Deck Department
Chief Officer — Global Hiring Overview
Chief Officers are the second-in-command — leading deck operations, cargo work, stability, and safety across merchant, cruise, and offshore vessels.
Median Salary
$115k
$82.8k – $161k
Demand Score
95/100
Very High
Monthly Openings
5.6K
tracked globally
YoY Growth
+14%
rolling 12 months
Market Outlook
Demand for chief officers in the global maritime market is exceptionally strong. Maritime employers report a 14% year-on-year increase in Chief Officer mandates, driven by global fleet renewal, expansion of LNG and container tonnage, and shortage of senior deck officers.
Salary Trend
Chief Officer compensation typically falls between $82.8k and $161k, with experienced chief mates in the global maritime market commanding $161k+ at leading shipowners, managers, ports, cruise operators, and offshore players. Total compensation often includes leave pay, travel, joining bonuses, performance pay, and ship-type or DP allowances.
Career Path
Chief Officers typically progress to Captain, Second Officer roles, or into command upgrades, marine superintendent, port captain, and fleet management tracks across the global hiring maritime market.
Key Responsibilities
- •Lead deck department and watchkeeping
- •Own cargo planning, stability, and stowage
- •Execute safety, drills, and ISM compliance
- •Mentor junior officers and deck crew
Qualifications
- •STCW II/2 Chief Officer Unlimited
- •ECDIS, GMDSS, ARPA, BRM
- •Cargo type endorsements where required
For Shipowners, Ports & Maritime Employers
Hire qualified chief officers on CosmoQuick
Shipowners, ship managers, container lines, cruise lines, port authorities, terminals, shipyards, and offshore operators use CosmoQuick to match with vetted chief officers worldwide.
Chief Officer jobs by city
Chief Officer jobs in Dubai
10.4K openings · $150k
Chief Officer jobs in Abu Dhabi
8.1K openings · $147k
Chief Officer jobs in Fujairah
7K openings · $121k
Chief Officer jobs in Doha
8.7K openings · $150k
Chief Officer jobs in Ras Laffan
7.3K openings · $127k
Chief Officer jobs in Dammam
7.8K openings · $127k
Chief Officer jobs in Jeddah
8.1K openings · $127k
Chief Officer jobs in Muscat
6.2K openings · $121k
Chief Officer jobs in Manama
5.6K openings · $127k
Chief Officer salary insights
Chief Officer salary in Dubai
$150k
Chief Officer salary in Abu Dhabi
$147k
Chief Officer salary in Fujairah
$121k
Chief Officer salary in Doha
$150k
Chief Officer salary in Ras Laffan
$127k
Chief Officer salary in Dammam
$127k
Chief Officer salary in Jeddah
$127k
Chief Officer salary in Muscat
$121k
Chief Officer salary in Manama
$127k
Hiring by maritime industry
Shipping Companies hiring Chief Officers
Shipowners and operators across container, bulk, tanker, LNG, and specialised trades hiring officers, ratings, and shore staff
Container Liners hiring Chief Officers
Global container lines, alliances, and feeder operators hiring across vessel and shore operations
Bulk Shipping Operators hiring Chief Officers
Dry bulk owners and operators across Capesize, Panamax, and Handysize fleets
Tanker Operators hiring Chief Officers
Crude, product, chemical, and gas tanker operators hiring officers, ratings, and shore staff
LNG Shipping Operators hiring Chief Officers
LNG and LPG shipping operators hiring across specialised gas-carrier operations
Cruise Lines hiring Chief Officers
Ocean and river cruise operators hiring marine crew, hotel teams, and entertainment staff worldwide
Port Authorities hiring Chief Officers
Port authorities and operators running container, bulk, multi-purpose, and cruise terminals
Terminal Operators hiring Chief Officers
Global and regional terminal operators hiring across container, bulk, and energy terminals
Shipyards hiring Chief Officers
Newbuild and repair yards hiring across engineering, production, and project management
Related specialties
Related maritime roles
Frequently Asked Questions
The median salary for a Chief Officer in the global maritime market is around $115k, typically ranging from $82.8k to $161k based on rank, sea-time, type experience, and the maritime employer.