Merchant Navy Average Salary 

• Updated on  Jul 04, 2025, by Anusmita Bhatta

Average salaries in the Merchant Navy in India are very diverse depending on rank, experience as well as the type of ship. The low and middle jobs like cadets and junior engineers are paid around INR 25,000 to INR 70,000 monthly and the officers and engineers secure a salary between INR 1 lakh to 12 lattice annually depending on their position and enlistment.

 

Through experience, the salaries shoot up to a very high increment, with senior officers such as captains and head engineers enjoying an earnings ceiling of up to INR 12 lakh per month and the most experienced professionals able to command an annual package depending on their level of experience that ranges up to INR 20 lakh and above. The Merchant Navy is also well paid with different fringe benefits and allowances; hence it is a lucrative career to adventure seekers and people who would like to travel to far corners of the world.

 

Table of Contents
  1. Merchant Navy Salary after Experience
  2. Merchant Navy Salary after different level of study
  3. Merchant Navy Salary as per Designation
  4. Merchant Navy Salary in Some Top Cities
  5. Merchant Navy Salary in Abroad Countries
  6. Skills Acquired after B.Sc Nautical Science
  7. FAQs

 

Merchant Navy Salary after Experience

The job posts present within merchant navy have been given below together with the probable salary and the experience needed:

Job Role

Experience Required

Average Salary (per annum)

Deck Cadet

0–1 year

INR 3.5–5 LPA

Trainee Marine Engineer

0–1 year

INR 4–6 LPA

Third Officer

2–3 years

INR 8–12 LPA

Fourth Engineer

2–3 years

INR 8–12 LPA

Second Officer

3–5 years

INR 12–18 LPA

Third Engineer

3–5 years

INR 12–18 LPA

Chief Officer

5–10 years

INR 20–30 LPA

Second Engineer

5–10 years

INR 20–30 LPA

Captain

10+ years

INR 35–65 LPA

Chief Engineer

10+ years

INR 35–65 LPA

Marine Superintendent

10+ years

INR 30–50 LPA

Technical Superintendent

10+ years

INR 30–50 LPA

Fleet Manager

10+ years

INR 35–55 LPA

Maritime Consultant

10+ years

INR 25–45 LPA

 

Merchant Navy Salary after different level of study

The remuneration of a merchant navy officer can be different in line with the level of qualification. Salary is normally higher with higher certification or higher degree. The common jobs that require education and pay are as shown below:

Job Role

Experience Required

Education Level Required

Average Salary (per annum)

Deck Cadet

0–1 year

Diploma/B.Sc/Pre-sea

INR 3.5–5 LPA

Trainee Marine Engineer

0–1 year

B.E./Diploma/Pre-sea

INR 4–6 LPA

Third Officer

2–3 years

Certificate of Competency

INR 8–12 LPA

Fourth Engineer

2–3 years

Certificate of Competency

INR 8–12 LPA

Second Officer

3–5 years

Certificate of Competency

INR 12–18 LPA

Third Engineer

3–5 years

Certificate of Competency

INR 12–18 LPA

Chief Officer

5–10 years

Master CoC/Advanced CoC

INR 20–30 LPA

Second Engineer

5–10 years

Class 1 CoC

INR 20–30 LPA

Captain

10+ years

Master CoC

INR 35–65 LPA

Chief Engineer

10+ years

Class 1 CoC

INR 35–65 LPA

Marine Superintendent

10+ years

B.E./M.E./CoC

INR 30–50 LPA

Technical Superintendent

10+ years

B.E./M.E./CoC

INR 30–50 LPA

Fleet Manager

10+ years

B.E./MBA/CoC

INR 35–55 LPA

Maritime Consultant

10+ years

B.E./M.E./MBA

INR 25–45 LPA

 

Merchant Navy Salary as per Designation

Salary remuneration is different in merchant navy jobs that depend on ranks/designation. To illustrate, a Deck Cadet is paid less as compared to a Captain. Normal job categories are below:

Job Role

Experience Required

Average Salary (per annum)

Deck Cadet

0–1 year

INR 3.5–5 LPA

Trainee Marine Engineer

0–1 year

INR 4–6 LPA

Junior Engineer

0–1 year

INR 4–6 LPA

Third Officer

2–3 years

INR 8–12 LPA

Fourth Engineer

2–3 years

INR 8–12 LPA

Second Officer

3–5 years

INR 12–18 LPA

Third Engineer

3–5 years

INR 12–18 LPA

Chief Officer

5–10 years

INR 20–30 LPA

Second Engineer

5–10 years

INR 20–30 LPA

Marine Superintendent

10+ years

INR 30–50 LPA

Technical Superintendent

10+ years

INR 30–50 LPA

Captain

10+ years

INR 35–65 LPA

Chief Engineer

10+ years

INR 35–65 LPA

Fleet Manager

10+ years

INR 35–55 LPA

Maritime Consultant

10+ years

INR 25–45 LPA

 

Merchant Navy Salary in Some Top Cities

The Merchant Navy is an international career; the recruitment, training and shore-based employment depends on the Indian city. The following are approximate wages of jobs in India:

Job Role

City

Experience Required

Average Salary (per annum)

Deck Cadet

Mumbai

0–1 year

INR 5,00,000

Trainee Marine Engineer

Kochi

0–1 year

INR 4,50,000

Junior Engineer

Chennai

0–1 year

INR 4,00,000

Third Officer

Kolkata

2–3 years

INR 10,00,000

Fourth Engineer

Visakhapatnam

2–3 years

INR 10,00,000

Second Officer

Mangalore

3–5 years

INR 16,00,000

Third Engineer

Chennai

3–5 years

INR 16,00,000

Chief Officer

Mumbai

5–10 years

INR 25,00,000

Second Engineer

Kochi

5–10 years

INR 25,00,000

Captain

Mumbai

10+ years

INR 55,00,000

Chief Engineer

Chennai

10+ years

INR 55,00,000

Marine Superintendent

Mumbai

10+ years

INR 45,00,000

Technical Superintendent

Kochi

10+ years

INR 45,00,000

Fleet Manager

Mumbai

10+ years

INR 50,00,000

Maritime Consultant

Chennai

10+ years

INR 40,00,000

 

Merchant Navy Salary in Abroad Countries

The following are some of the job opportunities of merchant navy officers in foreign shipping companies:

Job Role

Country

Experience Required

Average Salary (per annum)

Deck Cadet

USA

0–1 year

USD 30,000–45,000

Trainee Marine Engineer

Canada

0–1 year

CAD 40,000–55,000

Third Officer

UK

2–3 years

GBP 35,000–45,000

Fourth Engineer

Australia

2–3 years

AUD 60,000–80,000

Second Officer

Germany

3–5 years

EUR 50,000–65,000

Third Engineer

UAE

3–5 years

AED 120,000–180,000

Chief Officer

USA

5–10 years

USD 80,000–110,000

Second Engineer

Canada

5–10 years

CAD 90,000–120,000

Captain

UK

10+ years

GBP 90,000–120,000

Chief Engineer

Germany

10+ years

EUR 100,000–130,000

Marine Superintendent

UAE

10+ years

AED 240,000–300,000

Technical Superintendent

Australia

10+ years

AUD 120,000–150,000

Fleet Manager

USA

10+ years

USD 120,000–150,000

Maritime Consultant

Canada

10+ years

CAD 120,000–150,000

Senior Consultant

Australia

10+ years

AUD 130,000–160,000

 

Skills Acquired after B.Sc Nautical Science

Listed below are some of the skills acquired after pursuing B.Sc Nautical Science program:

  • Technical Proficiency: Merchant Navy practitioners gain good technical ability at sea which consists of navigation, seamen ship skills and marine engine skills and this allows the users to operate, maintain and trouble shoot complex ship machinery and systems.
  • Crisis Management and Problem-Solving: They learn how to deal with emergencies, act fast during the time of crisis, and how to solve unpredictable situations that may occur during long sea voyages.
  • Collaboration and Team building: The fact that the seafarer performs his work in a limited area and is a heterogeneous crew makes them know how to work professionally, which ensures a close-knit team and the ability to support each other to coordinate successfully operating the vessel.
  • Communication Skills: Efficient and sensible communication is also critical and since on board English language is the main language being practiced, proper instructions and information dissemination will prevent accidents and also operational efficiency.
  • Physical and Mental Endurance: Long shifts, poor climatic conditions and drawn out stints at sea contribute towards developing resilience, flexibility and strength of endurance needed to succeed in a harsh sea.
  • Responsibility and Leadership: As part of their experience, Merchant Navy officers become leaders of teams and have to guarantee safety regulations observed and make vital decisions regarding the well-being of their colleagues and the ship.

 

FAQs

What are the salary ranges of the Captains and Chief Engineers in the Merchant Navy?

Senior staff like Captains and Chief Engineers may receive 3-20 lakh of monthly salary, and the highest will be categorized on targeted vessels or with several years of practice experience in the authorities of international shipping companies.

Is there any difference in the salaries of the Merchant Navy according to type of vessel?

Yes, you can always expect higher pay on oil tankers, LNG carriers, and container ships than on a regular cargo vessel because they bring more responsibilities and operations risk.

What is the effect of experience on salary increment in the Merchant Navy?

Payment is very much based on experience and rank; professionals who have five or more years of working at sea can make 1.5 lakh up to 6 lakh of rupees per month, especially when it comes to officers or specialized ships.

What are the pay scales of the support jobs such as GP Rating, Cook, and Electrician?

Support roles including GP Rating, Cook, and Electrician have an average monthly salary range of between Rs.25,000 to 90,000 depending on the experience, qualification and the company.

Are there any allowances or bonuses that Merchant Navy officers get?

Most officers are also given additional payments to work under dangerous conditions, longer contracts, and risky routes and could also be given end-of-contract payments and performance bonuses.

What educational status is needed to have higher pay in the Merchant Navy?

Higher wages are also associated with more advanced certification and degrees like BSc Nautical Science, BTech Marine Engineering and specialization courses, as well as further training in other areas such as in hazardous materials or dynamic positioning.

In what way do contract types affect Merchant Navy wages?

Longer or more complex contracts usually pay off with higher cumulative remuneration, and permanent job roles are more stable than getting into short term contracts which could have higher monthly remunerations but less job security.

Do trading routes have disparity when it comes to salary?

Yes, there are higher paid officers and crew who work on international or high risk trading routes as compared to those working on the domestic routes in which some officers are given hazard payment due to risky routes.

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