How to Become a Merchant Marine Officer in Alaska: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does a merchant marine officer make in Alaska?"

"The median annual wage for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Alaska is $88,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the national median of $92,460."

Q: "How do I become a merchant marine officer in Alaska?"

"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."

Q: "How many ship officers work in Alaska?"

"BLS counts about 710 captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels employed in Alaska (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Alaska captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels earn a median annual wage of $88,230 ($42.42/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 710 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -4.6% below the national median of $92,460 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $88,230 ($42.42/hr)
25th percentile: $60,750 per year
75th percentile: $121,700 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $149,370 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $42,360 per year
Workers employed in Alaska: 710
Versus national median: -4.6% below the U.S. median of $92,460
Job concentration: Location quotient 9.16 - this occupation is more concentrated in Alaska than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median merchant marine officer salary in Alaska is $88,230 per year - 5% 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 Alaska

Wage level	Annual salary
Alaska entry level (10th percentile)	$42,360
Alaska 25th-75th percentile	$60,750 - $121,700
Alaska median	$88,230
Alaska top earners (90th percentile)	$149,370
U.S. median	$92,460

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 710.

The Alaska Job Market: Merchant Marine Officer

Metric	Value
Employed in Alaska	710
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	2.17
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	9.16
Mean annual wage in Alaska	$94,450

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 9.16, Alaska employs ship officers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.

Requirements in Alaska

The education path is national - Bachelor’s from a maritime academy (deck or engine license track) - while licensing runs through Alaska’s own boards: USCG Merchant Mariner Credential with officer endorsement (required). Verify current requirements with the Alaska 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

Annual Wage by Percentile - Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$47,420
25th	$63,880
50th (median)	$92,460
75th	$127,180
90th	$170,640

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels employment projection 2024 to 2034
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 Alaska?

The median annual wage for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Alaska is $88,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 5% below the national median of $92,460.

How do I become a merchant marine officer in Alaska?

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 Alaska?

BLS counts about 710 captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels employed in Alaska (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Merchant Marine Officer in Nearby States

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), Alaska 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)