How much does an Able Seaman make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Able Seaman in the United States is $75,527 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $36.

However, an Able Seaman's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $85,028
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $61,610 to $80,501
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $48,939

Key Factors That Influence Able Seaman Salaries

An Able Seaman's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Able Seaman Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Able Seaman's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $55,044
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $62,563
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $75,162
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $103,238
  • Expert (over 8 years): $84,941
Levels Salary
Contact C... Level Able Seaman$55,044
Contact C... Level Able Seaman$62,563
Able Seam... Level Able Seaman$75,162
Contact C... Level Able Seaman$103,238
Contact C... Level Able Seaman$84,941

Top Paying Cities for Able Seamans

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $95,263
  • San Francisco: $94,220
  • Oakland: $92,234

What Skills Can Increase an Able Seaman's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Coaching (Mentioned in 4.76% Job Postings): Coaching is a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance.
  • Auditing (Mentioned in 14.29% Job Postings): Auditing refers to the independent examination of financial information of any entity whether profit oriented or not. It is a safeguard measure that prevents corruption.
  • Calibration (Mentioned in 14.29% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
Skills Demand Percentage
Coaching 4.76%
Auditing 14.29%
Calibration 14.29%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Able Seaman's salary.

  • Quality Checks: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Quality Checks $92,899
23%

Able Seaman Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Able Seaman roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 90% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Able Seaman positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Able Seaman as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Able Seaman

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$113,291$54.050%
Financial Services$105,738$51.040%
Internet$98,186$47.030%
Pharmaceuticals$98,186$47.030%

How Education impacts an Able Seaman's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Able Seamans enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Able Seaman with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $56,758 and $61,582).

Able Seaman Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Able Seaman
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 29.0%
Associates 15.1%
Bachelors 45.2%
Masters 9.7%
Doctorate 0.0%

Able Seaman Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Able Seaman's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$61,610
Average $75,527/year
$80,501
$5,134
Average $6,294/month
$6,708
$1,185
Average $1,452/week
$1,548
$30
Average $36/hour
$39
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $80,501 $6,708 $1,548 $39
Average $75,527 $6,294 $1,452 $36
25th Percentile $61,610 $5,134 $1,185 $30

Most common benefits for Able Seaman

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Able Seaman

Here are companies hiring for Able Seaman and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Able Seaman

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Able Seaman?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Able Seaman roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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