What are the main factors that influence an Captain's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change An Captain's salary?

An Captain's salary grows with experience: an Co-Pilot (2-4 years)earns $116,542, an First Officer (4-7 years)earns $142,463, an Captain (7+ years)earns $164,759, a Pilot in Commend (7-10 years)earns $196,749, an Chief Pilot Assistant Air Fleet Manager (10+ years)earns $171,020,

What are the highest paying states for an Captain?

Captain salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Captain roles are District of Columbia $182,500, California $181,800, Massachusetts $179,400. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Captain roles make?

Salaries for Captain level roles vary by specialization: Aircraft Captain: $142,999; Tug Captain: $136,256; Ship Captain: $130,438; Yacht Captain: $112,113; Senior Captain: $107,908.

How do different companies affect an Captain's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Captain roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Captain Salary in the United States

How much does an Captain make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Captain in the United States is $164,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

However, an Captain's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $185,815
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $144,700 to $175,800
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $126,400

10% $126,400

50% (Median) $164,800

90% $185,815

Captain Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$175,800	$14,650	$3,381	$85
Average	$164,800	$13,733	$3,169	$79
25th Percentile	$144,700	$12,058	$2,783	$70

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Captain Salaries

An Captain's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Captain Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Captain's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Co-Pilot (2-4 years): $116,542
First Officer (4-7 years): $142,463
Captain (7+ years): $164,759
Pilot in Commend (7-10 years): $196,749
Chief Pilot Assistant Air Fleet Manager (10+ years): $171,020

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Co-Pilot	2-4 years	$116,542
First Officer	4-7 years	$142,463
Captain	7+ years	$164,759
Pilot in Commend	7-10 years	$196,749
Chief Pilot Assistant Air Fleet Manager	10+ years	$171,020

View as Graph

How Do Captain Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Captains. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $182,500.
California: $181,800.
Massachusetts: $179,400.

District of Columbia $182,500 California $181,800 Massachusetts $179,400 Washington $178,700 New Jersey $178,600 Alaska $178,400 Connecticut $176,100 New York $175,200

Hawaii $172,300 Rhode Island $170,900 Maryland $169,900 Minnesota $168,600 Colorado $168,200 Illinois $168,000 Oregon $167,400 Delaware $166,900

New Hampshire $166,600 Virginia $166,000 Pennsylvania $164,100 Nevada $163,100 North Dakota $162,800 Michigan $162,300 Wisconsin $162,100 Vermont $161,800

Texas $160,800 Maine $160,700 Arizona $160,600 Ohio $160,500 Georgia $159,000 Indiana $158,200 Wyoming $158,100 Utah $157,800

Iowa $157,700 Kansas $156,900 Louisiana $156,700 North Carolina $156,600 Missouri $156,600 Florida $155,900 Montana $155,600 Nebraska $155,300

Kentucky $155,100 South Carolina $154,400 Tennessee $154,000 Idaho $153,900 New Mexico $152,600 Oklahoma $152,400 Alabama $151,400 South Dakota $149,800

Arkansas $148,900 West Virginia $148,400 Mississippi $147,000

Top Paying Cities for Captains

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

San Jose: $207,900
San Francisco: $205,600
Oakland: $201,300

San Jose, CA $207,900

San Francisco, CA $205,600

Oakland, CA $201,300

New York, NY $189,800

Paramus, NJ $187,400

Queens Village, NY $187,400

Passaic, NJ $187,300

Bergenfield, NJ $187,300

Stamford, CT $186,900

Huntington, NY $186,800

Newark, NJ $185,600

Bridgeport, CT $185,300

Vallejo, CA $184,900

New Brunswick, NJ $184,900

Petaluma, CA $184,800

Middlesex, NJ $184,500

Somerset, NJ $184,300

Santa Cruz, CA $184,100

Boston, MA $183,100

Monterey, CA $182,600

Seattle, WA $182,200

Santa Rosa, CA $182,100

Los Angeles, CA $182,100

Juneau, AK $181,700

Washington, DC $181,500

Orange, CA $180,900

Santa Ana, CA $180,500

Long Beach, CA $180,300

Anaheim, CA $180,300

Anchorage, AK $180,200

Santa Maria, CA $179,700

Everett, WA $179,700

Danbury, CT $179,100

Bremerton, WA $178,800

Tacoma, WA $178,300

New Suffolk, NY $178,300

Sacramento, CA $178,200

Santa Barbara, CA $178,000

Trenton, NJ $177,800

San Diego, CA $177,800

Brockton, MA $177,700

Fairbanks, AK $177,300

Lompoc, CA $176,800

Lowell, MA $176,700

Ventura, CA $176,700

Nashua, NH $176,600

Stockton, CA $176,600

Modesto, CA $175,400

Poughkeepsie, NY $175,100

New Haven, CT $174,700

Olympia, WA $174,700

Kennewick, WA $174,700

Lawrence, MA $174,100

Hartford, CT $173,900

Riverside, CA $173,900

New Bedford, MA $173,700

Richland, WA $173,700

Bakersfield, CA $173,500

Atlantic City, NJ $173,400

San Bernardino, CA $173,400

New Britain, CT $173,400

New London, CT $173,300

Norwich, CT $173,300

Portsmouth, NH $173,300

Boulder, CO $172,900

Portland, OR $172,700

Worcester, MA $172,700

Minneapolis, MN $172,200

Philadelphia, PA $171,900

Honolulu, HI $171,400

Saint Paul, MN $171,300

Vineland, NJ $171,300

Providence, RI $170,800

Chicago, IL $170,300

Bellingham, WA $170,100

Springfield, MA $170,000

Baltimore, MD $169,900

Chico, CA $169,500

Pittsfield, MA $169,100

Manchester, NH $168,800

Spokane, WA $168,000

Denver, CO $168,000

Albany, NY $167,200

Troy, NY $167,200

Nassau, NY $167,000

Schenectady, NY $166,800

Wilmington, DE $166,700

Burlington, VT $166,500

Salem, OR $166,400

Portland, ME $165,900

Yakima, WA $165,700

Rochester, MN $165,200

Reno, NV $165,100

Fresno, CA $165,100

Milwaukee, WI $165,000

Ann Arbor, MI $164,800

Allentown, PA $164,800

Detroit, MI $164,800

Colorado Springs, CO $164,500

Syracuse, NY $164,400

Carson City, NV $164,400

Houston, TX $164,200

Eugene, OR $164,100

Gary, IN $163,900

Springfield, OR $163,800

Bismarck, ND $163,700

Galveston, TX $163,600

Medford, OR $163,400

Fort Collins, CO $163,300

Concord, NH $163,200

Austin, TX $163,200

Mesa, AZ $162,800

Reading, PA $162,800

Phoenix, AZ $162,800

Dallas, TX $162,700

Saint Cloud, MN $162,600

Madison, WI $162,400

Utica, NY $161,900

Rochester, NY $161,700

Des Moines, IA $161,600

Raleigh, NC $161,600

Atlanta, GA $161,400

Battle Creek, MI $161,300

Salt Lake City, UT $161,300

Lancaster, PA $161,000

Harrisburg, PA $160,800

Columbus, OH $160,600

Fort Worth, TX $160,600

Kansas City, MO $160,600

Kansas City, KS $160,600

Champaign, IL $160,600

Boca Raton, FL $160,500

Pittsburgh, PA $160,500

Indianapolis, IN $160,400

Richmond, VA $160,400

Cleveland, OH $160,300

Cincinnati, OH $160,100

Las Vegas, NV $160,100

Petersburg, VA $159,900

Huntsville, AL $159,700

Lansing, MI $159,500

Lebanon, PA $159,500

Pueblo, CO $159,500

Appleton, WI $159,500

Buffalo, NY $159,400

Racine, WI $159,300

Charlotte, NC $159,300

Dayton, OH $159,300

Saint Louis, MO $159,200

York, PA $159,100

Elkhart, IN $159,100

Gastonia, NC $159,100

Billings, MT $159,100

Lorain, OH $159,000

Benton Harbor, MI $159,000

Beaumont, TX $159,000

Toledo, OH $158,900

Rock Hill, SC $158,800

Binghamton, NY $158,800

Rockford, IL $158,700

Springfield, IL $158,700

Elyria, OH $158,700

Fargo, ND $158,700

Flagstaff, AZ $158,500

Fort Lauderdale, FL $158,400

Duluth, MN $158,400

Miami, FL $158,400

Cheyenne, WY $158,200

Grand Forks, ND $158,200

Bangor, ME $157,900

Cedar Rapids, IA $157,700

Durham, NC $157,600

Louisville, KY $157,600

Grand Rapids, MI $157,600

Hialeah, FL $157,600

Casper, WY $157,300

Virginia Beach, VA $157,100

New Orleans, LA $157,100

Scranton, PA $157,100

Akron, OH $157,000

Peoria, IL $156,800

Sarasota, FL $156,700

Nashville, TN $156,600

Omaha, NE $156,600

Green Bay, WI $156,600

Baton Rouge, LA $156,500

Charleston, SC $156,500

Jamestown, NY $156,400

Davenport, IA $156,400

Tucson, AZ $156,300

Saint Petersburg, FL $156,200

Tampa, FL $156,200

Evansville, IN $156,100

Port Arthur, TX $156,100

Bradenton, FL $156,000

Santa Fe, NM $155,700

Orlando, FL $155,500

Clearwater, FL $155,400

La Crosse, WI $155,100

Canton, OH $155,100

Albuquerque, NM $155,000

Newport News, VA $154,900

High Point, NC $154,900

Ogden, UT $154,800

Corpus Christi, TX $154,700

Norfolk, VA $154,600

Laramie, WY $154,600

Saginaw, MI $154,500

Rock Island, IL $154,500

Jacksonville, FL $154,400

Salisbury, NC $154,400

Boise, ID $154,400

Moline, IL $154,300

Fort Myers, FL $154,200

Memphis, TN $154,200

Tulsa, OK $154,100

Waterloo, IA $154,000

Spartanburg, SC $153,900

Lincoln, NE $153,800

Fort Wayne, IN $153,800

Provo, UT $153,700

Cedar Falls, IA $153,500

San Antonio, TX $153,500

Greensboro, NC $153,400

South Bend, IN $153,400

Savannah, GA $153,200

Birmingham, AL $153,100

Muskegon, MI $153,100

Winston Salem, NC $153,000

Lake Charles, LA $152,600

Anderson, IN $152,600

Lexington, KY $152,600

Augusta, GA $152,500

Greenville, SC $152,500

Lima, OH $152,400

Wichita, KS $152,400

Tuscaloosa, AL $152,400

Springfield, OH $152,200

Columbia, SC $152,200

Asheville, NC $151,900

Bloomington, IN $151,800

Knoxville, TN $151,200

Shreveport, LA $151,200

Wilmington, NC $151,000

Roanoke, VA $151,000

Topeka, KS $150,700

Frankfort, KY $150,700

Oklahoma City, OK $150,600

Chillicothe, OH $150,500

Longview, TX $150,500

Melbourne, FL $150,500

Sioux Falls, SD $150,200

Mobile, AL $150,200

Terre Haute, IN $150,100

Altoona, PA $150,000

Amarillo, TX $149,900

Killeen, TX $149,800

Chattanooga, TN $149,700

Fayetteville, AR $149,700

Sioux City, IA $149,500

Idaho Falls, ID $149,500

Lynchburg, VA $149,400

Gainesville, FL $149,100

Portsmouth, OH $149,100

Youngstown, OH $149,000

Little Rock, AR $149,000

Lafayette, LA $149,000

Daytona Beach, FL $148,900

Clarksville, TN $148,800

Pensacola, FL $148,800

Temple, TX $148,800

Hopkinsville, KY $148,300

Erie, PA $148,300

Florence, SC $148,200

Charleston, WV $148,000

Great Falls, MT $147,900

Macon, GA $147,700

Waco, TX $147,600

Tallahassee, FL $147,600

Fayetteville, NC $147,600

Helena, MT $147,500

Pine Bluff, AR $147,400

Vincennes, IN $147,200

Lubbock, TX $147,100

Alamogordo, NM $147,000

Twin Falls, ID $146,900

Rapid City, SD $146,800

Greenville, MS $146,500

Huntington, WV $146,500

Jackson, MS $146,500

Parkersburg, WV $146,400

Montgomery, AL $146,300

Wichita Falls, TX $146,200

Springfield, MO $146,200

Biloxi, MS $146,100

Monroe, LA $145,900

Johnstown, PA $145,800

Columbus, GA $145,700

Sumter, SC $145,700

Pascagoula, MS $145,400

Abilene, TX $145,400

Kingsport, TN $145,000

Albany, GA $145,000

Gulfport, MS $144,900

Alexandria, LA $144,400

Fort Smith, AR $144,000

El Paso, TX $143,500

Las Cruces, NM $142,800

Harlingen, TX $142,400

Pocatello, ID $142,300

Florence, AL $142,100

Brownsville, TX $142,100

Mcallen, TX $141,700

Dothan, AL $141,500

Columbus, MS $140,500

Altus, OK $139,800

Lawton, OK $139,500

Pierre, SD $138,900

What Skills Can Increase an Captain's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Customer Service (Mentioned in 50% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Aviation (Mentioned in 50% Job Postings): Aviation is the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. Aircraft includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as hot air balloons and airships.

Skills	Demand Percentage
Customer Service	50%
Aviation	50%

See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Captain's salary.

Aviation: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Aviation	$177,984	8%

Get Latest Data

Captain Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Captain salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $184,171. While startup companies pay approximate $155,790.

Captain Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$155,790
Growth Stage	51~500	$164,763
Established	501~5000	$177,840
Enterprise	5000+	$184,171

Captain Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Captain roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Captain positions in Insurance or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Captain as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Captain

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$214,240	$103.0	30%
Biotechnology	$206,000	$99.0	25%
Business Services	$197,760	$95.0	20%
Chemicals	$189,520	$91.0	15%
Construction	$181,280	$87.0	10%

How Education impacts an Captain's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Captains enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Captain with a No Diploma is between $148,399 and $161,146).

Captain Salaries by Degree Level

$169,600
$166,600
$163,500
$160,500
$157,500
$154,500
$151,500
$148,400

Typical Education for Captain
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	15.7%
High School	15.7%
Associates	9.8%
Bachelors	60.8%
Masters	11.8%
Doctorate	2.0%

View as Graph

Captain Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Captain's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

$144,700

Average $164,800/year

$175,800

$12,058

Average $13,733/month

$14,650

$2,783

Average $3,169/week

$3,381

$70

Average $79/hour

$85

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$175,800	$14,650	$3,381	$85
Average	$164,800	$13,733	$3,169	$79
25th Percentile	$144,700	$12,058	$2,783	$70

Captain Salary Growth & Career Path

Captain

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Captain, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Captain Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Head Helicopter Pilot	$166,000	1%
Pilot in Commend	$196,800	19%

Salary Trends for Captain

Salaries for an Captain can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $123,290 in 2023 to around $115,617 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Captain salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Captain Over Time

$???
$123,290
$119,344
$115,617
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$123,290
2024	$119,344
2025	$115,617
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Captain

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Captain

Here are companies hiring for Captain and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology the United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology the United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology the United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology the United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology the United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology the United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology the United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology the United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology the United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology the United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology the United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology the United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology the United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology the United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology the United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology the United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology the United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology the United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology the United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology the United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology the United States

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FAQ about Captain

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Captain?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Captain roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

2. How much does a US captain make?

A U.S. captain's salary varies significantly, with a minimum of $146,700, a mid-range of $168,500, and a maximum of $203,800. This reflects the higher compensation levels for captains compared to the average yearly pay of $78,580 reported for U.S. Army captains in California, which aligns with the national average.

3. What is the highest paying captain job?

The highest paying captain job is a Ship Captain, with a salary range typically between $146,700 and $203,800 per year. Other roles like Boat Pilot and Tugboat Captain also offer competitive salaries, but the Ship Captain position stands out for its earning potential, reflecting the responsibilities and expertise required in this role.

4. What is Captain America's salary?

Captain America's salary data indicates a minimum of $146,700, a mid-range of $168,500, and a maximum of $203,800. While Chris Evans reportedly earned $15 million for Captain America: Civil War, this figure is significantly higher than the typical salary range for the role.

5. How much does a Disney cruise captain make?

A Disney cruise captain earns a salary ranging from $146,700 to $203,800, with a mid-point salary of $168,500. This reflects the specialized skills and responsibilities required for the role, significantly higher than the average hourly pay mentioned.

6. How much does a captain at America make?

The salary range for a Captain is approximately $146,700 to $203,800 per year. The mid-salary is around $168,500. This reflects the base salary without including additional pay, which may vary based on experience and other factors.

7. What qualifies you to be a captain?

To qualify as a captain, one must possess strong leadership, management, and communication skills to effectively oversee staff and engage with passengers. Essential knowledge includes navigation, logistics, and maritime safety regulations. The role offers a competitive salary range, with a minimum of $146,700, a mid-point of $168,500, and a maximum of $203,800.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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