Maritime Officer.
Little Rock.
$67,000
median salary, 18% below the national average
$51,000 to $89,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
A Maritime Officer in Little Rock earns a median of $67,000 in 2026. That is 18% below the national average. The range runs from $51,000 to $89,000, and where you land depends on your experience, your skills, and how well you negotiate. Vessel type, license grade, and trade route determine compensation.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $60,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$44,000
to $54,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$57,000
to $70,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$74,000
to $87,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$84,000
to $104,000
Salary trend
+3% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $17,000 to the total package.
Base
$67,000
Equity
$10,000
Bonus
$6,000
Signing
$1,000
Estimated total: $84,000
How Little Rock compares
Little Rock, AR
$67,000
Cost of living: 18% below average
National Average
$82,000
Little Rock is $15,000 below
Maritime Officer salary by city
Salary by role in Little Rock
What you should know
Here is what the Maritime Officer market actually looks like in Little Rock. Little Rock's economy is driven by Walmart's nearby headquarters ecosystem, state government, healthcare, and logistics. The metro's extremely low cost of living means even moderate salaries deliver strong purchasing power. Tech jobs are growing as companies seek affordable alternatives to major metros. Vessel type, license grade, and trade route determine compensation. Officers on tankers and LNG carriers earn premiums over general cargo ships. Deep-sea international routes pay more than coastal or inland assignments, and unionized positions typically offer stronger wage scales.
Third mates and third engineers start at $55,000 to $62,000. Second officers advance to $70,000 to $85,000 with experience and additional endorsements. Chief mates earn $90,000 to $108,000, while masters and chief engineers on large vessels can reach $120,000 to $160,000. In Little Rock, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 18% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Maritime officers receive room and board while aboard, which effectively increases total compensation by $15,000 to $25,000 annually. Union contracts often include pension contributions, medical coverage, and paid leave rotations of equal time on and off. And on the tax side: arkansas has a top income tax rate of 4.4%. Little Rock has no city income tax. The combination of low taxes and very affordable housing creates one of the best net pay environments in the country. When someone quotes you $67,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Reference the Walmart and Tyson ecosystem when negotiating. Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock employers benchmark against national corporate pay scales. The range for Maritime Officers in Little Rock runs from $51,000 to $89,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
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Common questions.
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