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The median salary for Sailors and Marine Oilers in Virginia is $49,130 per year ($23.62/hr). This is 4.6% lower than the national median of $51,522.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
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.
Wage Percentiles: Virginia
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours) · National adjusted
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
vs National
P10Entry level
$15.70
$32,656
-5.5%
P25
$19.33
$40,206
-3.0%
P50MEDIAN
$23.62
$49,130
-4.6%
P75
$27.85
$57,928
-14.3%
P90Top earners
$29.16
$60,653
-27.5%
Get the full percentile report
P10–P90 breakdown, career outlook, industry wages, and JOLTS market signal for Sailors and Marine Oilers
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Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+2.3%
About as fast as average
Annual openings
4K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
32K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
2% from new growth98% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
No formal educational credential
Experience
None
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 2 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Inland Water Transportation
NAICS 483200
9K
$50,060
Support Activities for Water Transportation
NAICS 488300
7K
$59,370
Wage range across top 5 industries: $50,060 to $59,370 (19% spread)
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Full percentile breakdown · JOLTS market signals · Geographic comparison · AI analyst briefs
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median sailors and marine oilers salary in Virginia?
The median (P50) annual salary for Sailors and Marine Oilers in Virginia is approximately $49,130, based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. This is 4.6% lower than the national median of $51,522. For the full P10–P90 breakdown and market context, open CompSignal.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
CompSignal is a free labor market intelligence tool built for HR, compensation, and talent acquisition teams. We make BLS data, the same primary source Mercer and Radford cross-reference in their paid surveys, searchable and actionable without an enterprise subscription.
Built and maintained by Falcon Incentives, a compensation strategy and incentive design consultancy.