The average salary for a ship captain in the United States is around $81,640 per year.
Avg Salary
Ship captains earn an average yearly salary of $81,640.
Wages typically start from $37,240 and go up to $159,690.
45% above national average Updated in 2021
Ship captain earnings by seniority
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Ship captain salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Louisiana | $99,460 |
| New York | $98,680 |
| Washington | $95,390 |
| Arkansas | $90,720 |
| Oklahoma | $86,570 |
| Alaska | $81,910 |
| Mississippi | $81,510 |
| Virginia | $80,950 |
| Illinois | $80,240 |
| West Virginia | $79,510 |
| Iowa | $79,240 |
| Kentucky | $79,090 |
| Alabama | $77,630 |
| Minnesota | $77,030 |
| Ohio | $75,600 |
| Delaware | $75,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $73,640 |
| Maine | $66,390 |
| Michigan | $65,160 |
| Rhode Island | $64,160 |
| Massachusetts | $63,980 |
| South Carolina | $63,970 |
| Connecticut | $62,900 |
| Hawaii | $61,020 |
| Florida | $60,780 |
| Georgia | $59,400 |
| Missouri | $57,060 |
| New Hampshire | $52,390 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $50,970 |
| North Carolina | $49,860 |
| Wisconsin | $49,470 |
| Arizona | $47,470 |
| Tennessee | $40,460 |
| Puerto Rico | $32,360 |
| Indiana | $104,530 |
| New Jersey | $104,020 |
| Texas | $103,340 |
| Oregon | $101,960 |
| Maryland | $101,450 |
| Vermont | $101,230 |
| California | $100,020 |
How do ship captain salaries compare to similar careers?
Ship captains earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than air traffic controllers but more than logisticians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Air traffic controller salary | $130K |
| Commercial pilot salary | $100K |
| Ship captain salary | $82K |
| Shipmate salary | $82K |
| Transportation planner salary | $84K |
| Customs broker salary | $75K |
| Logistician salary | $77K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)