Technical vs. marine salaries – which is higher?

ocean wave

Technical staff are paid, on average 12% higher than their marine counter parts

4,826 employees were reported in the Technical and Marine, Safety & Quality job family which accounts for 16% if all incumbents reported in the 2019 shore based salary survey from Spinnaker.

Technical Superintendents were the third most reported code in the Maritime HR Association salary survey overall and technical staff account for 56% of the job family. Senior professionals are the most reported in the job family making up 39%.

Only 14% of employees were female.  1% were reported at Head of / Director level and 67% were reported working at Junior / Trainee level.

On average, technical staff are paid 12% higher than their marine counter parts apart from at a Junior / Trainee level where marine staff report a higher median.  The US and Hong Kong are the highest paying countries consistently across all levels.

Denmark are the highest payers in Europe when it comes to bonuses and total compensation packages at all levels.

In Europe, Singapore and the USA, median base salaries for Marine Superintendents has slightly decreased whereas in the U.K. they have remained steady.  Comparing that to Technical Superintendents, the median pay has increased when looking at the U.K, Singapore and the USA but like Marine Superintendents there has been a minimal decrease in Europe. 

Since 2005, Spinnaker has provided the most comprehensive and reliable worldwide annual survey of shore-based salaries in the shipping industry.

To find out more about Spinnaker’s salary benchmarking for both shore based jobs and seafarer wage costs, contact our benchmarking team at [email protected].

Hot jobs May 2020

hot jobs

Our latest top shore-based jobs for May include an exclusive CEO role, technical roles, policy, analyst roles and press and legal opportunities.

Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers, London
Compliance Manager – FTC
Technical Manager, Europe
Head of Vessel Management, Singapore
Director of Policy, London
LPG Vessel Manager, Asia
Head of Drybulk (Gearless)- Singapore
Marine Superintendent – Chemical fleet
Technical Superintendent – Chemical tankers
Press Coordinator, London
Legal Counsel, London
Senior Shipping Analyst, Qatar