Deckhand salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a deckhand is $89,400 per annum, before tax, up $19,000 since 2018.
What a deckhand takes home depends more on the sector and the roster than on the job title. Harbour ferry and tug work usually sits under an enterprise agreement with penalty rates for nights, weekends and public holidays, while fishing crews are often paid a share of the catch that swings with the season and the trip. Certificates such as Coxswain or Master lift pay, as do offshore and specialist roles that carry away-from-home allowances.
Roles that pay more than deckhand
The largest typical pay rise is $85,600 a year, moving into Ship Captain.
- Ship Captain+$85,600/yr
- Deck Officer+$45,800/yr
- Commercial Diver+$25,000/yr
How to negotiate a higher deckhand salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time deckhand salary is $89,400; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Hand and power tool work and Plant and equipment operation tend to command a premium over general deckhand experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Ship Captain pays a typical $85,600 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Deckhand salary questions
How much do deckhands earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a deckhand is $89,400 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is deckhand pay rising or falling?
The median deckhand salary is up $19,000 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than deckhand?
Ship Captain pays a typical $85,600 a year more and draws on similar skills to deckhand.