How to Become a Merchant Marine Officer in Alabama: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median merchant marine officer salary in Alabama is $68,920 per year - 25% below the national median of $92,460 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s from a maritime academy (deck or engine license track).
Merchant Marine Officer Salary in Alabama
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama entry level (10th percentile) | $30,650 |
| Alabama 25th-75th percentile | $45,500 - $102,410 |
| Alabama median | $68,920 |
| Alabama top earners (90th percentile) | $123,860 |
| U.S. median | $92,460 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 350.
The Alabama Job Market: Merchant Marine Officer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Alabama | 350 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.17 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.70 |
| Mean annual wage in Alabama | $80,400 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.70, Alabama employs ship officers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Requirements in Alabama
The education path is national - Bachelor’s from a maritime academy (deck or engine license track) - while licensing runs through Alabama’s own boards: USCG Merchant Mariner Credential with officer endorsement (required). Verify current requirements with the Alabama licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Merchant Marine Officer.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $47,420 |
| 25th | $63,880 |
| 50th (median) | $92,460 |
| 75th | $127,180 |
| 90th | $170,640 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 40,700 |
| 2034 projected | 40,900 |
| Percent change | +0.5% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a merchant marine officer make in Alabama?
The median annual wage for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Alabama is $68,920 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 25% below the national median of $92,460.
How do I become a merchant marine officer in Alabama?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's from a maritime academy (deck or engine license track) - with licensing administered at the state level: USCG Merchant Mariner Credential with officer endorsement (required). See the steps below.
How many ship officers work in Alabama?
BLS counts about 350 captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels employed in Alabama (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Merchant Marine Officer in Nearby States
- Merchant Marine Officer in West Virginia
- Merchant Marine Officer in Wisconsin
- Merchant Marine Officer in Alaska
- Merchant Marine Officer in Arizona
Related
- How to Become a Merchant Marine Officer (national guide)
- All Trade Careers That Require a 4-Year Degree
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (SOC 53-5021), Alabama and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |