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Ship steward salary
Average ship steward salary
$15.23
Understanding Ship Steward Salaries
The average salary for a Ship Steward is around $31,683 annually. In hourly terms, this equates to approximately $15.23. Salaries can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector within the maritime industry. For instance, those working on luxury cruise lines may earn higher wages compared to those on cargo ships.
Salary by Experience Level
Entry-level positions may start lower, while experienced stewards often command higher salaries. Stewards with advanced skills or certifications may also see a salary increase. For example, a steward with five or more years of experience can earn significantly more, reflecting their expertise and proven track record.
Highest Paying States
Regions with a robust maritime industry, such as California and Florida, tend to offer higher wages for Ship Stewards. Understanding these regional differences can help job seekers target their applications effectively.
Opportunities for Advancement
Beyond base salaries, many stewards benefit from additional perks such as tips, bonuses, and benefits, enhancing their overall compensation. With a growing demand for hospitality professionals in the maritime sector, pursuing a career as a Ship Steward can be both rewarding and lucrative.
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Where can a Ship Steward earn more?
Ship steward salaries by experience level
Ship steward salary estimates from across the web
Average ship steward salary by state
The highest-paying states for ship stewards are Alaska, New York, and Rhode Island. The lowest average ship steward salary states are Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for ship stewards
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $39,863 | $19.16 |
| 2 | Alaska | $42,118 | $20.25 |
| 3 | Maine | $37,564 | $18.06 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $38,938 | $18.72 |
| 5 | Washington | $38,135 | $18.33 |
| 6 | Maryland | $35,342 | $16.99 |
| 7 | Vermont | $32,023 | $15.40 |
| 8 | Oregon | $34,287 | $16.48 |
| 9 | Tennessee | $36,173 | $17.39 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $33,462 | $16.09 |
| 11 | New York | $40,081 | $19.27 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $36,323 | $17.46 |
| 13 | Missouri | $32,558 | $15.65 |
| 14 | Illinois | $36,271 | $17.44 |
| 15 | Kentucky | $30,091 | $14.47 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $33,044 | $15.89 |
| 17 | Delaware | $35,575 | $17.10 |
| 18 | Idaho | $30,900 | $14.86 |
| 19 | Kansas | $32,745 | $15.74 |
| 20 | New Jersey | $38,255 | $18.39 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $31,313 | $15.05 |
| 22 | California | $35,945 | $17.28 |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $33,252 | $15.99 |
| 24 | Iowa | $29,211 | $14.04 |
| 25 | Arkansas | $28,807 | $13.85 |
| 26 | Montana | $28,759 | $13.83 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $34,212 | $16.45 |
| 28 | Arizona | $27,487 | $13.21 |
| 29 | Wyoming | $27,596 | $13.27 |
| 30 | Wisconsin | $28,521 | $13.71 |
| 31 | Nevada | $27,186 | $13.07 |
| 32 | Utah | $29,165 | $14.02 |
| 33 | Hawaii | $27,945 | $13.44 |
| 34 | South Dakota | $28,510 | $13.71 |
| 35 | Ohio | $26,323 | $12.66 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $27,695 | $13.31 |
| 37 | Michigan | $27,219 | $13.09 |
| 38 | Indiana | $28,560 | $13.73 |
| 39 | Colorado | $28,642 | $13.77 |
| 40 | Virginia | $27,841 | $13.39 |
| 41 | Texas | $25,841 | $12.42 |
| 42 | District of Columbia | $32,088 | $15.43 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $23,935 | $11.51 |
| 44 | Florida | $23,199 | $11.15 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $25,532 | $12.28 |
| 46 | New Mexico | $26,770 | $12.87 |
| 47 | North Carolina | $25,706 | $12.36 |
| 48 | Georgia | $22,512 | $10.82 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $25,375 | $12.20 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $21,602 | $10.39 |
| 51 | Alabama | $22,495 | $10.81 |
Highest paying cities for ship stewards
The highest-paying cities for ship stewards are Juneau, AK, New York, NY, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juneau, AK | $41,537 | $19.97 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $39,863 | $19.16 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $38,721 | $18.62 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $38,339 | $18.43 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $37,147 | $17.86 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $36,572 | $17.58 |
| 7 | Memphis, TN | $36,192 | $17.40 |
| 8 | Atlantic City, NJ | $36,012 | $17.31 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $34,229 | $16.46 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $33,731 | $16.22 |
| 11 | Kansas City, KS | $32,836 | $15.79 |
| 12 | Kansas City, MO | $32,689 | $15.72 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $31,965 | $15.37 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $31,329 | $15.06 |
| 15 | Arlington, VA | $30,468 | $14.65 |
| 16 | Cleveland, OH | $28,938 | $13.91 |
| 17 | Broomfield, CO | $28,692 | $13.79 |
| 18 | Indianapolis, IN | $28,076 | $13.50 |
| 19 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $27,939 | $13.43 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $27,720 | $13.33 |
Ship steward salary details
A ship steward's salary ranges from $16,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $62,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a ship steward's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 75th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| Average | $31,683 | $2,640 | $15 |
| 25th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
| 10th Percentile | $16,000 | $1,333 | $8 |
Highest paying ship steward jobs
The highest paying types of ship stewards are light rail controller, passenger representative, and traveling passenger agent.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food Prep/Dishwasher | $29,964 | $2,497 | $14.41 | 113,200 |
| Kitchen Helper | $25,796 | $2,150 | $12.40 | 80,202 |
| Bus Attendant | $27,387 | $2,282 | $13.17 | 51,391 |
| Dish Washer | $29,860 | $2,488 | $14.36 | 37,127 |
Top companies hiring ship stewards now:
Which companies pay ship stewards the most?
Ship steward salaries at Intuitive Surgical and Citi are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average ship steward salary at companies like Intel and Bayer are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Intuitive Surgical | $131,690 | $63.31 |
| 2 | Citi | $127,767 | $61.43 |
| 3 | Intel | $124,678 | $59.94 |
| 4 | Bayer | $121,246 | $58.29 |
| 5 | Eli Lilly and Company | $120,267 | $57.82 |
| 6 | Merck | $119,202 | $57.31 |
| 7 | Morgan Stanley | $115,106 | $55.34 |
| 8 | Santander Bank | $110,753 | $53.25 |
| 9 | Splunk | $108,633 | $52.23 |
| 10 | M&T Bank | $103,263 | $49.65 |
| 11 | Global Partners | $102,513 | $49.29 |
| 12 | BASF | $96,713 | $46.50 |
| 13 | Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution | $91,398 | $43.94 |
| 14 | Johnson & Johnson | $90,464 | $43.49 |
| 15 | Edward Jones | $87,680 | $42.15 |
| 16 | Alteryx | $84,284 | $40.52 |
| 17 | PPL | $82,465 | $39.65 |
| 18 | Harvard University | $80,424 | $38.67 |
| 19 | Western Alliance Bank | $79,721 | $38.33 |
| 20 | United Service Technologies | $78,925 | $37.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Ship steward salary trends
The average ship steward salary has risen by $7,841 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average ship steward earned $23,842 annually, but today, they earn $31,683 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for ship stewards over the last decade.
Compare ship steward salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average ship steward salary over time
Compare ship steward salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Ship steward salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $31,700 | $15.23 | +7.6% |
| 2024 | $29,300 | $14.07 | -0.7% |
| 2023 | $29,500 | $14.17 | -4.0% |
| 2022 | $30,600 | $14.73 | +6.4% |
| 2021 | $28,700 | $13.80 | +0.5% |
Recently added ship steward salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonesta Hotels | Steward | Minneapolis, MN | 06/30/2025 | $36,251 |
| Sonesta Hotels | Steward | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $51,966 |
| Fractal Analytics | SR. Data Steward (Data Governance) | Ione, WA | 06/30/2025 | $120,000 |
| Caesars Entertainment | Stewards-Silver Legacy | Reno, NV | 06/29/2025 | $33,392 |
| Hillstone Restaurant Group | Steward/Dishwasher | Dallas, TX | 06/29/2025 | $37,566 |
| Hillstone Restaurant Group | Steward | Coral Gables, FL | 06/29/2025 | $39,653 |
| Novartis AG | Technical Steward | Indianapolis, IN | 06/29/2025 | $114,100 |
| Pulama Lanai | Steward (Lanai City Bar & Grill) | Lanai City, HI | 06/29/2025 | $42,867 |
| Sitio de Experiencia de Candidatos | Steward | Lahaina, HI | 06/29/2025 | $48,189 |
| Galaxy Restaurant | Dish Steward | Wadsworth, OH | 06/29/2025 | $31,305 |
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