The average salary for a ship loader in Texas is around $61,170 per year.
Avg Salary
Ship loaders earn an average yearly salary of $61,170.
Wages typically start from $45,680 and go up to $93,070.
7% below national average Updated in 2025
Ship loader earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$44.74 per hour
$93,070 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$38.14 per hour
$79,340 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$29.41 per hour
$61,170 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$24.75 per hour
$51,470 per year
10th percentile
Starting level ship loader earnings begin at:
$21.96 per hour
$45,680 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Ship loader salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $81,320 |
| South Carolina | $80,700 |
| Montana | $80,070 |
| Minnesota | $76,620 |
| Alabama | $75,450 |
| Oregon | $74,040 |
| Massachusetts | $71,750 |
| New Hampshire | $70,030 |
| California | $68,600 |
| New Jersey | $64,890 |
| North Dakota | $61,210 |
| Texas | $61,170 |
| Louisiana | $58,900 |
| Michigan | $57,900 |
| Missouri | $57,750 |
| Ohio | $57,700 |
| Wisconsin | $57,250 |
| West Virginia | $54,750 |
| Utah | $53,370 |
| Kentucky | $53,160 |
| Iowa | $51,450 |
| Colorado | $51,200 |
| Georgia | $51,160 |
| Washington | $48,580 |
| New York | $48,220 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,120 |
| New Mexico | $48,010 |
| Tennessee | $46,640 |
| Nebraska | $46,300 |
| Florida | $45,540 |
| Hawaii | $45,240 |
| North Carolina | $44,910 |
| Indiana | $44,310 |
| Maine | $42,830 |
| Idaho | $41,700 |
| Virginia | $41,190 |
| Mississippi | $41,180 |
| Illinois | $37,240 |
| Oklahoma | $35,360 |
| Arizona | $34,860 |
| Arkansas | $33,800 |
| Kansas | $31,080 |
| Alaska | $26,140 |
| Wyoming | $101,790 |
How do ship loader salaries compare to similar careers?
Ship loaders earn about the same as related careers in Texas. On average, they make less than locomotive engineers but more than plumbers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Locomotive engineer salary | $79K |
| Wellhead pumper salary | $76K |
| Crane operator salary | $73K |
| Rail transportation worker salary | $53K |
| Pump operator salary | $62K |
| Ship loader salary | $61K |
| Millwright salary | $63K |
| Sailor salary | $56K |
| Pipefitter salary | $60K |
| Plumber salary | $60K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)