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Marine Captain Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Marine Captain in the United States is $95,456 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $105,130
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $91,335 to $100,520
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $87,582
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Marine Captain Salaries

A Marine 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 Marine Captain Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Marine 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): $62,091
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $77,499
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $96,315
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $117,356
  • Expert (over 8 years): $131,381
Levels Salary
Technical... Level Marine Captain$62,091
Technical... Level Marine Captain$77,499
Marine Ca... Level Marine Captain$96,315
Technical... Level Marine Captain$117,356
Library T... Level Marine Captain$131,381
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How Do Marine 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 Marine Captains. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $105,689.
  • California: $105,288.
  • Massachusetts: $103,885.

Top Paying Cities for Marine 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: $120,399
  • San Francisco: $119,081
  • Oakland: $116,571

What Skills Can Increase a Marine 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
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 10.06%
Technical Services 2.37%
Computer Usage 1.18%
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 a Marine 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 $116,457
22%
Operations Management $116,457
22%
Coaching $113,593
19%
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Marine Captain Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Marine 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, Marine Captain positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Construction typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Marine Captain as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Marine Captain

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$112,638$54.018%
Biotechnology$105,002$50.010%
Energy & Utilities$105,002$50.010%
Pharmaceuticals$105,002$50.010%
Software & Networking$105,002$50.010%

How Education impacts a Marine Captain's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Marine 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 Marine Captain with a Associate's Degree is between $94,450 and $102,293).

Marine Captain Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Marine 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%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Marine 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 September 01, 2026
$91,335
Average $95,456/year
$100,520
$7,611
Average $7,955/month
$8,377
$1,756
Average $1,836/week
$1,933
$44
Average $46/hour
$48
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $100,520 $8,377 $1,933 $48
Average $95,456 $7,955 $1,836 $46
25th Percentile $91,335 $7,611 $1,756 $44

Most common benefits for Marine Captain

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

Common company salaries for Marine Captain

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

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FAQ about Marine Captain

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

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Marine 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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