How much do Maritime Officers make in Detroit compared to the national average?

The national median Maritime Officer salary is $82,222. In Detroit, COL adjustments bring the median to $74,000.

What is the cost of living adjusted Maritime Officer salary in Detroit?

Detroit's COL multiplier is 0.90x. The median Maritime Officer salary of $74,000 here equals about $82,222 in an average cost market.

Maritime Officer.

Q: Do Maritime Officers in Detroit earn overtime or bonuses?

Many Maritime Officers are exempt from overtime. Maritime officers receive room and board while aboard, which effectively increases total compensation by $15,000 to $25,000 annually. Ask about total comp when evaluating offers.

Detroit.

$74,000

median salary, 10% below the national average

$56,000 to $97,000. Updated for 2026.

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The numbers.

Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.

A Maritime Officer in Detroit earns a median of $74,000 in 2026. That is 10% below the national average. The range runs from $56,000 to $97,000, 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

25th Percentile

$56,000

per year

Median

$74,000

per year

75th Percentile

$97,000

per year

Tap to place your salary

$56,000$97,000

How Detroit compares

Detroit, MI

$74,000

Cost of living: 10% below average

National Average

$82,000

Detroit is $8,000 below

What you should know

Here is what the Maritime Officer market actually looks like in Detroit. Detroit's economy is transforming as the automotive industry pivots to electric vehicles and autonomous driving technology. Ford, GM, and a growing cluster of mobility startups are investing billions in the region. The city's low cost of living paired with rising tech salaries makes it one of the highest purchasing power metros for engineering roles. 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 Detroit, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.

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: michigan has a flat 4.25% state income tax. Detroit adds a city income tax of 2.4% for residents. Factor the city tax into your calculations if living within city limits. When someone quotes you $74,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.

On negotiation: Highlight EV and autonomous vehicle expertise. Detroit employers are paying significant premiums for talent with electric vehicle, battery tech, or self driving experience. The range for Maritime Officers in Detroit runs from $56,000 to $97,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Top industries in Detroit

Automotive & EVMobility & Autonomous VehiclesHealthcareManufacturingDefense

Negotiating in Detroit

Highlight EV and autonomous vehicle expertise. Detroit employers are paying significant premiums for talent with electric vehicle, battery tech, or self driving experience.

Common questions.

Most deep-sea officers work rotations like 90 days on and 90 days off. While the daily rate appears high, annualized income reflects only half the year working. Some coastal positions offer shorter rotations of 14 on and 14 off at slightly lower annual totals.

Yes. LNG carriers, chemical tankers, and offshore drilling support vessels pay 20 to 35% more than general cargo or container ships due to specialized training requirements, hazardous cargo handling certifications, and the higher liability associated with these operations.

It depends on the position and employer. Many Maritime Officers in Detroit are classified as exempt salaried employees without overtime eligibility. However, maritime officers receive room and board while aboard, which effectively increases total compensation by $15,000 to $25,000 annually. When evaluating the $56,000 to $97,000 range, ask about the total compensation structure during negotiation.

The national median for a Maritime Officer is $82,222. In Detroit, cost of living adjustments push the median to $74,000. That discount reflects Detroit's lower housing, transportation, and everyday costs.

Detroit's cost of living multiplier is 0.90x the national average. The adjusted median Maritime Officer salary of $74,000 accounts for this. In practice, a Maritime Officer earning $74,000 in Detroit has roughly the same purchasing power as someone earning $82,222 in an average cost market.