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The average salary for a Marine Cargo Inspector is approximately $48,117 annually, translating to about $23 per hour. Salaries can vary based on geographic location, years of experience, and specific job duties. In states like California and Texas, inspectors often see higher pay due to the volume of cargo handled.
Entry-level positions typically start at around $35,000, while seasoned professionals can earn upwards of $60,000 annually. This progression emphasizes the importance of experience in this field. Additionally, specialized roles, such as those focused on hazardous materials, may command even higher salaries.
Understanding the salary landscape for Marine Cargo Inspectors helps job seekers gauge their earning potential and make informed career choices. Explore job listings and resources on Zippia to find opportunities tailored to your skills and interests.
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The average marine cargo inspector salary in New Jersey, Illinois, and Kansas are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average marine cargo inspector salary states are Nebraska, Wyoming, and North Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | $55,961 | $26.90 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $52,880 | $25.42 |
| 3 | Mississippi | $49,187 | $23.65 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $51,511 | $24.76 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $70,429 | $33.86 |
| 6 | Florida | $51,407 | $24.71 |
| 7 | Virginia | $52,099 | $25.05 |
| 8 | Kansas | $56,521 | $27.17 |
| 9 | Arizona | $52,073 | $25.04 |
| 10 | Illinois | $58,477 | $28.11 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $48,740 | $23.43 |
| 12 | West Virginia | $48,894 | $23.51 |
| 13 | Iowa | $54,161 | $26.04 |
| 14 | New Mexico | $50,645 | $24.35 |
| 15 | California | $52,805 | $25.39 |
| 16 | South Carolina | $47,794 | $22.98 |
| 17 | Alabama | $48,145 | $23.15 |
| 18 | Ohio | $47,759 | $22.96 |
| 19 | Georgia | $47,396 | $22.79 |
| 20 | Michigan | $47,576 | $22.87 |
| 21 | Tennessee | $45,681 | $21.96 |
| 22 | Nevada | $46,356 | $22.29 |
| 23 | Kentucky | $45,085 | $21.68 |
| 24 | Indiana | $45,097 | $21.68 |
| 25 | Connecticut | $47,078 | $22.63 |
| 26 | Maine | $43,734 | $21.03 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $47,444 | $22.81 |
| 28 | Delaware | $48,141 | $23.14 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $46,462 | $22.34 |
| 30 | Utah | $45,903 | $22.07 |
| 31 | Maryland | $47,501 | $22.84 |
| 32 | Wisconsin | $44,393 | $21.34 |
| 33 | New Hampshire | $42,707 | $20.53 |
| 34 | Colorado | $42,829 | $20.59 |
| 35 | New York | $46,239 | $22.23 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $41,943 | $20.16 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $45,873 | $22.05 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $47,335 | $22.76 |
| 39 | Idaho | $42,215 | $20.30 |
| 40 | Missouri | $42,904 | $20.63 |
| 41 | Oregon | $45,578 | $21.91 |
| 42 | Vermont | $39,984 | $19.22 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $44,375 | $21.33 |
| 44 | Montana | $38,420 | $18.47 |
| 45 | Minnesota | $41,688 | $20.04 |
| 46 | Washington | $42,139 | $20.26 |
| 47 | Alaska | $44,969 | $21.62 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $40,022 | $19.24 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $39,239 | $18.86 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $40,641 | $19.54 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $40,125 | $19.29 |
The highest-paying cities for marine cargo inspectors are Carteret, NJ, Houston, TX, and Martinez, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carteret, NJ | $70,466 | $33.88 |
| 2 | Houston, TX | $56,754 | $27.29 |
| 3 | Martinez, CA | $52,514 | $25.25 |
| 4 | New Orleans, LA | $51,765 | $24.89 |
| 5 | Fairfield, CT | $47,544 | $22.86 |
A marine cargo inspector's salary ranges from $29,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| Average | $48,117 | $4,010 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $37,000 | $3,083 | $18 |
| 10th Percentile | $29,000 | $2,417 | $14 |
The highest paying types of marine cargo inspectors are cargo surveyor, marine cargo surveyor, and senior inspector.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspector | $38,757 | $3,230 | $18.63 | 17,670 |
Top companies hiring marine cargo inspectors now:
Marine cargo inspector salaries at U.s. Coast Guard and Atlantic Essential Products are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average marine cargo inspector salary at companies like Inspectorate Sharp Global Corporation (isg) and Gener8 Maritime are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.s. Coast Guard | $48,466 | $23.30 |
| 2 | Atlantic Essential Products | $48,398 | $23.27 |
| 3 | Inspectorate Sharp Global Corporation (isg) | $48,382 | $23.26 |
| 4 | Gener8 Maritime | $39,821 | $19.14 |
The average marine cargo inspector salary has risen by $9,924 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average marine cargo inspector earned $38,193 annually, but today, they earn $48,117 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for marine cargo inspectors over the last decade.
Compare marine cargo inspector salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare marine cargo inspector salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,100 | $23.13 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $46,500 | $22.37 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $45,300 | $21.77 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $44,300 | $21.29 | -0.1% |
| 2021 | $44,300 | $21.31 | +1.9% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Coast Guard | Marine Inspector | Houma, LA | 02/23/2025 | $120,000 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Marine Inspector | Houma, LA | 02/22/2025 | $88,621 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Marine Inspector | Washington, DC | 02/22/2025 | $88,621 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Supervisory Marine Inspector | East Providence, RI | 02/16/2025 | $119,355 |
| U.S. Coast Guard | Marine Inspector | Houma, LA | 01/29/2025 | $120,000 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Marine Inspector | Houma, LA | 01/28/2025 | $88,621 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Marine Inspector (Senior Verifying Officer) | Charleston, SC | 01/22/2025 | $105,383 |
| U.S. Coast Guard | Marine Inspector (Senior Verifying Officer) | Charleston, SC | 01/21/2025 | $120,000 |
| Amspec LLC | Marine Inspector | Destrehan, LA | 01/09/2025 | $74,048 |
| U.S. Coast Guard | Marine Inspector, GS | Houma, LA | 09/26/2024 | $120,000 |
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