How much does a captain make in Charleston?
$91,000a year
Median yearly pay for captains in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area. That is $43.75 an hour or $7,583 a month.
- Hourly
- $43.75
- Vs. national median
- -2%
- Rank among cities
- 23 of 75
- Jobs in the area
- 250
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $36,780Median: $91,000Highest 10%: $123,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,780 | $17.68 | |
| 25th | $52,290 | $25.14 | |
| Median | $91,000 | $43.75 | |
| 75th | $119,000 | $57.20 | |
| 90th | $123,800 | $59.54 |
Other cities in South Carolina
Median yearly pay for captains.
| Charlotte, NC | $76,340 |
| Hilton Head Island, SC | $47,590 |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $43,780 |
Related jobs in Charleston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Commercial Pilot | $119,000 |
| Ship Engineer | $98,450 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $80,880 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker | $63,440 |
| Sailor and Marine Oiler | $59,100 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $55,150 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator | $46,890 |
| Bus Driver | $46,460 |
| Bus Driver | $40,580 |
| Light Truck Driver | $38,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a captain make an hour in Charleston?
The median hourly pay in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $43.75 ($91,000 a year).
Do captains make more in Charleston than the national average?
No: $91,000 against $92,460 nationally, 2% less.
How does Charleston compare with the rest of South Carolina?
The median in South Carolina is $57,660, so Charleston pays 58% more.
Where does Charleston rank for captain pay?
23 of 75 metro areas with data.
How much does a captain make starting out in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $36,780 or less a year; the top 10% make $123,800 or more.
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.