The comparison between offshore and deep sea pay is not simple. The answer changes with vessel type, rank, region and how annual income is calculated rather than monthly rates.
Monthly Rate Comparison
At senior officer levels, North Sea offshore consistently pays more than equivalent deep sea cargo ship positions.
North Sea offshore master: $13,000 to $19,000 per month. Bulk carrier master: $8,500 to $14,000. Product tanker master: $10,000 to $16,000.
The offshore premium at master level in the North Sea is real, particularly compared to dry cargo.
The Annual Income Reality
Monthly rates tell part of the story. The rotation changes the annual income picture.
North Sea offshore on two weeks on, two weeks off: the officer works roughly half the year at the monthly rate. A master on $15,000 per month earns $90,000 annually.
Deep sea tanker on five months on, three months off: seven and a half months of work per year. A master on $12,000 per month earns $90,000 annually.
Same annual income. Different monthly rates. Different lifestyles.
The LNG Exception
LNG carriers pay the most of any civilian vessel type at equivalent rank. A chief engineer with a major LNG operator earns $14,000 to $22,000 per month. On a five months on, four months off rotation that is substantial annual income that offshore equivalents cannot match at the senior end.
For officers who have not built LNG backgrounds, the comparison between North Sea offshore and conventional tanker clearly favours offshore at senior ranks.
The Schedule Value
Home every two weeks in offshore has personal value that monthly salary figures do not capture. Officers with young children or ageing parents find this distinction worth more than any pay difference.
Different things matter to different people. Making the decision on genuine priorities rather than close monthly rate comparisons is more rational.