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

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

How does experience change a Boat Captain's salary?

A Boat Captain's salary grows with experience: starting around $53,224 for beginners, reaching about $55,956 at mid-level, and approach $60,459 for experts.

What are the highest paying states for a Boat Captain?

Boat Captain salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Boat Captain roles are District of Columbia $59,627, California $59,401, Massachusetts $58,609. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Boat Captain roles make?

Salaries for Boat Captain level roles vary by specialization: Canal Boat Captain and Operations Manager: $234,247; Captain: $164,600; Charter Boat Captain: $102,829; Tug Boat Captain: $102,212; Shrimp Boat Captain: $96,536.

How do different companies affect a Boat Captain's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Boat 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.

Boat Captain Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Boat Captain in the United States is $53,854 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $26.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,488
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $47,369 to $62,561
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,465

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI-Powered HR

Recruit with AI

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Boat Captain Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$62,561	$5,213	$1,203	$30
Average	$53,854	$4,488	$1,036	$26
25th Percentile	$47,369	$3,947	$911	$23

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Boat Captain Job Openings in the United States

Boat Captain Instructor

People, Technology and Processes LLC - CORONADO, CA

Nurse Practitioner

Daiya Healthcare - STOCKTON, CA

Home Health Occupational Therapy Assistant

Adara Home Health - PRINCETON, MN

Home Health Occupational Therapist

Adara Home Health - WAVERLY, MN

Search More Boat Captain Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Boat Captain Salaries

A Boat 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 Boat Captain Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Boat 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): $53,224
Early Career (1-2 years): $53,404
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $55,956
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $60,159
Expert (over 8 years): $60,459

Levels	Salary
Entry Level Boat Captain	$53,224
Intermediate Level Boat Captain	$53,404
Senior Level Boat Captain	$55,956
Specialist Level Boat Captain	$60,159
Expert Level Boat Captain	$60,459

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Boat 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 Boat Captains. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $59,627.
California: $59,401.
Massachusetts: $58,609.

District of Columbia $59,627 California $59,401 Massachusetts $58,609 Washington $58,394 New Jersey $58,372 Alaska $58,297 Connecticut $57,554 New York $57,252

Hawaii $56,288 Rhode Island $55,836 Maryland $55,529 Minnesota $55,109 Colorado $54,947 Illinois $54,893 Oregon $54,689 Delaware $54,538

New Hampshire $54,443 Virginia $54,231 Pennsylvania $53,612 Nevada $53,299 North Dakota $53,197 Michigan $53,036 Wisconsin $52,976 Vermont $52,858

Texas $52,529 Maine $52,508 Arizona $52,475 Ohio $52,438 Georgia $51,942 Indiana $51,695 Wyoming $51,646 Utah $51,571

Iowa $51,538 Kansas $51,280 Louisiana $51,204 North Carolina $51,178 Missouri $51,167 Florida $50,957 Montana $50,844 Nebraska $50,736

Kentucky $50,677 South Carolina $50,461 Tennessee $50,327 Idaho $50,273 New Mexico $49,880 Oklahoma $49,794 Alabama $49,476 South Dakota $48,943

Arkansas $48,652 West Virginia $48,496 Mississippi $48,027

Top Paying Cities for Boat 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: $67,926
San Francisco: $67,258
Oakland: $65,767

San Jose, CA $67,926

San Francisco, CA $67,258

Oakland, CA $65,767

New York, NY $62,412

Queens Village, NY $62,008

Paramus, NJ $61,577

Passaic, NJ $61,523

Bergenfield, NJ $61,469

Stamford, CT $61,388

Huntington, NY $61,334

Newark, NJ $60,984

Bridgeport, CT $60,877

New Brunswick, NJ $60,699

Vallejo, CA $60,586

Middlesex, NJ $60,554

Somerset, NJ $60,505

Petaluma, CA $60,381

Santa Cruz, CA $60,171

Boston, MA $60,063

Monterey, CA $59,794

Fairbanks, AK $59,757

Los Angeles, CA $59,654

Washington, DC $59,627

Seattle, WA $59,530

Santa Rosa, CA $59,520

Juneau, AK $59,363

Orange, CA $59,186

Anchorage, AK $59,089

Anaheim, CA $59,051

Santa Ana, CA $58,970

Nassau, NY $58,938

Long Beach, CA $58,916

Danbury, CT $58,900

Santa Maria, CA $58,717

Everett, WA $58,706

Bremerton, WA $58,442

Trenton, NJ $58,340

Sacramento, CA $58,319

San Diego, CA $58,292

Brockton, MA $58,270

Tacoma, WA $58,249

Santa Barbara, CA $58,173

Lowell, MA $57,958

New Suffolk, NY $57,936

Nashua, NH $57,872

Lompoc, CA $57,785

Ventura, CA $57,732

Stockton, CA $57,715

New Haven, CT $57,608

Atlantic City, NJ $57,468

Hartford, CT $57,349

Modesto, CA $57,322

Poughkeepsie, NY $57,204

New Britain, CT $57,177

Olympia, WA $57,102

Kennewick, WA $57,102

New London, CT $57,091

Norwich, CT $57,075

Lawrence, MA $57,048

Bakersfield, CA $56,897

Riverside, CA $56,821

New Bedford, MA $56,821

Richland, WA $56,768

Portsmouth, NH $56,725

Vineland, NJ $56,714

San Bernardino, CA $56,671

Boulder, CO $56,520

Worcester, MA $56,477

Portland, OR $56,428

Saint Paul, MN $56,364

Minneapolis, MN $56,364

Philadelphia, PA $56,288

Honolulu, HI $56,003

Springfield, MA $55,814

Providence, RI $55,809

Chicago, IL $55,653

Bellingham, WA $55,588

Baltimore, MD $55,529

Chico, CA $55,394

Wilmington, DE $55,303

Pittsfield, MA $55,249

Manchester, NH $55,147

Spokane, WA $54,910

Denver, CO $54,904

Albany, NY $54,651

Troy, NY $54,630

Schenectady, NY $54,517

Burlington, VT $54,398

Portland, ME $54,210

Salem, OR $54,166

Yakima, WA $54,156

Ann Arbor, MI $54,140

Rochester, MN $53,989

Fresno, CA $53,962

Reno, NV $53,962

Milwaukee, WI $53,913

Detroit, MI $53,859

Allentown, PA $53,843

Carson City, NV $53,838

Houston, TX $53,757

Colorado Springs, CO $53,752

Syracuse, NY $53,725

Eugene, OR $53,623

Bismarck, ND $53,558

Gary, IN $53,558

Galveston, TX $53,558

Springfield, OR $53,515

Medford, OR $53,386

Fort Collins, CO $53,364

Austin, TX $53,321

Mesa, AZ $53,208

Phoenix, AZ $53,197

Dallas, TX $53,181

Reading, PA $53,149

Saint Cloud, MN $53,127

Concord, NH $53,079

Madison, WI $53,057

Utica, NY $52,912

Raleigh, NC $52,869

Las Vegas, NV $52,863

Rochester, NY $52,825

Des Moines, IA $52,820

Atlanta, GA $52,734

Battle Creek, MI $52,718

Salt Lake City, UT $52,702

Lancaster, PA $52,621

Champaign, IL $52,610

Harrisburg, PA $52,545

Durham, NC $52,497

Kansas City, MO $52,492

Kansas City, KS $52,481

Fort Worth, TX $52,475

Boca Raton, FL $52,454

Cleveland, OH $52,449

Columbus, OH $52,438

Pittsburgh, PA $52,432

Richmond, VA $52,411

Indianapolis, IN $52,400

Cincinnati, OH $52,330

Petersburg, VA $52,249

Billings, MT $52,131

Lansing, MI $52,131

Huntsville, AL $52,131

Lebanon, PA $52,125

Dayton, OH $52,120

Pueblo, CO $52,120

Appleton, WI $52,104

Buffalo, NY $52,082

Racine, WI $52,055

Charlotte, NC $52,050

Saint Louis, MO $52,034

Springfield, IL $52,012

Elkhart, IN $52,002

York, PA $52,002

Gastonia, NC $51,996

Benton Harbor, MI $51,996

Beaumont, TX $51,964

Lorain, OH $51,953

Toledo, OH $51,932

Binghamton, NY $51,905

Rock Hill, SC $51,899

Rockford, IL $51,872

Fargo, ND $51,845

Elyria, OH $51,845

Flagstaff, AZ $51,808

Fort Lauderdale, FL $51,775

Miami, FL $51,743

Duluth, MN $51,657

Bangor, ME $51,587

Cedar Rapids, IA $51,528

Louisville, KY $51,501

Grand Rapids, MI $51,490

Hialeah, FL $51,485

Casper, WY $51,409

Scranton, PA $51,344

New Orleans, LA $51,328

Virginia Beach, VA $51,323

Akron, OH $51,296

Peoria, IL $51,226

Sarasota, FL $51,215

Green Bay, WI $51,178

Baton Rouge, LA $51,151

Charleston, SC $51,140

Nashville, TN $51,124

Jamestown, NY $51,113

Davenport, IA $51,113

Tucson, AZ $51,086

Cheyenne, WY $51,070

Saint Petersburg, FL $51,054

Tampa, FL $51,043

Omaha, NE $51,032

Port Arthur, TX $51,011

Evansville, IN $51,011

Bradenton, FL $50,989

Santa Fe, NM $50,892

Orlando, FL $50,838

Clearwater, FL $50,779

Canton, OH $50,666

La Crosse, WI $50,666

Grand Forks, ND $50,650

Albuquerque, NM $50,634

Tulsa, OK $50,634

Newport News, VA $50,628

High Point, NC $50,612

Ogden, UT $50,591

Corpus Christi, TX $50,547

Laramie, WY $50,515

Norfolk, VA $50,515

Rock Island, IL $50,483

Saginaw, MI $50,472

Jacksonville, FL $50,467

Salisbury, NC $50,456

Memphis, TN $50,445

Moline, IL $50,418

Fort Myers, FL $50,402

Waterloo, IA $50,332

Spartanburg, SC $50,278

Lincoln, NE $50,251

Fort Wayne, IN $50,240

Birmingham, AL $50,181

Cedar Falls, IA $50,170

Provo, UT $50,165

Springfield, OH $50,160

San Antonio, TX $50,149

Greensboro, NC $50,127

South Bend, IN $50,122

Winston Salem, NC $50,117

Boise, ID $50,100

Savannah, GA $50,063

Muskegon, MI $49,966

Lima, OH $49,901

Lake Charles, LA $49,880

Anderson, IN $49,869

Lexington, KY $49,853

Augusta, GA $49,837

Greenville, SC $49,837

Wichita, KS $49,788

Tuscaloosa, AL $49,788

Columbia, SC $49,740

Bloomington, IN $49,605

Roanoke, VA $49,573

Asheville, NC $49,503

Knoxville, TN $49,411

Shreveport, LA $49,406

Wilmington, NC $49,336

Frankfort, KY $49,233

Oklahoma City, OK $49,196

Chillicothe, OH $49,174

Longview, TX $49,169

Topeka, KS $49,153

Mobile, AL $49,072

Terre Haute, IN $49,050

Erie, PA $49,045

Altoona, PA $49,018

Melbourne, FL $49,002

Amarillo, TX $48,980

Killeen, TX $48,964

Fayetteville, AR $48,921

Sioux Falls, SD $48,883

Chattanooga, TN $48,851

Idaho Falls, ID $48,846

Gainesville, FL $48,733

Portsmouth, OH $48,706

Little Rock, AR $48,695

Lynchburg, VA $48,695

Lafayette, LA $48,673

Youngstown, OH $48,673

Temple, TX $48,652

Daytona Beach, FL $48,641

Clarksville, TN $48,636

Pensacola, FL $48,630

Hopkinsville, KY $48,469

Charleston, WV $48,463

Florence, SC $48,436

Sioux City, IA $48,404

Macon, GA $48,248

Tallahassee, FL $48,243

Fayetteville, NC $48,232

Waco, TX $48,221

Wichita Falls, TX $48,221

Pine Bluff, AR $48,199

Vincennes, IN $48,097

Lubbock, TX $48,076

Great Falls, MT $48,043

Alamogordo, NM $48,038

Abilene, TX $47,995

Rapid City, SD $47,925

Monroe, LA $47,925

Albany, GA $47,892

Huntington, WV $47,887

Jackson, MS $47,882

Greenville, MS $47,876

Parkersburg, WV $47,822

Montgomery, AL $47,812

Johnstown, PA $47,801

Springfield, MO $47,758

Biloxi, MS $47,731

Sumter, SC $47,618

Columbus, GA $47,612

Twin Falls, ID $47,580

Pascagoula, MS $47,510

Kingsport, TN $47,370

Gulfport, MS $47,354

Alexandria, LA $47,176

Fort Smith, AR $47,042

El Paso, TX $46,896

Helena, MT $46,826

Las Cruces, NM $46,654

Harlingen, TX $46,503

Pocatello, ID $46,455

Florence, AL $46,438

Brownsville, TX $46,428

Dothan, AL $46,341

Mcallen, TX $46,315

Columbus, MS $45,916

Altus, OK $45,668

Lawton, OK $45,566

Pierre, SD $45,372

What Skills Can Increase a Boat Captain's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Presentation (Mentioned in 12.22% Job Postings): Presentation conveys information from a speaker to an audience. Presentations are typically demonstrations, introduction, lecture, or speech meant to inform, persuade, inspire, motivate, build goodwill, or present a new idea/product.
Credit Card (Mentioned in 2.38% Job Postings): A credit card is a type of credit facility, provided by banks that allow customers to borrow funds within a pre-approved credit limit.
Foodservice (Mentioned in 0.31% Job Postings): The foodservice or catering industry includes the businesses, institutions, and companies which prepare meals outside the home. It includes restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many other formats.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Presentation	12.22%
Credit Card	2.38%
Foodservice	0.31%

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 Boat Captain's salary.

LMS: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Analysis: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Onboarding: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
LMS	$61,394	14%
Analysis	$60,317	12%
Onboarding	$59,778	11%
Organizing	$59,240	10%
Logistics	$58,701	9%
Alignment	$58,701	9%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Boat Captain's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Boat Captains enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Boat Captain with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $54,274 and $58,162).

Boat Captain Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Boat Captain

No Diploma 14.6%

High School 14.6%

Associates 12.2%

Bachelors 53.7%

Masters 19.5%

Doctorate 0.0%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	14.6%
High School	14.6%
Associates	12.2%
Bachelors	53.7%
Masters	19.5%
Doctorate	0.0%

view as graph

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

Understanding how a Boat 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 January 01, 2026

$47,369

Average $53,854/year

$62,561

$3,947

Average $4,488/month

$5,213

$911

Average $1,036/week

$1,203

$23

Average $26/hour

$30

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$62,561	$5,213	$1,203	$30
Average	$53,854	$4,488	$1,036	$26
25th Percentile	$47,369	$3,947	$911	$23

Salaries of jobs related to Boat Captain

Salary Trends for Boat Captain

Salaries for a Boat Captain can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $46,099 in 2023 to around $43,180 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Boat Captain salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Boat Captain Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$46,099

2024

$44,340

2025

$43,180

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$46,099
2024	$44,340
2025	$43,180
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Boat Captain

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Boat Captain Job

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

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about