How much does a captain make in New Orleans?
$121,700a year
Median yearly pay for captains in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area. That is $58.51 an hour or $10,140 a month.
- Hourly
- $58.51
- Vs. national median
- +32%
- Rank among cities
- 4 of 75
- Jobs in the area
- 1,940
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $59,980Median: $121,700Highest 10%: $170,500
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $59,980 | $28.84 | |
| 25th | $82,590 | $39.71 | |
| Median | $121,700 | $58.51 | |
| 75th | $126,100 | $60.62 | |
| 90th | $170,500 | $81.96 |
Other cities in Louisiana
Median yearly pay for captains.
| Baton Rouge, LA | $129,300 |
| Slidell, LA | $120,800 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $119,600 |
| Lafayette, LA | $116,200 |
| Houma, LA | $103,800 |
Related jobs in New Orleans
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Commercial Pilot | $136,000 |
| Ship Engineer | $132,700 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $65,490 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker | $63,520 |
| Tank Car | $62,200 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $51,540 |
| Dredge Operator | $49,390 |
| Motorboat Operator | $49,230 |
| Bus Driver | $48,860 |
| Bus Driver | $47,570 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a captain make an hour in New Orleans?
The median hourly pay in the New Orleans-Metairie, LA metro area is $58.51 ($121,700 a year).
Do captains make more in New Orleans than the national average?
Yes: $121,700 against $92,460 nationally, 32% more.
How does New Orleans compare with the rest of Louisiana?
The median in Louisiana is $117,200, so New Orleans pays 4% more.
Where does New Orleans rank for captain pay?
4 of 75 metro areas with data.
How much does a captain make starting out in New Orleans?
The lowest-paid 10% make $59,980 or less a year; the top 10% make $170,500 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.