Barge Captain Salary in the United States

How much does a Barge Captain make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Barge Captain in the United States is $92,568 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $45.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $101,956
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $88,574 to $97,482
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $84,938
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View as table View as graph 25% $88,574 10% $84,938 90% $101,956 75% $97,482 $92,568 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Barge Captain Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $97,482 $8,124 $1,875 $47
Average $92,568 $7,714 $1,780 $45
25th Percentile $88,574 $7,381 $1,703 $43
Check out Barge Captain Job Openings in the United States
Chief AI Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Associate Vice President Internal Communications

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Vice President Credit Risk Strategy&Data Science

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Regional Truck Driver Company

KreilKamp Trucking - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Barge Captain Salaries

A Barge 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 Barge Captain Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Barge 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $60,215
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $75,155
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $93,400
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $113,812
  • Expert (over 8 years): $127,383
Levels Salary
Technical... Level Barge Captain$60,215
Technical... Level Barge Captain$75,155
Barge Cap... Level Barge Captain$93,400
Technical... Level Barge Captain$113,812
Library T... Level Barge Captain$127,383
$60,215 0 yr
$75,155 < 2 yrs
$93,400 2-4 yrs
$113,812 5-8 yrs
$127,383 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Barge 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: $116,756
  • San Francisco: $115,478
  • Oakland: $113,044

What Skills Can Increase a Barge Captain's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 10.06% 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.
  • Technical Services (Mentioned in 2.37% Job Postings): Technical services are services that an IT organization provides to support business services or IT operations. Employee provisioning, backup and recovery, storage, and self-service help desk are examples of technical services
  • Computer Usage (Mentioned in 1.18% Job Postings): The REGISTER of English associated with computer technology and electronic communication, for both professional and other purposes, such as the creation, use, and maintenance of equipment recreation, such as video games and electronic bulletin boards
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.06%
Technical Services 2.37%
Computer Usage 1.18%
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 a Barge Captain's salary.
  • Team Management: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Operations Management: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Coaching: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Management
$112,933
22%
Operations Management
$112,933
22%
Coaching
$110,156
19%
Written Communication
$110,156
19%
Leadership
$104,602
13%
Technical Services
$103,676
12%
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Barge Captain Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Barge Captain roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 33% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 18% above the average. In contrast, Barge Captain positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Barge Captain as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Barge Captain

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$109,231$53.018%
Biotechnology$101,825$49.010%
Energy & Utilities$101,825$49.010%
Pharmaceuticals$101,825$49.010%
Software & Networking$101,825$49.010%

How Education impacts a Barge Captain's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Barge Captains enter the field with a Associate's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Barge Captain with a Associate's Degree is between $94,450 and $102,293).

Barge Captain Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Barge Captain
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 100.0%
High School 0.0%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 100.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Barge Captain Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Barge 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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Barge Captain

Salaries for a Barge Captain can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $78,395 in 2023 to around $76,006 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Barge Captain salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Barge Captain Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$78,395
2024
$77,065
2025
$76,006
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $78,395
2024 $77,065
2025 $76,006
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Barge Captain

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Barge Captain

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

Find Your Next Barge Captain Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Barge Captain job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Chief of Staff. About the Company. Innovative travel platform for booking & managing work trips. Industry. Computer Software. Type. Privately Held, VC-back... more

    21 Days Ago

  • McDonalds

    Columbus, OH

    McDonalds | Columbus, OH

    McDonald’s is seeking Crew Team Members to assist with daily restaurant operations including customer service, food preparation, and maintaining restaurant... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Amazon Flex

    Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex | Columbus, OH

    Amazon Flex Delivery Drivers use their own vehicle to deliver Amazon packages to customers on scheduled delivery blocks. Drivers are responsible for pickin... more

    28 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Commercial. About the Company. Globally-recognized manufacturer of packaging components & delivery systems for injectable drugs. Industry. ... more

    1 Month Ago

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FAQ about Barge Captain

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Barge Captain?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Barge Captain roles, with salaries approximately 18% above the market median.

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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