Maritime Officer.
Tampa.
$79,000
median salary, 4% below the national average
$60,000 to $104,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
Tampa is 4% cheaper than the national average. For Maritime Officers, that shakes out to a median of $79,000, with the full range spanning $60,000 to $104,000. Vessel type, license grade, and trade route determine compensation. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
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How Tampa compares
Tampa, FL
$79,000
Cost of living: 4% below average
National Average
$82,000
Tampa is $3,000 below
What you should know
The Maritime Officer landscape in Tampa is not what most salary sites will tell you. Tampa's economy combines a strong financial services sector with growing tech, healthcare, and defense industries. The city has attracted remote workers and corporate relocations seeking Florida's tax advantages. Tampa offers a favorable salary to cost of living ratio, with compensation levels that have risen significantly as the metro continues to grow. 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 Tampa, 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: florida has no state income tax, which is Tampa's biggest compensation advantage. There are no local income taxes either. Property taxes and insurance costs are the main financial considerations. When someone quotes you $79,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Frame your salary expectations against the no income tax benefit. Tampa employers know candidates are factoring in the tax savings, so be explicit about how it shapes your number. The range for Maritime Officers in Tampa runs from $60,000 to $104,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
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Negotiating in Tampa
Frame your salary expectations against the no income tax benefit. Tampa employers know candidates are factoring in the tax savings, so be explicit about how it shapes your number.