The option of becoming a sailor, precisely because we live in these times.

—Three major points: high salary, substantial time off, and welcoming beginners. Start a new life as a professional of the sea—

Are you a bit tired of life at a land-based company, being shaken in a crowded train every day, working constant overtime, and never being able to properly take your paid leave?...

For those of you who think, 'I want to earn more, but I also want to have my own time. I want to spend time with my family and on my hobbies,' there is actually a very realistic option called 'becoming a sailor'.

Honestly, some people might have the image that a sailor's job is 'tough, dirty, and dangerous.' But in reality, it's completely different. Especially now, the entire industry is facing a serious labor shortage, and they are wide open to welcoming beginners. The salary and time off are at a level that cannot be compared to typical land-based jobs.

Here, I have narrowed down the real benefits of becoming a sailor to three points: 'high salary,' 'substantial time off,' and 'demand for beginners due to labor shortages,' and summarized them in a somewhat frank but solid way. Please read to the end, and if it clicks with you, I hope you'll look into it.

Three major selling points of boarding a ship

1. High salary

Aiming for 1.5 times the salary on land is standard.
First, the biggest appeal is that the 'salary is high.' Looking at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's seafarer labor statistics and various other data, the average annual income for coastal vessels (ships that mainly travel domestically) is about 6.2 million yen, and for ocean-going vessels (ships that also have international routes), it is around 9.2 million yen. Considering that the average annual income for Japanese salarymen is roughly in the 4 to 5 million yen range, it is clearly higher.
A characteristic feature is that even young generations and those who join as beginners can enter the high-income zone quite quickly. It is completely realistic to earn 3.5 to 6 million yen in your 20s and over 5 to 8 million yen in your 30s. I am currently 35 and earn a little over 9 million. It is common for the take-home pay for an initial salary to exceed 300,000 yen per month, and if you gain experience and become a navigator or engineer, it jumps even further.

To explain simply why it is so high...

・ Living expenses while on board are almost zero (meals, bedding, and utilities are all covered by the company), so your disposable income is high.


・ Hazard pay, qualification allowances, and watch (overtime) pay are provided properly. It goes up even more on tankers or ships transporting hazardous materials.

・ Bonuses are also relatively generous. Some ocean-going companies have bonuses that account for over 20% of the annual income.

・ Many companies pay 70-100% of the salary even during leave (though many companies may deduct the meal allowance mentioned later).

For example, if someone earning about 250,000 yen per month on land becomes a sailor, their take-home pay should change significantly from the first year. If you go to a coastal chemical tanker, an annual income of 7 to 8 million yen in your late 20s is realistic.

I have actually heard stories of annual incomes exceeding 10 million yen on some special ships like tuna fishing boats (including incentives based on the catch).

In fact, in my case, an annual income of over 7 million yen in my mid-20s was a level that almost didn't exist for my friends of the same age on land. Savings accelerate, and being able to travel abroad with family during leave or spend money on hobbies without hesitation is a major benefit. Well, my sense of money is ruined and I'm addicted to gambling, though.

Of course, it is common to start as a deckhand or engine hand and step up by acquiring qualifications. But now, more companies are actively backing qualification acquisition, so it is easy for beginners to open up a 'profitable route.' Just by getting a qualification, your gross monthly pay will go up by 50,000 yen.

2. Substantial time off

Long breaks provide an excellent refreshing effect.

Next, the fact that 'time off is substantial' is a huge point in a sailor's life. At a land-based company, even if you have 10 to 15 days of paid leave, you have to coordinate with your boss about 'when to take it,' or you might not be able to use it all, but for sailors, the time off is decided by rotation from the start.

Common work patterns look like this:
On-board period: 3 months on board
Leave period (estimate): 30-35 days of leave
Examples of main ship types

(*This varies depending on the company, ship type, and crew allocation. Please think of it as a guideline.)
In the last few years, to prevent sailors from quitting because they dislike the long confinement, there are also 45 days on board with 15 days of leave, and a company an acquaintance works for has 1 month of work and 1 month of leave (the salary is lower for that, but it's still 6 million).

What this means is that because each break is long, you can refresh yourself properly and enrich your private life in a planned way.
・ You can go on long-term trips (domestic/overseas) with your family.
・ You can immerse yourself in hobbies (motorcycle touring, camping, studying for qualifications, DIY, etc.).
・ Since you get paid even during leave, you can enjoy your time off without financial worries.

In fact, many people who work as sailors say, 'Because the time off is long, I stand out from my friends on land.' Especially the single ones.

The life rhythm of working for 3 months and playing for 1 month might be a little hard to get used to at first, but once you get used to it, it feels good; you can even have a side job.

While on board, you are busy with watches (basically 4-hour rotation lookout duties) and live with multiple people in a narrow ship, so it's not stress-free. But the clear distinction of 'you can take a substantial break for what you worked' is completely different from the lazy overtime life on land. I've never worked on land, though.

3. Demand for beginners due to labor shortages

It's super hot right now! (Giraffe pattern)
And the hottest point right now is that 'it's easy to enter even as a beginner due to labor shortages.' The Japanese maritime industry is seriously short of hands. It is especially serious among small-scale operators of coastal vessels, and the average age of sailors is rising. There is data that people over 50 account for more than half of the total, and those under 30 are only about 15%. As veterans retire one after another, the entire industry is in a 'someone please come!' state.

That is why the door is wide open for beginners.

・ There are regular job openings for 'Beginners OK' and 'No qualifications welcome'.
・ There are actually companies that hire people in their 40s and 50s.
・ Even if you don't have qualifications, companies and training institutions provide solid support through short-term training and OJT.
・ Courses to acquire entry-level qualifications such as the 6th Grade Maritime Officer in a short period are well-equipped (it is possible to debut as a sailor within a year).


There are more and more companies that provide programs where you can get a job after acquiring qualifications from scratch at places like the 'Marine Education Center,' or programs where you can 'become a sailor in one year.' While 'experienced preferred' is the default for land-based jobs now, the maritime industry is the opposite: 'beginners are very welcome as long as you have motivation and a certain amount of physical strength.'


Especially in regions with local ports or areas where shipbuilding and shipping are thriving, there are even more opportunities. Of course, at first, there are hardships such as living in a narrow ship and being away from your family for long periods. But now that demand is high, the entrance is wide, and if you work hard, you can build a career and increase your salary relatively quickly. It is an industry where the phrase 'now is the chance' fits perfectly.

Summary

Being a sailor is perfect for people who 'want to earn, want to rest, and want to start now'.
So, I have talked thoroughly about the benefits of becoming a sailor in three points.

1. High salary gives you room in your life (living expenses are almost zero, and money remains in your hand).

2. Substantial time off enriches your private life (each break is long and easy to plan).

3. Thanks to labor shortages, it is easy to start even as a beginner (it is a seller's market right now).

Of course, every job has disadvantages, and there are parts where you won't know if ship life suits you until you actually try it. But if you are thinking, 'I want to earn more,' 'I want free time,' or 'I want to seriously challenge myself in a new environment,' I think it is a very viable option.
If you are even slightly interested, first take action:
・ Consult at the Sea Hello Work (Seafarer Job Placement Office).
・ Check the recruitment pages of various shipping companies and ship management companies.
・ Look for information on short-term training and briefing sessions for seafarer training (there are more for beginners).
Many companies hold briefing sessions and tours, so I recommend just listening to what they have to say. Why not escape the loop on land and open a new page in your life at sea?

If you're bored, ask me via DM and I'll tell you about my 18 years of experience on ships.