Minimum Seaman Salary

This is a minimum salary schedule for seamen on international foreign-going ships (2006). In this connection an "international" ship is any ship owner who accepts foreign seafarers onboard. All countries do not accept foreigners, i.e. American, Australian, Chinese, Russian etc. Sometimes the government says no, sometimes it is the Seamen's Union who accepts only own citizens (or people with special work permit).

Below are given the salaries for cargo ship crews, just below ITF Standard Collective Agreement, 01.01.2006, for foreign going ships (pdf-format), in USD/month. In January 2008 there was still no new agreement for 2008, so I have used the guideline for 2006 plus approximately 5% increase. Do not accept anything less than this. If you are offered less, that employer is a regular "slave driver".

Minimum Seamen Salaries Onboard Cargo Ships (2007)

Ranks / Positions onboard Salary (USD) /Month
AB / Motorman / Wiper ( inexperienced ) 730-850+
2nd Cook / Messroom Steward ( Messman ) 950-1040+
AB / Motorman / Oiler / Steward 1200+
Bosun / 4th Engineer / Fitter / Pumpman / Ch. Cook 1350+
Electrician 1800+
3rd Officer / 3rd Engineer 2000+
2nd Officer, 2nd Engineer, Elect. Eng., Ch. Steward 2100+
Chief Officer / 1st Engineer 2650+
Chief Engineer 3700+
Master 4000+

The salaries above are minimum basic salaries on cargo ships. For Offshore Oil Rigs and for Cruise Liners there are different salary schedules. Most employers pay more and in addition offer overtime and/or leave pay compensation.

A seaman with at least one year experience on deck was before called an AB (short for "able-bodied seaman"); while a deck crew trainee - less than one year experience - was called an OS ("ordinary seaman"). Nowadays all are just ABs, junior or senior.

Sometimes a well experienced motorman is called (and signed on as) 4th or 5th engineer instead of being called "senior".

ITF have another agreement for flag of convenience ships with somewhat lower salaries (pdf-format). The same agreement gives rules for minimum manning as well, i.e. minimum number of officers and crew on different sizes of cargo ships.