The merchant navy fulfils an integral role in international trade by transporting cargo and passengers by sea. These professionals are also responsible for overseeing a ship's entire machinery, navigating using satellite and radar systems, monitoring weather conditions, ensuring safe loading, storage, and unloading of cargo. They also ensure passenger care and safety during voyages.
If you are passionate about joining the Merchant Navy, especially right after the 12th, this article can be a complete guide for you. Here, we will provide you with a detailed analysis of merchant navy salary in India after 12th, career pathways, job roles and eligibility requirements to help you make a wise and calculated career decision.
Becoming a merchant navy officer after the 12th requires vision, commitment, along the right educational background. With proper qualifications, candidates can join the merchant navy as deck cadets, marine engineers and more.
Candidates who aspire to become a merchant navy officer must study Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, or equivalent in 12th from a certified board and score at least a 50% aggregate. The Minimum age limit to join the merchant navy is 17 to 25 years. It is highly beneficial for candidates to start early, as it allows them to pursue various merchant navy courses after 12th salary in the industry.
To build a career as a merchant navy officer, students must qualify for the required entrance exams, such as:
MU-CET
MERI Entrance Exam
TMI-BITS-EE
AIMNET
HIMT-OET
Once qualified, candidates can go for various merchant navy courses after 12th salary programs. Depending on the institution, admission is offered based on entrance exam scores or merit. The following are some examples of popular bachelor's degree options for aspirants:
Candidates can pursue postgraduate programs to boost the expected salary of merchant navy per month and become qualified for managerial or senior positions in the industry. Some popular courses candidates can consider for further studies include,
M.E/M.Tech in Naval Architecture
M.E/M.Tech Marine Engineering
M.E/M.Tech Offshore Engineering
M.E/M.Tech Dredging and Harbour Engineering
Also Read - How to Become a Merchant Navy
Students who aspire to earn a higher salary of merchant navy per month, must learn specific abilities and skills such as,
Navigation and Engineering Knowledge
Physical Fitness and Swimming
Leadership and Decision-Making
Mechanical and Electrical Troubleshooting
Teamwork and Adaptability
The merchant navy salary in India varies according to experience, rank, and skill set of the candidate. On average, a Merchant Navy officer earns around Rs. 2.8 Lakhs - 20 Lakhs per year, which translates to a monthly salary between Rs. 38,000 - 39,000. The table below lists the key merchant navy job roles and their average salary range in India.
Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
Marine Engineer | Rs. 3 Lakhs - 36 Lakhs |
Chief Officer | Rs. 4 Lakhs - 50 Lakhs |
Electro-technical officer | Rs. 3 Lakhs - 32 Lakhs |
Indian Navy Captain | Rs. 1.2 Lakh - 12 Lakhs |
Catering Assistant | Rs. 6.4 Lakhs - 8.2 Lakhs |
Navigation Officer | Rs.3 Lakhs - 38 Lakhs |
Deck Cadet | Rs. 0.8 Lakh - 7 Lakhs |
(Source: Ambition Box)
The Merchant Navy Salary in India is largely based on the experience level. The table below shows merchant navy salary per month based on the professional's years of sailing experience.
Based on Experience | Average Annual Salary |
Entry Level | Rs. 0.5 Lakh - 18 Lakhs |
1 year | Rs. 1 Lakh - 8 Lakhs |
2 year | Rs. 1 Lakh - 6.5 Lakhs |
3 year | 0.5 Lakh - 13 Lakhs |
4 year | 2 Lakhs - 12 Lakhs |
5 year | 0.9 Lakh - 14 Lakhs |
6 year | 2 Lakhs - 15 Lakhs |
7 year | 2 Lakhs - 10 Lakhs |
8 year | 1.7 Lakh - 16 Lakhs |
9 year | 2 Lakhs - 25 Lakhs |
10 year | 1.4 Lakh - 30 Lakhs |
(Source: Ambition Box)
The merchant navy engineer salary heavily depends on a candidate’s rank, and designation. The table below highlights some of the key designations along with the respective merchant navy salary after 12th.
Designation | Average Salary |
Mechanical Technician | Rs. 1.2 Lakh - 5 Lakhs |
Electrician | Rs. 5.8 Lakhs - 7.4 Lakhs |
Fitter | Rs. 2.4 Lakhs - 3.1 Lakhs |
Operations Manager Salary | Rs. 18 Lakhs - 28 Lakhs |
(Source: Ambition Box)
The salary of merchant navy per month is often higher in offshore oil and LNG shipping compared to logistics or cruise sectors, due to the nature of work and technical demands. The table below shows the average salary of the merchant navy per month by top-paying industries.
Top Industries | Salary |
Logistics | Rs. 1.8 Lakh - 7 Lakhs |
Defence & Aerospace | Rs. 3.5 Lakhs - 17 Lakhs |
Urban Transport | Rs. 1.5 Lakh - 10 Lakhs |
Ports & Shipping | Rs. 1.1 Lakh - 15 Lakhs |
Oil & Gas | Rs.1 Lakh - 10 Lakhs |
(Source: Ambition Box)
The merchant navy engineer salary varies by location and state. Check out the list of salary of merchant navy per month in the top-paying cities.
Top Cities | Average Salary |
New Delhi | Rs. 1 Lakh - 8 Lakhs |
Kolkata | Rs. 2 Lakhs - 10 Lakhs |
Patna | Rs. 4 Lakhs - 10 Lakhs |
Mumbai | Rs. 0.7 Lakh - 15 Lakhs |
Lucknow | Rs. 1 Lakh - 12 Lakhs |
(Source: Ambition Box)
Many Indian merchant navy professionals are recruited by both Indian and international shipping companies with strong operations in India. The list below displays the most competitive merchant navy salary per month packages for the top companies.
Top Companies | Average Salary |
Maersk Line | Rs. 43.2 Lakhs - 55.2 Lakhs |
Synergy Maritime | Rs. 7.7 Lakhs - 9.8 Lakhs |
BSM Ship Management | Rs. 1 Lakh - 10 Lakhs |
Anglo-Eastern Group | Rs. 18 Lakhs - 23 Lakhs |
Shipping Corporation of India | Rs. 3.6 Lakhs - 7 Lakhs |
TRIO | Rs. 11.7 Lakhs - 14.9 Lakhs |
(Source: Ambition Box)
(Note: These salary figures are for reference purposes and may vary depending on various factors, such as designation, experience, skills, and job location.)
The merchant navy salary in India varies based on rank, industry, location, and designation. With specialised training and commitment, candidates can kickstart their journey as early as the 12th. Whether you are interested in technical posts or navigation roles, the merchant navy engineer salary offers some of the highest in the maritime sector.
No, you work on a contract basis for shipping businesses in the Merchant Navy. You are not required to work for a corporation for a set amount of years.
Candidates who join the Merchant Navy immediately after passing their class 12 board examinations can earn an average yearly income of Rs. 3 Lakhs - Rs. 7.20 Lakhs.
A merchant navy officer earns typically between Rs. 40,000 and Rs. 90,000 per month. The maximum compensation could vary between Rs. 8 Lakhs and Rs. 20 lakhs.
The Minimum age limit for the merchant navy is 17 years and a maximum of 25 years.
The merchant navy is both a government and a private sector job. If You are a government employee you work for the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). Aside from SCI, the vast majority of other enterprises in this industry are privately held.
To enter the Merchant Navy after graduating from high school, individuals must complete courses such as BSc Nautical Science or Diploma Nautical Science.
The job of sailors in the merchant navy is primarily separated into three categories: deck, engine, and catering divisions.
Hello,
Here is the list of some top companies
• APM - MAERSK
• MSC - Mediterranean Shipping company
• COSCO - China ocean shipping company
• CMA CGM
• HAPAG - LLOYD
• ONE - One network express
• Evergreen line
• Yang ming marine transport
• Hyundau merchant marine
Thanks