Merchant marine vs able bodied seaman

The differences between merchant marines and able bodied seamen can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a merchant marine has an average salary of $59,752, which is higher than the $54,062 average annual salary of an able bodied seaman.

The top three skills for a merchant marine include safety procedures, vessel security and diesel engines. The most important skills for an able bodied seaman are TWIC, safety equipment, and USCG.

Merchant marine vs able bodied seaman overview

	Merchant Marine	Able Bodied Seaman
Yearly salary	$59,752	$54,062
Hourly rate	$28.73	$25.99
Growth rate	1%	1%
Number of jobs	11,319	422
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age	33	33
Years of experience	-	-

Merchant marine vs able bodied seaman salary

Merchant marines and able bodied seamen have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Merchant Marine	Able Bodied Seaman
Average salary	$59,752	$54,062
Salary range	Between $23,000 And $151,000	Between $22,000 And $129,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between merchant marine and able bodied seaman education

There are a few differences between a merchant marine and an able bodied seaman in terms of educational background:

	Merchant Marine	Able Bodied Seaman
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 53%	Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common major	Business	Marine Transportation
Most common college	-	-

Merchant marine vs able bodied seaman demographics

Here are the differences between merchant marines' and able bodied seamen' demographics:

	Merchant Marine	Able Bodied Seaman
Average age	33	33
Gender ratio	Male, 88.8% Female, 11.2%	Male, 94.4% Female, 5.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 16.0% Unknown, 9.3% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 5.0% White, 54.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%	Black or African American, 16.9% Unknown, 9.4% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 4.8% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.7%
LGBT Percentage	3%	3%

Differences between merchant marine and able bodied seaman duties and responsibilities

Merchant marine example responsibilities.

Manage the logistics and operation of 23 work centers locate at five separate sites in a dynamic operational environment.
Operate and maintain firefighting safety equipment and maintain ships operational condition.
Ensure that the facilities capabilities are complimentary to the task request by FEMA logistics.
Develop and present briefings to management and senior leadership.
Organize multiple emergency airlifts of repair parts and ammunition under stressful combat conditions.
Establish valuable links with receiving combat units and ensure accurate delivery of critical supplies.

Able bodied seaman example responsibilities.

Conduct daily JSA's, occasionally lead weekly fire and boat drills.
Operate scissor lift, fork truck, and a JLG.
Earn a marksmanship ribbon for qualifying.
Award the marksman ribbon for both pistol and rifle.
Train new sailors on proper protocol and assist in training drills.
Assist in USCG safety inspections, customer service, and public relations.

Merchant marine vs able bodied seaman skills

Common merchant marine skills

Safety Procedures, 29%
Vessel Security, 17%
Diesel Engines, 14%
Cargo Operations, 10%
Deck Hand, 9%
USCG, 5%

Common able bodied seaman skills

TWIC, 14%
Safety Equipment, 11%
USCG, 10%
Rig, 8%
Coast Guard, 6%
Hand Tools, 6%

Merchant Marine vs. similar jobs

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Transportation Industry
Merchant Marine
Merchant Marine vs Able Bodied Seaman

Updated January 8, 2025

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