How much does a captain make in Seattle?
$109,100a year
Median yearly pay for captains in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area. That is $52.44 an hour or $9,090 a month.
- Hourly
- $52.44
- Vs. national median
- +18%
- Rank among cities
- 14 of 75
- Jobs in the area
- 1,140
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $58,850Median: $109,100Highest 10%: $153,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,850 | $28.29 | |
| 25th | $77,520 | $37.27 | |
| Median | $109,100 | $52.44 | |
| 75th | $131,000 | $62.99 | |
| 90th | $153,400 | $73.75 |
Other cities in Washington
Median yearly pay for captains.
| Bremerton, WA | $113,900 |
| Portland, OR | $93,440 |
Related jobs in Seattle
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $229,900 |
| Air Traffic Controller | $175,300 |
| Transportation Inspector | $129,500 |
| Commercial Pilot | $127,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $114,300 |
| Ship Engineer | $108,900 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $92,400 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $84,050 |
| Bus Driver | $83,430 |
| Rail Transportation Worker | $79,120 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a captain make an hour in Seattle?
The median hourly pay in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $52.44 ($109,100 a year).
Do captains make more in Seattle than the national average?
Yes: $109,100 against $92,460 nationally, 18% more.
How does Seattle compare with the rest of Washington?
The median in Washington is $103,700, so Seattle pays 5% more.
Where does Seattle rank for captain pay?
14 of 75 metro areas with data.
How much does a captain make starting out in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% make $58,850 or less a year; the top 10% make $153,400 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.