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How much does Captain make?
Total pay range
$166K - $310K/yr
$221K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$100K - $187K/yrBase pay
$66K - $122K/yrAdditional pay
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Transportation?
Transportation salaries are growing rapidly as the demand for transportation workers grows. The increasing importance of e-commerce and global supply chains are likely to keep the need for transportation workers strong. Also, turnover in the transportation industry is high and an aging workforce is pushing employers to attract new workers to the industry through better pay and benefits.
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for Captain in United States are Transportation & Logistics with a median total pay of $159,046, Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services with a median total pay of $155,163, Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $144,919, Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $141,960, and Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $127,973.
The average salary for Captain is $221,241 per year or $106 per hour, with top earners making up to $404,871 (90th percentile). Typically, pay ranges from $165,931 (25th percentile) to $309,737 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 4563 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Captain employees.
The highest salary for Captain is $309,737 per year, $25,811 per month or $149 per hour.
The lowest salary for Captain is $165,931 per year, $13,828 per month or $80 per hour.
Captain roles provide leadership opportunities and the chance for world travel. Airlines or shipping companies also typically pay for hotels, transportation and meals while captains are away from home. While hours can be long, federal regulations ensure that their schedules include breaks. Captains employed by the military enjoy additional benefits including excellent insurance, free tuition, store discounts, and a pension.
When this question is posed to captains that visit Glassdoor's website, 71% say they are satisfied with their captain salary. Captains earn a base salary, but it is also common for them to receive overtime, trip bonuses, profit sharing proceeds, and even gratuities from passengers averaging around $87,447.24.
Captains are paid a wide range of salaries depending on the type and size of ship, but on average they make a captain salary of $133,793.59. Initially, they might earn a salary of $128,319.68 when they are just starting out. As they gain more experience in their captain career and move up to larger boats, they may earn a maximum salary of $404,870.72.
If you are a captain in the tourism industry, the quickest way to make more money is to book more trips to earn overtime and extra tips. If you are a commercial captain, then the key to earning more money is to slowly increase the size and value of the ship being sailed. Becoming a captain of a major ship requires a long list of certifications including USCG licenses for various tonnage, USCG medical card, Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC), Radar Observer Unlimited, FCC Marine Radio Operator Permit, and more.
Captains that are applying for a new position should use the job interview to discuss their qualifications. Those with a lot of experience on the water should be able to demand a higher starting salary.
If you are currently employed as a captain, you should conduct a job search for captain jobs to become familiar with the requirements of becoming a senior captain. It is very likely that you will need to invest in a long list of certifications and licenses. Once these have been obtained, you will be in a much better position to ask for a 15% to 20% raise.
