The average salary for a ship loader in the United States is around $58,870 per year.
Avg Salary
Ship loaders earn an average yearly salary of $58,870.
Wages typically start from $39,460 and go up to $83,160.
14% below national average Updated in 2025
Ship loader earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$39.98 per hour
$83,160 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$33.69 per hour
$70,060 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$28.30 per hour
$58,870 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$22.26 per hour
$46,300 per year
10th percentile
Starting level ship loader earnings begin at:
$18.97 per hour
$39,460 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Ship loader salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $81,320 |
| South Carolina | $80,700 |
| Montana | $80,070 |
| Minnesota | $76,620 |
| Alabama | $75,450 |
| Oregon | $74,040 |
| Massachusetts | $71,750 |
| New Hampshire | $70,030 |
| California | $68,600 |
| New Jersey | $64,890 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 |
| Texas | $61,170 |
| Louisiana | $58,900 |
| Michigan | $57,900 |
| Missouri | $57,750 |
| Ohio | $57,700 |
| Wisconsin | $57,250 |
| West Virginia | $54,750 |
| Utah | $53,370 |
| Kentucky | $53,160 |
| Iowa | $51,450 |
| Colorado | $51,200 |
| Georgia | $51,160 |
| Washington | $48,580 |
| New York | $48,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,120 |
| New Mexico | $48,010 |
| Nebraska | $46,300 |
| Florida | $45,540 |
| Hawaii | $45,240 |
| North Carolina | $44,910 |
| Indiana | $44,310 |
| Tennessee | $43,980 |
| Maine | $42,830 |
| Wyoming | $42,440 |
| Idaho | $41,700 |
| Virginia | $41,190 |
| Illinois | $38,310 |
| Oklahoma | $35,360 |
| Arkansas | $33,800 |
| Kansas | $31,080 |
| Mississippi | $30,760 |
| Arizona | $28,310 |
| Alaska | $26,140 |
How do ship loader salaries compare to similar careers?
Ship loaders earn 6% less than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than avionics technicians but more than travel agents.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Avionics technician salary | $82K |
| Flight attendant salary | $64K |
| Rail transportation worker salary | $61K |
| Traffic technician salary | $59K |
| Bus driver salary | $59K |
| Ship loader salary | $59K |
| Truck driver salary | $59K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $52K |
| Sailor salary | $52K |
| Travel agent salary | $50K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)