The average salary for a ship loader in West Virginia is around $54,750 per year.
Avg Salary
Ship loaders earn an average yearly salary of $54,750.
Wages typically start from $48,990 and go up to $63,650.
9% below national average Updated in 2025
Ship loader earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$30.60 per hour
$63,650 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$26.32 per hour
$54,750 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$26.32 per hour
$54,750 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level ship loader earnings begin at:
$25.06 per hour
$52,120 per year
10th percentile
Starting level ship loader earnings begin at:
$23.55 per hour
$48,990 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 West Virginia. On average, they make less than sheet metal workers but more than welders.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Sheet metal worker salary | $72K |
| Plumber salary | $57K |
| Pipefitter salary | $57K |
| Derrick operator salary | $51K |
| Rotary drill operator salary | $57K |
| Ship loader salary | $55K |
| Crane operator salary | $55K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $49K |
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $45K |
| Welder salary | $49K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)