Sailors and Marine Oilers Salary
The median pay for a sailors and marine oilers in Tennessee is $60,580/year ($29.12/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $67,476 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Tennessee?
About sailors and marine oilers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Tennessee sits well above the national pay line for sailors and marine oilers, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $52K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level sailors and marine oilers (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Sailors and Marine Oilers salary by metro in Tennessee
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $63K | +3% | 620 |
Compare to other states
Track sailors and marine oilers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sailors and marine oiler afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 28.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for sailors and marine oilers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sailors and marine oilers typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,984/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $61K here vs. $52K nationally.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for sailors and marine oilers?
Tennessee pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $52K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sailors and marine oilers make in Tennessee?
The median is $60,580 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,070, and experienced sailors and marine oilers can clear $78,070. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,226/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 28.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a sailors and marine oilers salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $67,476 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.