Ship Master Salary in the United States

How much does a Ship Master make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Ship Master in the United States is $102,608 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $116,059
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $95,449 to $109,649
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $88,931
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View as table View as graph 25% $95,449 10% $88,931 90% $116,059 75% $109,649 $102,608 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Ship Master Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $109,649 $9,137 $2,109 $53
Average $102,608 $8,551 $1,973 $49
25th Percentile $95,449 $7,954 $1,836 $46

Key Factors That Influence Ship Master Salaries

A Ship Master'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 Ship Master Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Ship Master'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): $71,080
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $87,735
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $104,099
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $103,028
  • Expert (over 8 years): $122,699
Levels Salary
Copywrite... Level Ship Master$71,080
Copywrite... Level Ship Master$87,735
Ship Mast... Level Ship Master$104,099
Copywriti... Level Ship Master$103,028
Copywriti... Level Ship Master$122,699
$71,080 0 yr
$87,735 < 2 yrs
$104,099 2-4 yrs
$103,028 5-8 yrs
$122,699 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Ship Masters

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: $129,419
  • San Francisco: $128,002
  • Oakland: $125,305

What Skills Can Increase a Ship Master's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Presentation (Mentioned in 4.8% 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.
  • Digital Marketing (Mentioned in 2.22% Job Postings): Digital marketing is the marketing of products or services using digital technologies, mainly on the Internet, but also including mobile phones, display advertising, and any other digital medium. Digital marketing's development since the 1990s and 2000s has changed the way brands and businesses use technology for marketing. As digital platforms are increasingly incorporated into marketing plans and everyday life, and as people use digital devices instead of visiting physical shops, digital marketing campaigns are becoming more prevalent and efficient. Digital marketing methods such as search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), content marketing, influencer marketing, content automation, campaign marketing, data-driven marketing, e-commerce marketing, social media marketing, social media optimization, e-mail direct marketing, Display advertising, e–books, and optical disks and games are becoming more common in our advancing technology. In fact, digital marketing now extends to non-Internet channels that provide digital media, such as mobile phones (SMS and MMS), callback, and on-hold mobile ring tones. In essence, this extension to non-Internet channels helps to differentiate digital marketing from online marketing, another catch-all term for the marketing methods mentioned above, which strictly occur online.
  • Product Marketing (Mentioned in 1.42% Job Postings): Product marketing is a process of promoting and selling a product to a customer. Also product marketing is defined as being the intermediary function between product development and increasing brand awareness. For example, product management deals with the basics of product development within a firm, whereas product marketing deals with marketing the product to prospects, customers, and others. Product marketing, as a job function within a firm, also differs from other marketing jobs such as social media marketing, marketing communications ("marcom"), online marketing, advertising, marketing strategy, and public relations, although product marketers may use channels such as online for outbound marketing for their product. A product market is something that is referred to when pitching a new product to the general public. Product market definition focuses on a narrow statement: the product type, customer needs (functional needs), customer type, and geographic area.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Presentation 4.8%
Digital Marketing 2.22%
Product Marketing 1.42%
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 Ship Master's salary.
  • Public Relations: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Organizational Skills: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Public Relations
$124,156
21%
Insight
$122,104
19%
Organizational Skills
$120,051
17%
Products and Services
$119,025
16%
Collaborating
$117,999
15%
Problem Solving
$115,947
13%
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Ship Master Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Ship Master roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Ship Master positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Ship Master as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Ship Master

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$123,130$59.020%
Energy & Utilities$117,999$57.015%
Telecom$117,999$57.015%
Chemicals$112,869$54.010%
Financial Services$112,869$54.010%

How Education impacts a Ship Master's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Ship Masters enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Ship Master with a Bachelor's Degree is between $101,580 and $108,663).

Ship Master Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Ship Master
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 2.1%
High School 2.1%
Associates 1.0%
Bachelors 66.8%
Masters 28.5%
Doctorate 1.6%
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Ship Master Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Ship Master'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Ship Master

Salaries for a Ship Master can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $108,854 in 2023 to around $107,526 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Ship Master salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Ship Master Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$108,854
2024
$108,767
2025
$107,526
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $108,854
2024 $108,767
2025 $107,526
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Ship Master

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

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

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

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FAQ about Ship Master

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Ship Master?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Ship Master roles, with salaries approximately 20% 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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