What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Sailors and Marine Oilers in the U.S. earn more than $51,520 a year — the middle 80% land between $34,560 and $83,620. About 31,670 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Sailors and Marine Oilers”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Plant and machine operators and assemblers earn about ₹17,329 a month on average — around ₹2.1 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$51,520typical pay / year
31,670people in this work
$83,620+top 10% earn
₹2.1 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Fixing3
Lubricate gears, shafts, bearings, and engine parts
+Lubricate the main winch and generator: apply grease to the forward anchor winch gears, drip oil on the…
Lubricate gears, shafts, bearings, and engine parts
+Lubricate the main winch and generator: apply grease to the forward anchor winch gears, drip oil on the starboard shaft bearings, spin each coupling to work lubricant into engine linkages, then note quantities and any pitting in the night log before watch handover.
The tools that do the workLog bookjob descriptionsO*NET
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Record data in log
+Enter the hour-by-hour watch log with position, weather, course, any passenger reports, anchor status, and…
Record data in log
+Enter the hour-by-hour watch log with position, weather, course, any passenger reports, anchor status, and actions taken; sign the entry at the end of the watch and hand the log to the officer of the watch on relief.
The tools that do the workKongsberg Maritime K-Log Deck LogbookESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Repair sails and rigging
+Repair any chafed stitching or broken stitching on sails and secure splices in running rigging, document…
Repair sails and rigging
+Repair any chafed stitching or broken stitching on sails and secure splices in running rigging, document parts used and time spent in the maintenance record, and advise the bosun if the sail must be taken down for full repair.
The tools that do the workComputerized maintenance management system CMMSESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Learning1
Stand watch to look for obstructions
+Stand the 0200–0400 lookout, scan for navigation obstructions, vessels, and debris, call the bridge…
Stand watch to look for obstructions
+Stand the 0200–0400 lookout, scan for navigation obstructions, vessels, and debris, call the bridge immediately with range and bearing for any contact, and record all sightings and actions in the watch record upon relief.
The tools that do the workLog bookjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur.
+Lower the forward and aft lifeboats, station one crew at each winch and one at the embarkation ladder,…
Lower and man lifeboats when emergencies occur.
+Lower the forward and aft lifeboats, station one crew at each winch and one at the embarkation ladder, confirm sea state and passenger count, sound the general alarm, and keep the bridge updated every minute until all boats are waterborne.
The tools that do the workKongsberg Maritime K-Log Deck LogbookO*NETWikipedia
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Paint or varnish surfaces
+Prepare paint and varnish for the main promenade and stairwell, mask adjacent fittings, apply two coats where…
Paint or varnish surfaces
+Prepare paint and varnish for the main promenade and stairwell, mask adjacent fittings, apply two coats where worn, ventilate the area, and log materials used and completion time in the maintenance record at shift end.
The tools that do the workComputerized maintenance management system CMMSESCOO*NET
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Polish wood trim
+Clean and sand the wood trim in the starboard lounge, apply polish and buff to a uniform sheen, note any…
Polish wood trim
+Clean and sand the wood trim in the starboard lounge, apply polish and buff to a uniform sheen, note any cracks needing carpentry, and enter a defect report with photos into the maintenance record before handover.
The tools that do the workLog bookESCOO*NET
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Help engineers with machinery repairs
+Assist the engineering team by holding panels, handing tools, and flushing cooling lines as directed, follow…
Help engineers with machinery repairs
+Assist the engineering team by holding panels, handing tools, and flushing cooling lines as directed, follow the engineer's checklist, report any unsafe conditions immediately, and sign the job completion in the maintenance log.
The tools that do the workComputerized maintenance management system CMMSESCOjob descriptions
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Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks.
+Connect suction and discharge hoses to the correct tank manifolds with camlocks, verify tank numbers and…
Attach hoses and operate pumps to transfer substances to and from liquid cargo tanks.
+Connect suction and discharge hoses to the correct tank manifolds with camlocks, verify tank numbers and transfer sequence with the chief officer, start the pumps at low rate, monitor gauges and vents, and log volumes transferred on completion.
The tools that do the workComputerized maintenance management system CMMSO*NET
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Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.
+Update my certifications record with the latest safety familiarisation and lifeboat training entries, attach…
Maintain government-issued certifications, as required.
+Update my certifications record with the latest safety familiarisation and lifeboat training entries, attach scanned certificates, check expiry dates, and flag any renewal needed within 30 days to ship's master and the personnel office.
The tools that do the workLog bookO*NET
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Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.
+Repair the damaged mooring eye splice on the starboard quarterline: replace the worn section with a…
Splice and repair ropes, wire cables, or cordage, using marlinespikes, wire cutters, twine, and hand tools.
+Repair the damaged mooring eye splice on the starboard quarterline: replace the worn section with a three-strand short splice, secure with whipping twine, log the repair, and notify the bosun and on-duty officer when complete.
The tools that do the workLog bookO*NET
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Relay specified signals to other ships, using visual signaling devices, such as blinker lights or semaphores.
+Send the requested light signal to the inbound trawler using the blinker pattern agreed in the night orders,…
Relay specified signals to other ships, using visual signaling devices, such as blinker lights or semaphores.
+Send the requested light signal to the inbound trawler using the blinker pattern agreed in the night orders, confirm visual receipt by repeating twice, then log time, signal code, and recipient vessel in the watch log.
The tools that do the workKongsberg Maritime K-Log Deck LogbookO*NET
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Participate in shore patrols.
+Join the two-hour shore patrol with petty officer Lopez at 2330, check perimeter lighting and access points,…
Participate in shore patrols.
+Join the two-hour shore patrol with petty officer Lopez at 2330, check perimeter lighting and access points, report any breaches or unfamiliar persons directly to the duty officer, and file a written patrol report afterward.
The tools that do the workLog bookO*NET
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Measure water depth
+Take soundings at the three charted stations on the port bow using the hand lead, record depths, sea state…
Measure water depth
+Take soundings at the three charted stations on the port bow using the hand lead, record depths, sea state and time, compare with charted depths, and report any unexplained shoaling to the navigating officer immediately.
The tools that do the workLog bookjob descriptions
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Connect hoses and operate pumps
+Connect the firefighting hose to the forward hydrant, test pump flow and pressure for two minutes, ensure…
Connect hoses and operate pumps
+Connect the firefighting hose to the forward hydrant, test pump flow and pressure for two minutes, ensure couplings are tight, clear all kinks, then log the test results and alert engineering if pressure falls below required minimum.
The tools that do the workComputerized maintenance management system CMMSLog bookjob descriptions
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Manage supplies and inventory onboard
+Take inventory of consumables in the storeroom at 0300, count fuel cans, spare filters and safety gear, note…
Manage supplies and inventory onboard
+Take inventory of consumables in the storeroom at 0300, count fuel cans, spare filters and safety gear, note shortfalls and damaged items, reorder critical items through the stores request channel so the chief mate approves by 0800, and update the onboard stock list.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelComputerized maintenance management system CMMSWikipedia
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Dust and wax furniture
+Dust and apply wax to the officers' mess tables and the passageway handrails between 0200 and 0300, use…
Dust and wax furniture
+Dust and apply wax to the officers' mess tables and the passageway handrails between 0200 and 0300, use non-slip polish on stairs, remove any spill marks, and inspect finished areas for smears before logging the cleaning in the accommodation maintenance record.
The tools that do the workLog bookESCO
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Stow supplies and equipment
+Stow incoming provisions and spare gear in the designated locker spaces, secure heavy items to lashing…
Stow supplies and equipment
+Stow incoming provisions and spare gear in the designated locker spaces, secure heavy items to lashing points, label locations on the stores map, update the onboard stock list with quantities and expiry dates, and notify the chief steward of any discrepancies.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelLog bookESCO
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Activities this job lives in
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses