no, I haven’t done it in sweatpants either.
I’ve never had any other jobs other than working on boats. First and foremost I do it because I simply love boats and being on the water. Its been mentioned on here before, and I truly do believe it…highest pay isn’t the bottom line. You have to factor in job security, benefits and how your personal life is effected. I will admit at times in the past I was all about the highest dollar, but chasing money has only made my resume longer than it has to be. Also, if I would have stuck it out and had patience in the past I would probably be more comfortable than I am currently. Lastly, I suspect that can be seen negative to some prospective employers.
There are folks who are all about seeking the highest dollar. Some do it out of necessity, some just like money. I can’t blame them, I’ve been there too. Just saying, I personally feel it isn’t the bottom line.
No actually i work at one of, if not the best outfits based out of New york going on 8 years. We have some of the highest day rates in the industry. My point is its normal to inquire about how fast you can grow your personal wealth by making the most amount of money the fastest possible way and investing. Its the only way for middle income working person to get ahead these days. Anyone that doesnt consider this is the rare breed thats super in love with there career and doesnt care about money at all or not very bright.
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Yes, some good points here but I think the real point is you should Focus on a combination of compensation, benefits, job security, workplace satisfaction, advancement rather than just the tangible $ pay by itself.
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“With an unlimited ton 3rd mate license, what is the job with the highest salary that someone can obtain within 5 years of graduation?”
I was at this public restroom the other day and, there was this little hole in the side of the stall. Right next to the hole, someone wrote “be here 11-6-15,(@2200)to show your skills and, earn some serious paper” (I assume that means good money). PM me if you’d like the phone number they left. Sounds like this could be your big break!
The honest answer is: The highest wage a freshly minted 3rd mate can make is between 60K and 110K. It COMPLETELY depends upon your luck, perseverance, ability (not what YOU think you can do, but what the Captain SEES you do). There is no magic number. It is job, person and ability specific.
As you have discovered amongst your classmates: there are ‘go getters’ and BS artists. Same is true in the industry. And believe it or not, not all the classmates who are ‘A’ students and regi’mental’ leaders are the top dogs once they escape they asylum.
do slippers count??
Not to undermine your post, I think you hit some great things. But I know some third mates who are making 120-200k working 8+ months a year. I think it obviously depends what sector or company you are with but the figures I stated Are realistic.
I referred to ‘recent graduates’. I seriously doubt a new grad would even be allowed to pull those hitches. I abhor the thought of working 6 months a year never mind 8 or 9. Sure. If you have no home life, don’t mind losing all personal relationships you could work 10 months. Or 11 like Filipinos or Indians. Isn’t this why we are Mariners? To have time off as well as time at work. Maybe I’m pickier. I like being home.
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That’s a bi weekly pay stub from another member on here who I believe is a 3M. 10k x 26 pay periods = 260k…
not bad if you don’t mind never getting off a ship.
[I][B]“Or like Filipinos or Indians.” [/B][/I]
…or if you are from Louisiana.
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[QUOTE=BlueH20;173223]That’s a bi weekly pay stub from another member on here who I believe is a 3M. 10k x 26 pay periods = 260k…[/QUOTE]
That’s $130,000 on an equal time schedule or $175,000 on 28/14.
That’s what a Chief Mate (“3rd captain”) was making at Chouest (I think they still are), but not someone with only a 3M license and definitely not someone fresh out of school. That might be drill ship pay for ADPO as well.
[QUOTE=Nelson Delmar;173227][I][B]“Or like Filipinos or Indians.” [/B][/I]
…or if you are from Louisiana.[/QUOTE]
or work for N0AA. The permanent guys work 300+ days a year. That’s nuts.
That pay stub looks like an MSC pay stub. It’s not uncommon for a brand new academy grad with only a 3M license to break $200k a year:
New hire gets assigned to one of three East Coast T-AKE. There’s three 3M-watch on each one. They don’t get underway too much so there’s ample night differential pay.
Cha-ching
After a year, of which +300 days of that was in port drinking beer and playing Tinder, $200k is to be expected. Hardest part about it is trying to suck in that new beer belly. Unless you mean $200k after child support… Too much port time tends to do that too.
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[QUOTE=DeckApe;173308]That pay stub looks like an MSC pay stub. It’s not uncommon for a brand new academy grad with only a 3M license to break $200k a year:[/QUOTE]
I wasn’t saying a 3M can’t make that much somewhere, I was saying on supply boats (where my pay example was from) a new 3M won’t make that much.
[QUOTE=DeckApe;173308]That pay stub looks like an MSC pay stub. It’s not uncommon for a brand new academy grad with only a 3M license to break $200k a year:
New hire gets assigned to one of three East Coast T-AKE. There’s three 3M-watch on each one. They don’t get underway too much so there’s ample night differential pay.
Cha-ching
After a year, of which +300 days of that was in port drinking beer and playing Tinder, $200k is to be expected. Hardest part about it is trying to suck in that new beer belly. Unless you mean $200k after child support… Too much port time tends to do that too.[/QUOTE]
Ahhhh. I don’t think so. I worked for the outfit for a good long spell on a variety of ship types, and no matter what combo of port time, pay and pay differential I don’t recall it was possible to work enough days as 3M or 3E to pull in $200k. And that was before the pay caps. Maybe, but I think it is nigh on impossible… Just sayin’
Hey DeckApe,
How long have you been with MSC? I’m with NOAA right now trying to get on. Application been under review since January '15.
Heh. No, it’s done on a regular basis.
Figure the East Coast AKEs don’t get underway much while stateside. They suck as duty oilers - small cargo tanks, single probes, not very fuel efficient. They do get underway once in a while for something or other which resets the night diff clock. Loose a few more days to VRs longer then a month. That gets +300 days of night diff which is well over $200k a year for a 3M-w or 3/AE-w.
The question from the OP was what’s the highest possible pay. For a 3M or 3/AE that’s the highest I’ve seen. I suspect a tug, salvage or JHSV could meet or exceed that once in a blue moon but not consistently.
In MSC there’s what, fifty-five ships? I’m counting only CIVMAR hulls, not contract hulls. On each ship there’s generally two to four 3M. Let’s say an average of three. So let’s say there’s 165 3M billets.
I’ll concede that one of the three East Coast AKEs may be on a deployment at a time. So that leaves six 3M billets in the $200k window.
Six billets of 165 billets is 3.6%. So it’s the very lucky 3M (or 3AE) who gets one. Getting on one of those takes lots of luck or lots of strings to pull. Turnover on those billets is exceptionally rare.
I spent six years on East Coast AKEs so I do know how it works.
[QUOTE=DeckApe;173335]The question from the OP was what’s the highest possible pay.[/QUOTE]
While you’re right, the OP’s question is a bad one. It’s like asking “what’s the highest paying job I could possibly get if I drop out of college?”. Answer, owner of Microsoft. We are telling him a realistic number for the tip end of what he can realistically hope to make, even that takes some luck. He would be deluded to go through the academy with the expectation that he’d be making $200,000+ within 5 years of graduating.