How to Become a Merchant Marine Officer in Tennessee: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median merchant marine officer salary in Tennessee is $132,710 per year - 44% above 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 Tennessee
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee entry level (10th percentile) | $60,270 |
| Tennessee 25th-75th percentile | $76,420 - $165,700 |
| Tennessee median | $132,710 |
| Tennessee top earners (90th percentile) | $215,470 |
| U.S. median | $92,460 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 940.
The Tennessee Job Market: Merchant Marine Officer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Tennessee | 940 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.28 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.20 |
| Mean annual wage in Tennessee | $132,020 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.20, Tennessee employs ship officers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.
Requirements in Tennessee
The education path is national - Bachelor’s from a maritime academy (deck or engine license track) - while licensing runs through Tennessee’s own boards: USCG Merchant Mariner Credential with officer endorsement (required). Verify current requirements with the Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
The median annual wage for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Tennessee is $132,710 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 44% above the national median of $92,460.
How do I become a merchant marine officer in Tennessee?
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 Tennessee?
BLS counts about 940 captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels employed in Tennessee (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Merchant Marine Officer in Nearby States
- Merchant Marine Officer in Rhode Island
- Merchant Marine Officer in South Carolina
- Merchant Marine Officer in Texas
- Merchant Marine Officer in Utah
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), Tennessee 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) |