GP Rating Salary in India 2026: Per Month & Career Path

Last Updated: September 2026 | Fact Checked: September 2026

Salary figures are indicative market ranges, not government-fixed salaries. Regulatory requirements should be verified against the latest DG Shipping notification before admission or employment decisions.

Quick Answer

GP Rating salary in India typically starts at ₹20,000–₹45,000 per month for freshers (Trainee/Ordinary Seaman). After 2–3 years, Able Seaman may earn ₹35,000–₹80,000/month, depending on company, vessel, and contract. Senior ratings such as Bosun can command ₹55,000–₹1,50,000/month on certain contracts. On foreign ships, compensation is often quoted in USD and can range from $400–$4,000/month depending on rank, company, and flag.

Foreign-ship salary can receive different Indian tax treatment depending on the seafarer’s residential status. Do not assume that working outside India automatically makes the entire salary tax-free.

GP Rating Salary at a Glance

Career Stage	Indicative Monthly Salary
Fresher / Trainee Rating	₹20,000–₹45,000
Ordinary Seaman (OS)	₹25,000–₹45,000
Able Seaman (AB)	₹35,000–₹80,000+
Bosun / Senior Rating	₹55,000–₹1.50 lakh
Officer after certification	Depends on rank and CoC

All figures are indicative market ranges, not official pay scales. Actual pay depends on company, vessel, flag, and contract terms.

What Is GP Rating?

GP Rating (General Purpose Rating) is a 6-month pre-sea training course approved by the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping), Government of India. It is an entry route into the Merchant Navy available after Class 10.

After the pre-sea course, candidates undergo the required shipboard training and sea service before progressing through the rating pathway — Trainee → Ordinary Seaman → Able Seaman → senior ratings such as Bosun.

Key facts:

Parameter	Details
Course Duration	6 months pre-sea training + shipboard training
Eligibility	10th pass with 40% aggregate, Science & Maths, 40% in English
Age Limit	17.5 to 25 years, subject to the applicable DG Shipping rules and any permitted relaxation
Approval	DG Shipping
Course Fees	₹35,000 – ₹2,50,000 (varies by institute; see fee examples below)
Entry Route	GP Rating generally follows a different admission route from IMU-CET-based officer-entry programmes; institute-specific selection requirements may apply

GP Rating Salary Per Month — Indicative Ranges

Rank / Stage	Indicative Monthly Pay	What Determines Pay
Trainee Rating	₹20,000–₹45,000	Company, contract, vessel
Ordinary Seaman (OS)	₹25,000–₹45,000	Sea time and employer
Able Seaman (AB) – 2–3 yrs	₹35,000–₹80,000+	Certification, vessel, company
Senior Rating / Bosun	₹55,000–₹1,50,000	Rank, vessel, employer, contract
Officer after further certification	Varies by rank	CoC, sea service, vessel, employer

Salary methodology: These ranges are indicative estimates compiled from available maritime job postings (including Glassdoor and ZipRecruiter listings), job-board salary data from Indian crew-management companies (VGG India, Trinitas Ship Management, Blackhull Maritime), and industry salary information from Sailor Success, Skills Station, and similar maritime career resources. They are not official pay scales and should not be treated as guaranteed salaries. Foreign-ship compensation may be quoted in USD and can vary substantially by employer, flag, vessel type, and collective agreement. Actual salary depends on company, ship type, contract terms, and the seafarer’s certifications and experience.

Salary data checked: September 2026.

GP Rating Salary Chart: Experience-Wise

Experience	Typical Position	Indicative Monthly Salary
0–1 year	Trainee / Ordinary Seaman	₹20,000–₹45,000
1–3 years	Able Seaman	₹35,000–₹80,000+
3–5 years	Senior Rating / Bosun pathway	₹55,000–₹1.50 lakh
5–10 years	Senior Rating	Depends on rank and contract
After officer certification	Officer rank	Depends on CoC and employer

These are indicative ranges. Actual pay depends on company, vessel, flag, and contract terms.

GP Rating Starting Salary: Typical Fresher Range

A fresher GP Rating (Trainee/Ordinary Seaman) typically earns ₹20,000–₹45,000 per month on Indian ships or $400–$800/month on foreign-flag vessels. During the first contract, seafarers maintain a TAR (Training and Assessment Record) Book, with tasks verified and signed by senior officers. This documented sea time is essential for the next certification step.

GP Rating Salary After Required Sea Service

After completing the required sea service, training and COW (Certificate of Watchkeeping) assessment, a rating may progress to Able Seaman (AB). Pay at this stage:

• Indian ships: ₹35,000–₹80,000 per month (indicative)
• Foreign ships: $800–$1,500 per month (indicative)

From January 1, 2026, the ILO/ITF-agreed minimum monthly basic wage for an Able Seafarer is **US$690**, rising to US$704 from January 1, 2027, and US$715 from January 1, 2028 (ITF Seafarers). Use this as an international minimum-wage benchmark; actual contractual pay can be higher depending on rank, vessel, employer, and applicable agreement.

GP Rating Salary After 5 Years

With continued sea time and demonstrated skill, ratings can progress to Bosun (deck side) or equivalent senior engine-side ranks. Pay at this stage is indicative:

• Indian ships: ₹55,000–₹1,50,000 per month
• Foreign ships: $2,200–$4,000 per month

Bosun is a senior rating position with supervisory responsibility over junior ratings. Actual pay varies significantly by company, vessel type, and contract.

GP Rating Salary After 10 Years

After 10 years, an experienced seafarer on the ratings track may hold a senior rating position such as Bosun, Pumpman or Chief Cook, depending on department, qualifications and employment history. Indicative earnings range from ₹55,000–₹1,50,000/month on Indian ships or $2,200–$5,000/month on foreign ships. Further earnings can differ substantially if a seafarer later qualifies for an officer position — see the next section.

Important distinction: There is no single fixed “highest GP Rating salary.” On the ratings track, senior positions such as Bosun command higher pay than junior ratings. If a seafarer subsequently qualifies for officer certification, the salary structure changes because they are then working in an officer rank — not as a GP Rating.

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Can GP Rating Become an Officer? (The Hawsepipe Route)

Yes — but it is a long path requiring additional training, sea service, examinations, and certification.

A GP Rating can potentially progress toward the officer route through what is known as the hawsepipe pathway. This is a legitimate, recognised route, but it is not an automatic promotion from Bosun.

Deck side (GP Rating → 3rd Officer):

• Accumulate minimum 36 months of approved sea-going service on foreign-going ships, as prescribed under Rule 20(2)(b) of the Merchant Shipping (STCW) Rules, 2014.
• At least 6 of those 36 months must be spent on supervised bridge watchkeeping duties, recorded in an approved Training Record Book (TRB).
• After 12 months as Ordinary Seaman and passing the COW assessment, become certified as Able Seaman.
• Continue accumulating sea time as AB.
• Qualify STCW officer-level courses (GMDSS GOC, Radar/ARPA, ECDIS, PSCRB, AFF).
• Appear for 2nd Mate (FG or NCV) written and oral examinations conducted by DG Shipping.

Recent development: Under DGS Circular 26 of 2026 (File No. 25-13011/24/2025-NT, dated May 19, 2026), the Directorate General of Shipping has introduced a Six-Month Competency Course for Deck Ratings leading to Second Mate (Foreign Going) Certificate of Competency, as an additional pathway to the existing NWKO (NCV) route. The course is aligned with IMO Model Course 7.03 and STCW Code Table A-II/1, and commences from July 2026. It provides structured career progression for eligible Deck Ratings who have completed approved pre-sea training and have at least 36 months of approved sea service on foreign-going ships.

Official source: DGS Circular 26 of 2026 — DGMA

Separately, under DGS Circular 25 of 2026 (File No. 13-11031/1/2021-ENGG-DGS, dated May 19, 2026), GP Rating holders can complete a 10-day bridging course in basic electrical functions and serve as a Trainee Electro-Technical Rating (ETR) — a rating-level designation, not an officer title. After 12 months’ sea service, they earn the ETR Certificate of Proficiency. Progression to actual ETO (officer) status requires further sea service, a separate pre-sea ETO course, and DGMA examinations.

Official source: DGMA All Circulars — Circular 25 of 2026

Be realistic: CoC examinations — including at senior levels — are genuinely demanding and require substantial preparation. The actual timeline for progression varies according to approved sea service, training, examinations, company opportunities, and the applicable DGS certification pathway.

GP Rating Salary: Indian Ships vs Foreign Ships

Factor	Indian Ships	Foreign Ships
Currency	INR	USD
Tax	Subject to Indian income tax rules	Tax treatment depends on residential status and source rules
Pay Level	Generally lower	Can be higher, but difference varies by company, flag, vessel type, rank, and contract
First-job availability	Depends on the employer, placement channel, certifications, and current recruitment demand	Depends on the employer, placement channel, certifications, and current recruitment demand
Contract Length	3–6 months	6–9 months on ship, 3–4 months leave

Tax note: Foreign-ship salary can receive different Indian tax treatment depending on the seafarer’s residential status and the source of the income. For tax years beginning on or after April 1, 2026, residential status is determined under Section 6 of the Income-tax Act, 2025. The basic 182-day test continues — an individual is resident in India if present for 182 days or more in the tax year, subject to applicable exceptions and conditions. For Indian citizens who leave India as a crew member of an Indian ship or for employment outside India, the special rule under sub-section (3) also uses the 182-day threshold. For crew of foreign-bound ships, the period of stay is determined as prescribed under Rule 126 of the Income-tax Rules, 2026 — the period between joining and signing off the ship, as recorded in the Continuous Discharge Certificate (CDC), is excluded while computing stay in India (Income Tax Department).

Being non-resident does not automatically mean every dollar of foreign-ship salary is tax-free — tax treatment depends on residency, source rules, and the applicable tax provisions. Consult a qualified tax professional for personalised advice.

GP Rating Course Fees

Selected 2026 published fee examples:

Institute Type	Indicative Fee Range	Example Institutes (2026 published fees)
Government / Trust Institutes	₹35,000 – ₹80,000	Sailor Success reports legitimate fees in this range for 6 months including hostel
Private Institutes	₹1,60,000 – ₹3,10,000	METRI Kolkata: ₹1,90,000; Coimbatore Marine College: ₹1,80,500; Sriram Institute: ₹3,10,000
Integrated Programme (GP Rating leading to 2nd Mate NCV)	₹3,60,500 – ₹4,50,500	SCI-MTI: ₹4,50,500 (male) / ₹3,60,500 (female)

Note: The categories above are indicative rather than a comprehensive industry classification. Some institutes described as “private” may have trust or semi-government status. Fees include training, food, hostel, uniforms, and basic STCW courses at some institutes.

Before paying: Verify the institute’s current DG Shipping approval, total fee inclusions, placement record, and refund terms. Always verify the institute on dgshipping.gov.in under “DG Approved Institutes.”

GP Rating vs Other Merchant Navy Entry Routes

Route	Entry Qualification	Duration	Entry Salary (Indicative)	Officer Track?
GP Rating	10th pass	6 months pre-sea	₹20,000–45,000/month	Via hawsepipe (long)
Saloon Rating (CCMC)	10th pass	6 months	₹25,000–45,000/month	No
DNS (Deck Officer)	12th PCM 60%	1 yr + sea time	₹25,000–50,000/month (stipend)	Yes — direct
B.E. Marine Engineering	12th PCM 60%	4 years	₹25,000–50,000/month (stipend)	Yes — direct
GME (Graduate Marine Engg.)	B.E./B.Tech	1 year	₹30,000–60,000/month	Yes — direct

Key takeaway: GP Rating is an entry route available after Class 10, but the officer track requires years of sea service and additional examinations. DNS and marine-engineering degree routes are designed for officer-level progression, but their eligibility and admission requirements should be checked against the current IMU/DG Shipping rules and the specific institute’s notification.

GP Rating Salary: Gross Pay vs Take-Home Pay

A seafarer’s take-home pay differs from gross pay because of:

• Basic wage — the core component
• Overtime — MLC Guideline B2.2.2 recommends each hour of overtime be compensated at a rate of 1.25 times the basic hourly rate
• Leave pay — MLC recommends not less than 2.5 days per calendar month
• Allowances — varies by company and contract
• Deductions — Indian income tax (if applicable), PF (if applicable), and other statutory deductions
• Onboard food and accommodation — typically provided free, reducing living costs

Critical caveat: Salary structures vary significantly by company, flag, and contract. The actual take-home depends on the specific compensation structure, which is not standardised across the industry. Overtime, leave pay, and other entitlements are governed by the applicable employment agreement and maritime wage rules.

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Factors Affecting GP Rating Salary

• Ship type: Salary can vary by vessel type, with specialized vessels sometimes offering different compensation structures
• Company and contract: Pay varies according to the employer, employment agreement, rank, vessel and applicable wage scale
• Flag: Foreign-flag vessels can offer higher compensation, but the difference varies significantly
• Experience and certifications: Watchkeeping certificate, STCW refreshers, and tanker endorsements increase pay

Is GP Rating a Good Career?

GP Rating can provide an accessible entry into the Merchant Navy for candidates who meet the eligibility and medical requirements. However, the work involves long periods at sea, physically demanding duties, and a career progression system based on sea service and further certification.

Potential advantages:

• Low entry barrier: 10th pass and no PCM requirement; GP Rating generally follows a different admission route from IMU-CET-based officer-entry programmes, with institute-specific selection requirements
• The pre-sea course is 6 months, but career progression also requires shipboard training, approved sea service and further certification
• Competitive starting income for a 10th-pass entry-level role
• International exposure and USD earnings potential
• Officer upgrade possible through hawsepipe route (with sustained effort)

Challenges:

• First job can be difficult to secure without contacts or placement support
• Physically demanding work in all weather conditions
• Progression remains within the ratings structure unless the seafarer completes the additional requirements for officer certification
• Some institutes may not deliver promised placements
• Officer crossover requires years of sea time and difficult CoC exams

FAQs

Final Takeaway

GP Rating salary in India offers a competitive starting income for a 10th-pass entry-level role — typically ₹20,000–₹45,000/month — with growth to ₹55,000–₹1,50,000/month for senior ratings such as Bosun, depending on company and contract. On foreign ships, compensation is often quoted in USD and can be higher, but the difference varies significantly and tax treatment depends on residential status. The pre-sea course is 6 months, but career progression also requires shipboard training, approved sea service and further certification. The route provides a genuine — though demanding — path to the officer cadre through the hawsepipe route for those willing to put in the years of sea service and examination preparation.

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