-11,400 | 10,400-10,400 | 9,900-12,300 |
3rd Engineer | 4,000-4,800 | 4,200-5,259 | 4,000-4,800 | 4,760-5,250 |
4th Engineer | 3,300-3,800 | 3,500-4,700 | 3,100-3,800 | 3,500-4,500 |
Gas Engineer | – | – | – | 7,500-10,000 |
Electrician | 3,200-3,600 | 4,000-6,500 | 3,500-6,010 | 6,000-8,100 |
PumpMan | 2,250-2,500 | 2,250-2,900 | 2,250-2,500 | 2,500 |
Bosun | 1950-2,500 | 2,000-2,600 | 1,950-2,500 | 2,300-2,500 |
Able (AB Seaman) | 1,450-1,950 | 1,450-2,100 | 1,450-1,950 | 1,700-2,100 |
OS (Ordinary Seaman) | 900-1,300 | 1,050-1,500 | 900-1,300 | 1,300-1,800 |
Fitter/Welder | 1,950-2,500 | 2,100-2,500 | 1,950-2,500 | 2,000-2,500 |
Oiler | 1,450-1,950 | 1,450-2,100 | 1,450-1,950 | 1,700-2,100 |
Wiper | 900-1,300 | 1,050-1,500 | 900-1,300 | 1,300-1,800 |
Cook | 1,750-2,300 | 1,875-2,500 | 1,750-2,300 | 1,800-2,500 |
Messman | 1,450-1,950 | 1,450-2,500 | 1,450-1,950 | 1,300-1,950 |
Cadet | 600-1,055 | 725-1,155 | 600-1,055 | 680-1,255 |
Seaman Salary on Dry Cargo Ships
So, imagine these huge ships – they’re called dry cargo ships.

Picture them like giant carriers that haul lots of stuff like grain, coal, and iron ore. You know, the basic materials we need for a bunch of things.
These ships are like the rockstars of the sea, super common all around the world. And they’re like the superheroes of trade, helping move stuff between countries.
Now, here’s the cool part: people who work on these ships can make a bunch of money.
Why?
Because their jobs need special skills like knowing how to handle cargo, steer the ship, and keep it in tip-top shape.
But here’s the catch – the work is tough on your body, and you’re away from home for a pretty long time.
But guess what?
Even with all the hard stuff, lots of folks still love working in this dry cargo ship world. Why? ‘Cause it pays well and makes them feel good personally. It’s like they’re part of something big, making sure the world keeps running smoothly.
Rank | Bulk | Container | Car carrier | Gen. cargo |
---|---|---|---|---|
Master | 8,00-12,100 | 8,000-11,700 | 8,100-12,600 | 9,000-13000 |
CH. Mate | 6,000-9,500 | 6,900-7,100 | 5,500-7,750 | 5,500-8,670 |
2nd Mate | 2,500-3,500 | 2,700-3,700 | 3,200-4,500 | 2,500-4,500 |
3rd Mate | 2,000-3,990 | 3,100-4,000 | 3,300-3,500 | 2,500-3,300 |
CH.Engineer | 8,400-12,000 | 8,200-11,000 | 7,500-10,200 | 7,700-10,200 |
2nd Engineer | 6,700-9,500 | 6,900-7,100 | 5,500-7,750 | 5,500-8,670 |
3rd Engineer | 2,700-4,000 | 2,700-4,300 | 3,200-4,500 | 2,500-4,500 |
4th Engineer | 2,200-3,000 | 2,000-3,200 | 2,200-3,200 | 2,500-3,150 |
Electrician | 4,000-5,600 | 3,400,5,000 | 2,000-5,600 | 2,700-5,040 |
Bosun | 1,600-1,900 | 1,600-1,900 | 1,600-2,000 | 1,600-1,800 |
AB(Able Seaman) | 1,387-1,400 | 1,300-1,672 | 1,300-1,672 | 1,100-1,600 |
OS (Ordinary Seaman) | 900-1,220 | 910-1,285 | 900-1,200 | 1,131-1,400 |
Fitter/Welder | 1,650-1,900 | 1,636-1,850 | 1,600-2,000 | 1,636-2.201 |
Oiler | 1,387-1,400 | 1.300-1,672 | 1,300-1,672 | 1,100-1,600 |
Wiper | 900-1,220 | 910-1,285 | 900-1,220 | 1,141-1,400 |
Cook | 1,600-1,988 | 1,632-1,900 | 1,600-2,000 | 1,400-2,600 |
Messman/2nd Cook | 500-1,400 | 900-1,446 | 900-1,446 | 900-1,446 |
Cadet | 200-750 | 400-650 | 400-650 | 250-700 |
The information presented in both tables has been sourced from: seamanmemories.com
Different Ranks of Seafarers
Captain/ Master Mariner
Deck Department
- Chief Officer/Mate
- Second Officer/Mate
- Third Officer/Mate
- Deck Cadets
Deck Rating (non-officers)
- Bosun (head of the rating staff)
- Welder/Fitter (this rank onboard renders his services to both the deck as well as the engine department)
- Able Bodied Seaman (AB)
- Ordinary Seaman (OS)
- Trainee OS
Engine Department
- Chief Engineer
- Second Engineer/First Assistant Engineer
- Third Engineer/ Second Assistant Engineer
- Fourth Engineer/ Third Assistant Engineer
- Fifth Engineer/ Engine Cadet
- Electrical Officer
Engine Room Rating
- Fitter
- Motorman
- Wiper
- Trainee Fitter / Trainee Wiper
Catering Department
- Chief Cook
- Trainee Cook
- Steward
Why pursue Seaman?
There are several benefits to pursuing a career in seafaring, including:
- Making Good Money: First off, this job can make you a lot of money, like one of the highest-paid jobs in some countries. If you become really experienced, you can earn a big salary. So, if you want to earn a lot of money, this job could be awesome for you.
- Traveling Everywhere: Another cool thing is that you get to travel to different parts of the world. It’s like going on an adventure! You’ll see new places and learn about different cultures. People who love to explore new things would totally enjoy this part of the job.
- Climbing Up the Ladder: As you keep doing this job, you can move up the ranks and take on more important roles. That means you’ll get more money and feel really good about what you do. So, if you’re someone who likes challenges and wants to keep getting better, this job could be perfect.
- Always Having a Job: You know how some jobs are there one day and gone the next? Well, this job is different. There are always ships that need skilled people to work on them. Even if things are not going so well in the world, this job usually stays steady.
- Learning New Stuff: If you like learning and trying new things, you’ll love this part. You can keep learning about safety and more technical stuff too. This will help you get better at your job and open up even more opportunities.
So, if you’re into having exciting adventures, making good money, and always having work, this job could be just what you’re looking for!
You can also check the Philippine Salary Grade 2023
How to be a Seaman?
So, if you want to be a seaman, you’ll need to follow these steps:
- Step 1: Get the Right Education
- First off, you’ll need to finish high school or something similar or You need to finish a Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation in the Philippines. Basically, you should have at least a high school diploma. Some folks might like it if you’ve gone to a special school after high school, where you learn about things like ships and oceans. But for starters, finishing high school is the key.
- Step 2: Learn Important Stuff
- Now, before you can start working on a ship, you have to go through some training. It’s like getting ready for an important job. This training is super important for your safety and the environment. They call these courses “STCW” – which stands for Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping. Basically, they teach you how to be safe, take care of the environment, and do your job well.
- Step 3: Get Special Certificates
- Next, you need to get some papers that say you’re qualified for the job. It’s like getting a badge that shows you’re good at what you do. You’ll need a certificate that says you’re healthy and fit for the job, and another certificate from the STCW training you did earlier. The type of certificate depends on the job you want – whether you’re working with the engines or navigating the ship.
- Step 4: Get Some Experience
- Just like when you’re trying to get a job, having some experience under your belt is a big plus. You might start as a trainee or apprentice on a ship. This way, you’ll learn the ropes and get better at what you do. Employers like it when you know what you’re doing.
- Step 5: Hunt for Jobs
- Once you’ve got the education, training, certificates, and a bit of experience, it’s time to find a job as a seaman. Look online, ask job agencies for help, or even reach out to companies that own ships. When you’re applying, make sure to show off your skills and experiences that match the job. And remember, each job might need different things, so make your resume fit the job.
That’s pretty much it! Becoming a seaman takes a bit of effort, but it’s a cool journey if you love the ocean and ships. Good luck on your seafaring adventure!
READ MORE: PMMA Admission (Entrance Exam) AY 2023 – 2024
Sources: Seaman Memories, gajiterbaru