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Merchant Navy Salary After 5 Years In India, Job Profile, Entrance Exam And More Information in 2025

According to Salary Slip, Are you also interested in working in the Merchant Navy? It is one of the best career options because of its lucrative pay and the perks of traveling and exploring around the globe on the ship. The Indian Merchant Navy offers attractive paychecks to its employees, however, candidates are often concerned about the salary of the job role. A new employee starts earning a salary of less than a month, but a merchant navy salary after 5 years of experience can range up to even 5 to 6 lakhs per month. 

Read this blog further for a career guide in the Merchant Navy, pay scales, salaries, additional benefits, career growth, entrance exams, and more. 

Overview of Merchant Navy  

The Merchant Navy is the commercial fleet of ships that transport goods, people, and military equipment across the world’s oceans and waterways. It is one of the important transportation systems facilitating international trade and commerce and playing a big role in the global economy. The merchant navy consists of a fleet of merchant vessels, which includes cargo ships, tankers, cruise liners, and coastal support vessels. Some of the departments of the merchant navy are deck, engine, and catering. Seafarers are hired by merchant navy companies that maintain a hierarchy of ranks among the different departments. 

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Merchant Navy Salary In India

The merchant navy is an exciting career choice, especially for those looking for an adventurous life and lucrative pay, offering them diverse opportunities to make money and take on adventurous tasks. In India, the starting salary of merchant navy officers is around INR 7.2 LPA, whereas the highest can go up to INR 37 LPA. The salary of the Merchant Navy per month falls between INR 60,000 and INR 3,08,000 per month. Certain factors influence the salary of merchant navy employees like rank, experience, type of ship, and company.  

FactorDescription
RankHigher ranks earn higher salaries.
ExperienceMore experienced officers command higher pay.
Ship TypeOfficers on specialized ships like oil tankers may earn more.
CompanySalaries can vary between different shipping companies.

Merchant Navy Salary With Rank

The merchant Navy annual salary with the rank and minimum qualification is given below:

RankMinimum Educational QualificationAverage Salary Range (Annual)
Deck CadetClass 12 and Pre-sea Diploma in Nautical Science1.2 to 7 Lakhs
CaptainMaster Certificate of Completion2.2 to 15 Lakhs
Chief Officer PostFirst Mate Certification Completion9 to 50 lakh
GP Rating PostClass 107.20 Lakhs
2nd & 3rd OfficerSecond Mate Certification Completion3.5 to 8 Lakhs

Merchant Navy Salary In India for Fresher

The freshers who newly joined the industry can earn around INR 7.2 LPA, which is equal to INR 60,000 per month. The starting salary also depends on the rank and department, for example, those who join as a 2nd or 3rd Officer will earn somewhere between INR 2 and 3 LPA per month, whereas an OS (Ordinary Seaman) will earn around INR 60,000. 

Merchant Navy Qualification Wise Salary Structure

Those who want to join the merchant navy just after passing out class 10th can take an entrance test. The Merchant Navy salary after the 10th for G.P. Rating profile is between Rs Rs 25,000 to Rs 60,000 per month while those joining as mess boy, engine rating or cook or seaman can earn between Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 per month. 

Merchant navy salary after the 12th is between Rs 25,000 to Rs 85,000 per month for those joining as a trainee cadet and deck cadet, whereas those who completed the 10th  plus ITI can receive between Rs 50,000 to Rs 85,000 per month. 

Merchant Navy 3rd Officer salary per month is approx Rs 1,50,000 to Rs 3,00,000, whereas a chief officer receives Rs 4,00,000 to Rs 6,00,000 per month. A merchant navy captain can generate an income of around Rs 8,65,000 to Rs 20,00,000 per month. 

Merchant Navy ProfileQualificationMerchant Navy Salary (approx.)
G.P. RatingClass 10Rs 25,000 to Rs 60,000 PM
Trainee CadetClass 12 + Pre-sea Nautical DiplomaRs 25,000 to Rs 85,000 PM
Mess BoyClass 10Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 PM
Engine RatingClass 10Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 PM
CookClass 10Rs 40,000 to Rs 60,000 PM
Welder/HelperClass 10 + ITIRs 50,000 to Rs 85,000 PM
SeamanClass 10Rs 38,000 to Rs 55,000 PM
ElectricianClass 10 + ITI in Electrician tradeRs 60,000 to Rs 90,000 PM
Deck CadetClass 12 + Pre-sea Nautical DiplomaRs 25,000 to Rs 85,000 PM
3rd Officer / 2nd Officer2nd Mate (FG) Certificate of CompetencyRs 1,50,000 to Rs 3,00,000 PM
Chief Officer1st Mate (FG) Certificate of CompetencyRs 4,00,000 to Rs 6,00,000 PM
Merchant Navy CaptainMaster (FG) Certificate of CompetencyRs 8,65,000 to Rs 20,00,000 PM

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Merchant Navy Entrance Exams and Eligibility Criteria

1) Merchant Navy Entrance Exams: 

Candidates aspiring to get into the merchant navy prepare for entrance exams alongside their 12th board examinations to get admission to reputable Merchant Navy colleges and institutes. Some of the tests or common entrance exams that they take are:

  • IMU CET
  • JEE Advanced
  • MERI Entrance Exams
  • TMI SAT

2) Admission through Sponsorship-based Entry in the Merchant Navy:

Candidates can also apply for sponsorships from renowned maritime institutes for several maritime programs. To get into the merchant navy through sponsorships, one must clear a written test, a psychometric test, an interview, and a medical exam. 

3) Admission through Lateral Entry (L.E.) into the Second Year of Marine Engineering:

For admission through Lateral Entry (L.E.) into the second year of Marine Engineering programs that are approved by the Directorate General of Shipping, candidates must meet either of the following criteria: 

  • Completion of the first year of engineering with either electrical or mechanical engineering with a minimum aggregate percentage of 60. 
  • Holding a diploma in electrical, mechanical, marine, or ship-building engineering with minimum makes of 60%. 

4) Merchant Navy Eligibility Criteria:

  • Candidates should be between 17 and 25 years old.
  • Educational Qualification: For undergraduate courses, candidates must have completed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM) with at least 60% aggregate marks, same goes for classes 10th and 12th as well. 
  • Must be an Indian citizen

Merchant Navy Courses in India

Undergraduate ProgramsDiploma ProgramsOther Specialized Programs
B.Tech in Marine EngineeringDiploma in Marine Engineering (DME)G.P Rating (General Purpose Rating)
B.Tech in Naval Architecture and Offshore EngineeringDiploma in Nautical Science (DNS)Marine Engineering under Alternate Training Scheme
B.Tech in Harbour & Ocean EngineeringPostgraduate ProgramsHigher National Diploma (Nautical Science)
B.Tech in Ship BuildingMBA in Shipping & Logistics ManagementHigher National Diploma (Marine Engineering)
B.E in Marine EngineeringMBA in Shipping FinanceB.B.A. in Logistics & Supply Chain Management
B.E in Mechanical EngineeringElectro-Technical Officer (ETO)
B.Sc in Nautical Science

Merchant Navy Salary Company-Wise

Here are some renowned Merchant Navy companies in India that offer varying salaries according to job profile and rank. 

Company NameAverage Salary (INR)
Ocean Sparkle24,55,000 Per Annum
Shipping Corporation of India33,00,000 Per Annum
Indian Navy40,00,000 Per Annum
Anglo-Eastern Ship Management42,00,000 Per Annum
Fleet Management70,00,000 Per Annum

FAQs

1) What is the Merchant Navy Captain salary in India?

A merchant navy captain can generate an income of around Rs 8,65,000 to Rs 20,00,000 per month, depending on the company, skillsets, experience, qualifications, and more. 

2) What is the salary of Merchant Navy after 10 years?

The salary of Merchant Navy after 10 years of experience can go up to INR 20,000 LPA. 

3) Which type of ship has the highest salary?

Officers serving on specialized vessels in the Merchant Navy, such as oil tankers, often have higher earnings compared to their counterparts on different types of ships.

4) Is merchant navy government job?

No, the merchant navy is not a government job. It includes the transportation of goods and persons across the world and plays a major role in the global economy. 

5) Is Merchant Navy permanent job?

No, in the Merchant Navy, one needs to sign an employment contract of a specific time period (officers 3-6 months, Ratings 6-9 months). Employees can extend or renew their contract if and when need be. 

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