Salary IndexSign Up Free
← Back to Salary Index
🇵🇱#5 nationality among STCW-certified seafarers (BIMCO/ICS 2026)

Polish seafarer salaries in 2026

#5 nationality among STCW-certified crew — senior officers with EU access and offshore depth.

20,000+
Officers supplied to the world fleet
15,000+
Ratings supplied to the world fleet
4
Ranks where this pool is strongest
For Polish seafarers

Poland ranks fifth among STCW-certified nationalities, with Gdynia Maritime University producing officers who dominate at the senior level — Polish Masters and Chief Engineers are fixtures on Scandinavian-managed tonnage.

The offshore wind boom is a Polish specialty: Baltic proximity and early entry into wind-farm support vessels created a pool of DP-experienced officers that the energy transition keeps in growing demand.

EU citizenship plus decades of North Sea and Baltic deployment make Polish officers among the most logistics-friendly senior crew in the market.

Strongest ranks — salary ranges 2026

Monthly basic wages in USD, excluding overtime. Full 15-rank tables on the Salary Index.

Fleet deployment
Where Polish crew serve: Scandinavian and German-managed fleets, offshore and wind-farm support vessels, ferries and ro-ro tonnage.
For companies hiring Polish crew

Polish senior officers command respect on technically demanding tonnage — offshore, DP, ferries and ro-ro. For wind-farm support and SOV operations, the Polish pool is one of the deepest available.

Wage expectations reflect the seniority profile: this is not a cost-arbitrage pool but a capability pool.

Frequently asked questions
How much do Polish officers earn in 2026?
Polish senior officers earn upper-market rates: Masters typically $9,000–$21,000/month depending on tonnage, with offshore and DP positions carrying premiums above standard merchant scales.
Polish seafarer?

Create a free verified profile and let companies find you directly — zero commission, ever.

Create free profile →
🏢 Hiring Polish crew?

Search verified profiles by rank, availability and vessel experience — first month free.

Start hiring →
Other nationalities

Supply figures from the BIMCO/ICS Seafarer Workforce Report (July 2026) and public maritime authority data. Wage ranges follow the ShipCrewFinder Salary Index — monthly basic wages in USD, excluding overtime. Last update: July 2026.