How much does a Captain make?
Experience
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- Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services
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- Information Technology
- Insurance
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- Media & Communication
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$158K
/yrThe estimated total pay for a Captain is $157,893 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $119,438 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $38,455 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $118K-$221K/yr?
Top Paying Companies
For a Captain in United States
Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Captain in United States. Employers include NetJets, Gensler and Alaska Airlines.
Top Paying Companies
For Captain in United States
| 1 | NetJets | $228,382 | |
| 2 | Gensler | $221,893 | |
| 3 | Alaska Airlines | $210,180 | |
| 4 | Delta Air Lines | $202,718 | |
| 5 | United Airlines | $190,927 | |
| 6 | American Airlines | $188,758 | |
| 7 | NICHOLAS AIR | $188,638 | |
| 8 | XOJET | $187,619 | |
| 9 | Southwest Airlines | $184,224 | |
| 10 | Alpine Air | $181,621 |
What are total pay estimates for a Captain at different companies?
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- Most Reports
- Salary: high to low
- Salary: low to high
$62
/ hrIs this salary info helpful?
Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere
$188,758
/ yr
$160,127
/ yr
Captain Salaries
Top Paying Industries
For a Captain in United States
The top 5 paying industries for a Captain in United States are Construction, Repair & Maintenance Services with a median total pay of $221,893, Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $156,424, Transportation & Logistics with a median total pay of $152,699, Media & Communication with a median total pay of $151,318, and Information Technology with a median total pay of $144,756.
- Construction, Repair & Maintenance ServicesConstruction, Repair & Maintenance Services$221,893
38% Higher than other industries
Captain pay FAQ
The average salary for a Captain is $157,893 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 3531 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Captain employees in United States.
The highest salary for a Captain in United States is $221,051 per year.
The lowest salary for a Captain in United States is $118,420 per year.
If you are thinking of becoming a Captain or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Captain.
Captain roles provide leadership opportunities and the chance for world travel. Airlines or shipping companies also typically pay for hotels, transportation and meals while captains are away from home. While hours can be long, federal regulations ensure that their schedules include breaks. Captains employed by the military enjoy additional benefits including excellent insurance, free tuition, store discounts, and a pension.
Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research
When this question is posed to captains that visit Glassdoor's website, 72% say they are satisfied with their captain salary. Captains earn a base salary, but it is also common for them to receive overtime, trip bonuses, profit sharing proceeds, and even gratuities from passengers averaging around $38,455.17.
Captains are paid a wide range of salaries depending on the type and size of ship, but on average they make a captain salary of $119,438.14. Initially, they might earn a salary of $91,578.12 when they are just starting out. As they gain more experience in their captain career and move up to larger boats, they may earn a maximum salary of $288,944.76.
If you are a captain in the tourism industry, the quickest way to make more money is to book more trips to earn overtime and extra tips. If you are a commercial captain, then the key to earning more money is to slowly increase the size and value of the ship being sailed. Becoming a captain of a major ship requires a long list of certifications including USCG licenses for various tonnage, USCG medical card, Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC), Radar Observer Unlimited, FCC Marine Radio Operator Permit, and more.
Captains that are applying for a new position should use the job interview to discuss their qualifications. Those with a lot of experience on the water should be able to demand a higher starting salary.
If you are currently employed as a captain, you should conduct a job search for captain jobs to become familiar with the requirements of becoming a senior captain. It is very likely that you will need to invest in a long list of certifications and licenses. Once these have been obtained, you will be in a much better position to ask for a 15% to 20% raise.