Merchant navy salary per month: The starting salary in the Merchant Navy

The starting salary in the Merchant Navy usually ranges between INR 4.80 to 6 LPA, translating to INR 40,000 to 50,000 per month . For seasoned officers with over 10 years of experience, the average monthly pay reaches approximately INR 1.64 lakh. Salaries in the merchant navy are impressive, especially when compared to land-based jobs. Plus, they’re often tax-free for Indian citizens working on foreign vessels, provided you meet the NRI (Non-Resident Indian) criteria (i.e., being out of India for 183+ days in a financial year). That said, your salary depends on a few things: Get detailed insights into merchant navy salary , ranks, allowances, and in-hand pay with examples and updated figures for 2025.