Sailors and Marine Oilers

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 53-5011.00United States

Stand watch to look for obstructions in path of vessel, measure water depth, turn wheel on bridge, or use emergency equipment as directed by captain, mate, or pilot. Break out, rig, overhaul, and store cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, and running gear.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $51,472
Projected change: +4.4%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 47.89K jobs

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What sailors and marine oilers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

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.
Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.
Examine machinery to verify specified pressures or lubricant flows.
Maintain a ship's engines under the direction of the ship's engineering officers.
Lubricate machinery, equipment, or engine parts, such as gears, shafts, or bearings.
Break out, rig, and stow cargo-handling gear, stationary rigging, or running gear.
Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur.
Sweep, mop, and wash down decks to remove oil, dirt, and debris, using brooms, mops, brushes, and hoses.
Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.
Chip and clean rust spots on decks, superstructures, or sides of ships, using wire brushes and hand or air chipping machines.
Load or unload materials, vehicles, or passengers from vessels.
Operate, maintain, or repair ship equipment, such as winches, cranes, derricks, or weapons system.
Provide engineers with assistance in repairing or adjusting machinery.
Paint or varnish decks, superstructures, lifeboats, or sides of ships.
Give directions to crew members engaged in cleaning wheelhouses or quarterdecks.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $34,452
25th percentile: $41,326
50th percentile: $51,472
75th percentile: $67,595
90th percentile: $83,930

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $51,472 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+4.4%average or slower

202547,891 jobs

2035 projected49,984 jobs

2,093 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 74.4%
Certificate: 24.2%
Bachelor's degree: 0.8%
Some college: 0.6%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Lifting Ability
Loading And Unloading
Machinery
Painting
Emergency Procedures
Safety Procedures
Boat Maintenance
Housekeeping
Emergency Response
Data Collection
Coastal Science
Environmental Data Analysis
Seamanship
Officer Training
Firefighting
Forklift Truck
Barges
Oil and Gas
Warehousing
Equipment Maintenance

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Deckhands1,245 postings
02Cargo Handlers342 postings
03Aviation Officers236 postings
04Transfer Station Operators164 postings
05Tankermen159 postings
06Mates152 postings
07Barge Engineers146 postings
08Third Mates131 postings
09Able Bodied Seamen80 postings
10Captains77 postings
11Chief Engineers73 postings
12Boat Operators72 postings
13Qualified Members of the Engineering Department69 postings
14First Mates66 postings
15Dock Hands61 postings
16Third Assistant Engineers60 postings
17Small Craft Operators56 postings
18Crime Analysts55 postings
19Assistant Store Managers49 postings
20Club Staff49 postings

Top employers

01National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration409 postings
02American Cruise Lines261 postings
03Total Aviation Staffing234 postings
04Hornblower And Company110 postings
05Walt Disney105 postings
06Hub Group79 postings
07Forward Air73 postings
08Amazon71 postings
09Savage66 postings
10Savage Services66 postings
11Forward63 postings
12PSC56 postings
13Hornblower Group51 postings
14Allen Marine Tours48 postings
15Moran Towing Corporation45 postings
16Labor Finders43 postings
17Petroleum Service Corporation41 postings
18Centerline Logistics Corporation40 postings
19Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania39 postings
20Global K9 Protection Group39 postings

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