Marine and waterways transport operatives roles in the UK earn a median of £39,000 per year, equivalent to £18.83 per hour as of 2025. Pay increased 2.2% compared to the previous year. Regionally, pay ranges from £35,500 in South East to £46,000 in London. Pay has risen over the past 5 years. The ONS national median for this occupation is £39,358/yr (1% below our computed national average).
Median Annual Pay
£39,000
as of 2025
High confidenceMedian Hourly Pay
£18.83
per hour
Year-on-Year Change
+2.2%
vs 2024
Annual Pay Range
£27,000 – £61,000
25th – 75th percentile
There is currently not sufficient data available for this occupation to say anything about the labour market.
Median annual pay for Marine and waterways transport operatives across UK regions.
Source: ONS ASHE. Based on broad UK regions (NUTS1).
| Region | Median Pay |
|---|---|
| London | £46,000 |
| East | £40,000 |
| Scotland | £39,500 |
| South West | £38,000 |
| North West | £37,500 |
| East Midlands | £37,500 |
| West Midlands | £37,500 |
| Wales | £37,500 |
| North East | £37,000 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | £37,000 |
| South East | £35,500 |
| UK | £39,000 |
Annual pay grew by +2.2% from 2024 to 2025.
National average (NUTS1 actuals) based on ONS ASHE April snapshot.
Annual percentage change in median pay for Marine and waterways transport operatives.
Percentage change from the prior year's April figure.
The median salary for a Marine and waterways transport operatives in the UK is £39,000 per year (about £18.83 per hour), based on official ONS data for 2025.
Most Marine and waterways transport operatives earn between £27,000 and £61,000 a year (the 25th to 75th percentile of UK pay).
Marine and waterways transport operatives pay rose by 2.2% from 2024 to 2025.
The highest median pay for Marine and waterways transport operatives is in London, at £46,000 per year.
For job seekers
Check your salary against official UK data for Marine and waterways transport operatives roles — broken down by region and seniority level. Free, instant, no sign-up required.
For employers & recruiters
Marine and waterways transport operatives supervise and carry out a variety of deck duties and operate and maintain engines, boilers and mechanical equipment on board ships, boats and other marine vessels.
There are no formal academic entry requirements, although some employers may expect entrants to possess GCSEs/S grades. Candidates are expected to pass a medical examination and have good eyesight. Training takes place at nautical college and lasts between 11-13 weeks.
Salary data is sourced from official UK pay datasets and updated periodically.