What is a deckhand oiler and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a deckhand oiler. For example, did you know that they make an average of $25.08 an hour? That's $52,158 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 500 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreDeckhand OilerUS Average
Salary
4.1

Avg. Salary $52,158

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.1

Growth Rate 1%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.2
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.70%

Asian 4.78%

Black or African American 16.93%

Hispanic or Latino 12.92%

Unknown 9.35%

White 54.32%

Gender

female 9.41%

male 90.59%

Age - 31
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 31
Stress Level
8.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.7

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
1.9

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a deckhand oiler

  1. Explore deckhand oiler education requirements

    Most common deckhand oiler degrees

    High School Diploma

    50.0 %

    Associate

    20.8 %

    Bachelor's

    16.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific deckhand oiler skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Rig59.82%
    Maintenance Tasks26.19%
    Emergency Equipment13.99%
  3. Complete relevant deckhand oiler training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New deckhand oilers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a deckhand oiler based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real deckhand oiler resumes.
  4. Research deckhand oiler duties and responsibilities

    • Conduct daily JSA's, occasionally lead weekly fire and boat drills.
    • Used lines, wires, ratchets and stationary winches to transport midstream fuel barges at ports across the inland waterway system.
    • Pump bilges and clean strainers, filters, and centrifuges.
    • Create database to track and schedule maintenance for engines, tools, and centrifuges.
  5. Prepare your deckhand oiler resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your deckhand oiler resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a deckhand oiler resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Deckhand Oiler Resume templates

    Build a professional Deckhand Oiler resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Deckhand Oiler resume.
    Deckhand Oiler Resume
    Deckhand Oiler Resume
    Deckhand Oiler Resume
    Deckhand Oiler Resume
    Deckhand Oiler Resume
    Deckhand Oiler Resume
    Deckhand Oiler Resume
    Deckhand Oiler Resume
    Deckhand Oiler Resume
  6. Apply for deckhand oiler jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a deckhand oiler job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Deckhand Oiler Job

Zippi

Are you a Deckhand Oiler?

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Average deckhand oiler salary

The average Deckhand Oiler salary in the United States is $52,158 per year or $25 per hour. Deckhand oiler salaries range between $24,000 and $112,000 per year.

Average Deckhand Oiler Salary
$52,158 Yearly
$25.08 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do deckhand oilers rate their job?

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Deckhand Oiler reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020
Cons

To many hours on call 21 days 24/7 no holiday off and PD as reg day


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Cons

Deal with ppl who don't know what are they doing


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2019
Cons

Nothing really


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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