The Average Salary of a Boat Captain
A boat captain oversees and commands an entire boat as it travels on rivers, lakes, bays or oceans. Captains of water vessels are required to hold a license that is issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. If you are interested in becoming a boat captain, then learn about how much this occupation typically earns.
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National Salary
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The mean hourly wage for captains, mates and pilots of water vessels was $34.01 and the mean annual wage, or average salary, was $70,740 in May 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Experience
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The PayScale website lists salary based on years of experience for ship captains. In October 2010, ship captains with one to four years of experience earned anywhere from between $54,000 to $105,000; five to nine years, $73,698 to $120,126; 10 to 19 years, $62,972 to $147,170; and 20 years or more, $61,674 to $151,262.
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High-Employment Industries
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Support activities for water transportation employed the largest number of captains, mates and pilots of water vessels in May 2009. Salaries for that industry averaged $76,040 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Other high-employment industries were: inland water transportation, $69,500; deep sea, coastal and Great Lakes water transportation, $87,750; water scenic and sightseeing transportation, $44,160; and the federal executive branch, $68,780.
Top-Paying Industries
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Oil and gas extraction paid the highest average salary to captains, mates and pilots of water vessels with $89,060, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2009. Other industries that offered high pay were: deep sea, coastal and Great Lakes water transportation, $87,750; employment services, $79,310; commercial and industrial machinery and equipment rental and releasing, $77,840; and seafood product preparation and packaging, $76,710.
Top-Paying States
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Delaware paid the highest average salary above all other states with $102,290, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2009. Other states that offered high pay were: Tennessee, $95,440; Texas, $84,250; Virginia, $79,520; and Alabama, $77,650.
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References
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Comments
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how much is a captain license. I would like to become a captain in erie pa waters. I do detailing on boats and would like to travel for the winter months.
