Sailors and Marine Oilers Salary
The median pay for a sailors and marine oilers in Kentucky is $47,460/year ($22.82/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $62K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $52,599 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,110/month, about 34.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $47K get you in Kentucky?
About sailors and marine oilers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Kentucky
Sailors and marine oilers pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $47K locally vs. $52K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,110/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level sailors and marine oilers (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $47K. Top earners bring in $62K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Sailors and Marine Oilers salary by metro in Kentucky
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $63K | +32% | 560 |
| Paducah | $48K | +0% | 1,070 |
Compare to other states
Track sailors and marine oilers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a sailors and marine oiler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $47K, rent takes 34.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for sailors and marine oilers in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sailors and marine oilers typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,195/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is sailors and marine oiler a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $47K locally vs. $52K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for sailors and marine oilers?
Kentucky pays $47K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $53K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sailors and marine oilers make in Kentucky?
The median is $47,460 a year, that works out to about $23 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,580, and experienced sailors and marine oilers can clear $62,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $47K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,190/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 34.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a sailors and marine oilers salary go in Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median sailors and marine oilers salary is worth about $52,599 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sailors and marine oilers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.