The merchant navy provides an adventurous career with opportunities to travel and a high salary. The merchant navy salary per month depends on rank, experience, company, and ship type. With experience, especially the merchant navy salary after 5 years, pay scales become highly competitive. Let’s explore the salary of merchant navy, its variations by position, and future expectations for 2025.
What is the merchant navy?
It is a commercial fleet that focuses more on trade and commerce rather than defense. A merchant navy provides an adventurous career with attractive salaries, tax-free income, and international exposure. The salary for merchant navy per month depends on the rank and experience and is thus sought after. The growth in salary is tremendous over the years, with the merchant navy salary after 5 years being highly rewarding.
Salary of Merchant Navy Overview
The merchant navy salary per month varies greatly based on the rank of the officer, type of ship, and experience. For freshers, the salary of merchant navy per month starts at ₹20,000, while senior officers can earn up to ₹10 lakh per month. Many professionals aim to see how the merchant navy salary after 5 years improves, as experience significantly impacts earnings. Here’s a quick look at the salary of merchant navy for different ranks:
| Rank | salary of merchant navy per month | Average Salary (Per Year) |
| Deck Cadet | ₹20,000 – ₹50,000 | ₹2.4 Lakh – ₹6 Lakh |
| Third Officer | ₹1 Lakh – ₹2 Lakh | ₹12 Lakh – ₹24 Lakh |
| Second Officer | ₹2 Lakh – ₹3 Lakh | ₹24 Lakh – ₹36 Lakh |
| Chief Officer | ₹3.5 Lakh – ₹5 Lakh | ₹42 Lakh – ₹60 Lakh |
| Captain | ₹5 Lakh – ₹10 Lakh | ₹60 Lakh – ₹1.2 Crore |
Determinants of merchant navy salary
The salary in the merchant navy is determined by the following factors:
- Rank and Position: Higher ranks earn more. A captain earns much more than a deck cadet.
- Type of Ship: Wages for different vessels differ. Sailing in Oil Tankers or LNG Carriers, Gives one much higher pay as compared to sailing in Cargo Ship.
- Years of Experience: Older ones draw much higher as compared to fresher cadets.
- Shipping Lines: Lines such as Maersk, MSC, NYK Line tend to pay highly
- Contract duration: The lengthier the contract period, so would be higher package.
Merchant Navy Salary according to Rank-Complete
Let us break merchant navy salary detail of different ranks:-
1. Deck Cadet Salary
A deck cadet is an apprentice who serves the officers and gets to learn the basic operation of a ship.
- Monthly Salary: ₹20,000 to ₹50,000
- Yearly Salary: ₹2.4 Lakh to ₹6 Lakh
- Duties: Navigation, cargo handling, ship maintenance.
2. Third Officer Salary
Third officer handles the safety equipment, navigation, and cargo handling.
- Monthly Salary: ₹1 Lakh to ₹2 Lakh
- Yearly Salary: ₹12 Lakh to ₹24 Lakh
- Duties: Safety checks, communication with port authorities.
3. Salary of merchant navy per month (Second Officer Salary)
A second officer maintains navigation charts, radar operations, and emergency drills.
- Monthly Salary: ₹2 Lakh to ₹3 Lakh
- Yearly Salary: ₹24 Lakh to ₹36 Lakh
- Duties: Voyage planning, ship maintenance.
4. Chief Officer Salary
Chief officer is a second-in-command after the captain. He controls cargo handling operations, manages crew, and provides safety of a ship.
- Monthly Salary: ₹3.5 Lakh to ₹5 Lakh
- Yearly Salary: ₹42 Lakh to ₹60 Lakh
- Duties: Control of crew, cargo handling, safety measures.
5. Salary of Captain
A captain is the one who holds the seniormost position onboard. He manages the whole functions of operations, navigation, and safety.
- Per month: ₹5 Lakh to ₹10 Lakh
- Yearly: ₹60 Lakh to ₹1.2 Crore
- Responsibilities: Command of ship, leading crew, response in case of an emergency.
Merchant Navy Salary per month by Ship Type
The type of ship you work on also affects your salary.
| Ship Type | salary of merchant navy per month | Remarks |
| Cargo Ships | ₹1.5 Lakh – ₹4 Lakh | Common type of ship. |
| Oil Tankers | ₹2 Lakh – ₹6 Lakh | Higher pay, higher risk. |
| LNG Carriers | ₹3 Lakh – ₹7 Lakh | Professional skills. |
| Cruise Ships | ₹1 Lakh – ₹3 Lakh | Low pay but leisurely. |
Merchant Navy Salary Latest News Today (2025)
- January 2025: The boom in global trade is creating demand for merchant navy officers.
- February 2025: Shipping companies give higher salaries in order to acquire experienced officers.
- March 2025: New tax regulations make merchant navy salaries more attractive as taxes are excluded on officers working in international waters.
Advantages of a Merchant Navy Job
A job in the merchant navy offers a host of advantages apart from a hefty salary
- Tax-Free Income (if you stay more than 183 days in international waters)
- Travel Opportunities
- Provided Accommodation and Meals
- Retirement Benefits
- Family Support Programs
Disadvantages of a Merchant Navy Job
While the salary offered is quite attractive, the job comes with its own set of wqQ challenges:
- Long Working Hours
- Time Away from Family
- Physical and Mental Stress
- Risk of Accidents
- Strict Regulations and Inspections
How to Join the Merchant Navy?
To start your merchant navy career, you need to complete the following :
Pass Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics. Enroll in a Merchant Navy Course like B.Sc. in Nautical Science or Marine Engineering. Apply to a Shipping Company through campus recruitment or walk-in applications.
Best Shipping Lines for Merchant Navy Recruitment
| Company Name | Country |
| Maersk | Denmark |
| Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) | Switzerland |
| NYK Line | Japan |
| Hapag-Lloyd | Germany |
| COSCO | China |
Conclusion
Merchant navy salary is also very enticing, which is a demand for adventure and travel freaks. The merchant navy salary per month varies from ₹20,000 for freshers to ₹10 lakh for senior officers with significant tax benefits and international exposure.Nobody asks how is the merchant navy salary after 5 years, as experience is the main factor for increasing the salary. The salary of merchant navy per month and the overall experience make them a very satisfying choice for sea enthusiasts. Salaries of the merchant navy are indeed one of the major reasons why people choose to join the field.
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