How much does a captain make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $44.45 an hour or $7,705 a month.
- Hourly
- $44.45
- Average (mean)
- $103,700
- Jobs
- 36,850
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,420 | $22.80 | |
| 25th | $63,880 | $30.71 | |
| Median | $92,460 | $44.45 | |
| 75th | $127,200 | $61.14 | |
| 90th | $170,600 | $82.04 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Maryland | $139,000 |
| Tennessee | $132,700 |
| Louisiana | $117,200 |
| Texas | $111,400 |
| California | $110,100 |
| New York | $104,800 |
| Mississippi | $104,200 |
| Washington | $103,700 |
| Iowa | $97,700 |
| Oregon | $97,050 |
| Indiana | $92,000 |
| New Jersey | $90,310 |
| Alaska | $88,230 |
| Virginia | $87,610 |
| West Virginia | $85,290 |
| Missouri | $83,670 |
| Minnesota | $80,920 |
| Oklahoma | $79,110 |
| Massachusetts | $77,950 |
| Georgia | $77,090 |
| Rhode Island | $76,790 |
| Florida | $76,040 |
| New Hampshire | $75,870 |
| Connecticut | $75,810 |
| Wisconsin | $74,390 |
| Delaware | $73,280 |
| Hawaii | $72,960 |
| Maine | $72,770 |
| Illinois | $69,600 |
| North Carolina | $69,170 |
| Alabama | $68,920 |
| Vermont | $64,020 |
| Pennsylvania | $61,420 |
| Arizona | $58,700 |
| South Carolina | $57,660 |
| Ohio | $56,070 |
| Michigan | $53,590 |
| Utah | $50,010 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Louisville, KY | $130,400 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $129,300 |
| San Francisco, CA | $124,600 |
| New Orleans, LA | $121,700 |
| Slidell, LA | $120,800 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $119,600 |
| Houston, TX | $118,800 |
| Lafayette, LA | $116,200 |
| Bremerton, WA | $113,900 |
| Mount Vernon, WA | $113,900 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $113,300 |
| Beaumont, TX | $112,300 |
| Anchorage, AK | $109,600 |
| Seattle, WA | $109,100 |
| New York, NY | $106,200 |
In other countries
Captain belongs to the international group "Ships' deck officers and pilots".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Sailor and Marine Oiler$51,520
- Motorboat Operator$47,520
- Ship Engineer$109,500
Frequently asked questions
How much does a captain make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $44.45 ($92,460 a year).
How much does a captain make a month?
About $7,705 a month before tax, based on a median of $92,460 a year.
How much does a captain make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $47,420 or less a year ($22.80 an hour); the top 10% make $170,600 or more.
Which state pays captains the most?
Maryland, with a median of $139,000 a year, followed by Tennessee ($132,700) and Louisiana ($117,200).
Which city pays captains the most?
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, with a median of $130,400 a year.
How many captains are there in the United States?
About 36,850 people work as captains.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.