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Also called marine oiler, oiler, refrigerating oiler and ab seaman.
Pay and headcount are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lines are written from what the US Department of Labor records about this work.
An example
Every line below comes from the same public record as the rest of this page. The greyed parts are the ones only you can answer.
Sailor and Marine Oiler
Sailor and marine oiler standing watch for obstacles, measuring water depth, and operating pumps to move liquids. Tying up vessels, maintaining ship engines, and performing various maintenance tasks to keep the ship in good condition
Where you worked
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The line
Tied barges together into tow units for tugboats several times each shift, ensuring safe and efficient transport
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Adding it to the line…
The line
Moor vessels to docks and each other, maintaining stability and security during operations.
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Adding it to the line…
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The work itself
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
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. Perform a variety of maintenance tasks to preserve the painted surface of the ship and to maintain line and ship equipment. Must hold government-issued certification and tankerman certification when working aboard liquid-carrying vessels. Includes able seamen and ordinary seamen.
What it pays
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
| 25th percentile | $41,430 |
|---|---|
| Median | $51,520 |
| 75th percentile | $67,590 |
| State | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| AK | $49,390 | $63,130 | $73,840 |
| AL | $38,370 | $43,000 | $60,980 |
| AR | $22,880 | $23,960 | $48,740 |
| CA | $43,540 | $55,180 | $68,780 |
| CT | $37,600 | $45,280 | $61,120 |
| DE | $58,960 | $60,040 | $63,860 |
| FL | $43,520 | $57,930 | $73,760 |
| GA | $36,120 | $37,500 | $47,040 |
| HI | $50,500 | $76,140 | $99,700 |
| IA | $44,530 | $48,100 | $51,720 |
| IL | $38,260 | $49,090 | $56,140 |
| IN | $39,980 | $56,570 | $62,650 |
| KY | $39,220 | $47,460 | $60,620 |
| LA | $37,570 | $46,610 | $61,700 |
| MA | $38,570 | $44,070 | $57,890 |
| ME | $44,860 | $46,800 | $58,760 |
| MI | $43,900 | $51,310 | $56,580 |
| MN | $38,010 | $56,680 | $79,780 |
| MO | $45,090 | $51,940 | $62,460 |
| MS | $47,260 | $50,390 | $59,690 |
| NC | $39,700 | $44,770 | $50,630 |
| NJ | $49,400 | $71,880 | $75,070 |
| NY | $38,670 | $54,210 | $62,780 |
| OH | $44,910 | $53,520 | $57,250 |
| OR | $52,120 | $70,410 | $87,950 |
| PA | $37,750 | $38,810 | $54,730 |
| PR | $29,570 | $30,700 | $30,710 |
| RI | $34,280 | $48,860 | $66,180 |
| SC | $42,000 | $50,500 | $78,580 |
| TN | $50,750 | $60,580 | $73,580 |
| TX | $46,190 | $55,610 | $76,700 |
| VA | $40,210 | $49,120 | $57,930 |
| WA | $56,680 | $66,700 | $79,870 |
| WI | $35,600 | $48,880 | $59,840 |
| WV | $35,420 | $47,370 | $64,380 |
Other names
marine oiler, oiler, refrigerating oiler, ab seaman, ab watchman, able bodied seaman, able bodied watchman, able seaman, aerographer's mate, barge hand, barge worker, bargeman.
boat crew deck hand, boat deckhand, boat hand, boat laborer, boat person, boatman, boatswain's mate, bosun, buoy tender, cabin worker, cadet, captain's assistant, crew member, crewman, deck cadet, deck hand, deck mate, deckhand, deckhand engineer, ferry hand, ferryman, float tender, floater, floatman, handyman, lighterman, lookout, marine firefighter, marine fireman, marine technician, marine water tender, mariner, master at arms, merchant marine, merchant mariner, merchant seaman, ordinary seaman, pleasure craft sailor, quartermaster, river transportation worker, riverman, roustabout, sailor, scaler, scow hand, scowman, seaman, ship laborer.
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From the crosswalk the US Department of Labor publishes itself. If one of these was your job, this page is about the civilian work it maps to.
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Other work in Transportation
This page is about the occupation Sailors and Marine Oilers. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. Rung is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either agency. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.