How much does a captain make in Chicago?
$76,530a year
Median yearly pay for captains in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area. That is $36.79 an hour or $6,378 a month.
- Hourly
- $36.79
- Vs. national median
- -17%
- Rank among cities
- 44 of 75
- Jobs in the area
- 440
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $48,210Median: $76,530Highest 10%: $124,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,210 | $23.18 | |
| 25th | $64,190 | $30.86 | |
| Median | $76,530 | $36.79 | |
| 75th | $98,500 | $47.36 | |
| 90th | $124,900 | $60.03 |
Other cities in Illinois
Median yearly pay for captains.
| St. Louis, MO | $94,990 |
Related jobs in Chicago
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $293,500 |
| Air Traffic Controller | $189,800 |
| Commercial Pilot | $157,400 |
| Hoist and Winch Operator | $118,200 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $96,120 |
| Ship Engineer | $77,770 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $77,470 |
| Bridge and Lock Tender | $73,110 |
| Railroad Brake | $72,180 |
| Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor | $70,780 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a captain make an hour in Chicago?
The median hourly pay in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $36.79 ($76,530 a year).
Do captains make more in Chicago than the national average?
No: $76,530 against $92,460 nationally, 17% less.
How does Chicago compare with the rest of Illinois?
The median in Illinois is $69,600, so Chicago pays 10% more.
Where does Chicago rank for captain pay?
44 of 75 metro areas with data.
How much does a captain make starting out in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% make $48,210 or less a year; the top 10% make $124,900 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.