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

A Ship Captain's salary grows with experience: an Information Technology Generalist VI (10-12 years)earns $204,751, an Information Technology Supervisor I (12+ years)earns $94,949, an Ship Captain (12+ years)earns $131,437, an Information Technology Manager (12+ years)earns $140,318, an Information Technology Senior Manager (12+ years)earns $171,242,

What are the highest paying states for a Ship Captain?

Ship Captain salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Ship Captain roles are District of Columbia $144,340, California $143,793, Massachusetts $141,876. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Ship Captain roles make?

Salaries for Ship Captain level roles vary by specialization: Captain: $164,700; Cruise Ship Captain: $92,925; Ship Officer: $77,112; Ship Operator: $72,372; Ship Engineer: $64,805.

Ship Captain Salary in Delaware

How much does a Ship Captain make in Delaware?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Ship Captain in Delaware is $132,021 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $147,206
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $118,837 to $139,969
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $106,835

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Ship Captain Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$139,969	$11,664	$2,692	$67
Average	$132,021	$11,002	$2,539	$63
25th Percentile	$118,837	$9,903	$2,285	$57

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Key Factors That Influence Ship Captain Salaries

A Ship 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Ship Captain Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Ship 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): $204,751
Early Career (1-2 years): $94,949
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $131,437
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $140,318
Expert (over 8 years): $171,242

Levels	Salary
Informati... Level Ship Captain	$204,751
Informati... Level Ship Captain	$94,949
Ship Capt... Level Ship Captain	$131,437
Informati... Level Ship Captain	$140,318
Informati... Level Ship Captain	$171,242

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $144,340.
California: $143,793.
Massachusetts: $141,876.

District of Columbia $144,340 California $143,793 Massachusetts $141,876 Washington $141,355 New Jersey $141,303 Alaska $141,120 Connecticut $139,321 New York $138,591

Hawaii $136,257 Rhode Island $135,162 Maryland $134,419 Minnesota $133,403 Colorado $133,011 Illinois $132,881 Oregon $132,386 Delaware $132,021

New Hampshire $131,791 Virginia $131,278 Pennsylvania $129,778 Nevada $129,022 North Dakota $128,775 Michigan $128,383 Wisconsin $128,240 Vermont $127,953

Texas $127,158 Maine $127,106 Arizona $127,028 Ohio $126,936 Georgia $125,737 Indiana $125,137 Wyoming $125,020 Utah $124,838

Iowa $124,759 Kansas $124,134 Louisiana $123,951 North Carolina $123,886 Missouri $123,860 Florida $123,351 Montana $123,078 Nebraska $122,817

Kentucky $122,673 South Carolina $122,152 Tennessee $121,826 Idaho $121,696 New Mexico $120,744 Oklahoma $120,535 Alabama $119,766 South Dakota $118,476

Arkansas $117,772 West Virginia $117,394 Mississippi $116,260

Top Paying Cities for Ship 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:

Lincoln: $136,636
Little Creek: $135,371
Magnolia: $135,932

Lincoln, DE $136,636 Little Creek, DE $135,371 Magnolia, DE $135,932 Milford, DE $136,636 Marydel, DE $134,863 Millsboro, DE $136,636 Millville, DE $137,548 Milton, DE $136,636

Nassau, DE $136,636 Ocean View, DE $137,548 Rehoboth Beach, DE $137,548 Seaford, DE $135,202 Selbyville, DE $137,548 Smyrna, DE $134,706 Viola, DE $135,932 Woodside, DE $135,540

Bear, DE $133,715 Newark, DE $133,768 Claymont, DE $133,872 Delaware City, DE $133,768 Hockessin, DE $133,872 Kirkwood, DE $133,768 Middletown, DE $134,432 Montchanin, DE $133,872

New Castle, DE $133,872 Odessa, DE $134,615 Port Penn, DE $133,403 Rockland, DE $133,872 Saint Georges, DE $133,768 Townsend, DE $134,419 Winterthur, DE $133,872 Lewes, DE $136,636

Wilmington, DE $133,872 Dover, DE $135,306 Dover Afb, DE $135,619 Bethany Beach, DE $137,548 Bethel, DE $135,202 Bridgeville, DE $136,636 Camden Wyoming, DE $135,449 Cheswold, DE $134,993

Clayton, DE $134,654 Dagsboro, DE $137,548 Delmar, DE $135,202 Ellendale, DE $136,636 Felton, DE $136,636 Fenwick Island, DE $137,548 Frankford, DE $137,548 Frederica, DE $136,636

Georgetown, DE $136,636 Greenwood, DE $136,636 Harbeson, DE $136,636 Harrington, DE $136,636 Hartly, DE $134,589 Houston, DE $136,636 Kenton, DE $134,654 Laurel, DE $135,202

Yorklyn, DE $133,872

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

Understanding how a Ship 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 April 01, 2026

$118,837

Average $132,021/year

$139,969

$9,903

Average $11,002/month

$11,664

$2,285

Average $2,539/week

$2,692

$57

Average $63/hour

$67

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$139,969	$11,664	$2,692	$67
Average	$132,021	$11,002	$2,539	$63
25th Percentile	$118,837	$9,903	$2,285	$57

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