Salary Ranges by Vessel Size and Level
- Captain (100 ft – 170 ft): $84,000 – $180,000
- Junior Captain (60 ft – 100 ft): $48,000 – $98,000.
Average Income and Rates for Captains
While ZipRecruiter has observed monthly salaries up to $4,417 and as low as $1,667, the majority of Boat Captain salaries fall between $2,583 (25th percentile) and $4,125 (75th percentile) in the United States. On average, captains charge $100 per hour for services such as training or day hire. Delivery services may have a daily rate plus travel expenses.
A common guideline is about $1,000 per foot of boat length per year for a long-term hiring of a captain. Certification options include inland, great lakes, and near coastal. As a master inland, one can sail an inspected or uninspected vessel within inland water boundaries. A master near coastal is authorized to operate up to 200 miles off the US coast on both types of vessels.
Pay Scale by Ship Type
Cruise ship captain salaries range from $54,000 to over $100,000, while cargo ship captains can earn between $35,000 and $130,000 annually. Port Captains have a salary range of $89,000-$121,500 per year.
Specific Salary Queries
A full-time yacht captain on average makes 8200€ per month, with the current average salary being 101,056€ as of 04 August 2022. According to Crew Finders, captain salaries on yachts vary from $65,000 to over $200,000 a year based on experience and vessel size. A new yacht captain can expect between $5,500 and $7,500 per month.
Timeframe and Certification
It takes around 18 to 22 years to become a cruise ship captain. To obtain a Master License, mandatory requirements must be fulfilled, which depend on the type of Master License sought.
Costs and License Requirements
The most common captain’s license course costs $595, while the deluxe master captain’s license course is priced at $795. To operate a vessel up to 200 miles off the coast, a master near coastal license is required. The average student spends 25-30 hours for an OUPV/Six-pack course and 35-40 hours for a Master level course. The US Coast Guard establishes and supervises all the licensing requirements.