Crew Member Salary By State: Highest-Paid Crew Members by State [2026]
Research Summary. Extensive research by the Zippia data science team has revealed key insights into crew member salaries across the United States as of 2026:
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Alaska boasts the highest crew member salary at $39,335.
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Georgia ranks as the state with the lowest crew member salary at $21,766.
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The national average salary for crew members is $28,946.
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The national hourly wage for crew members stands at $13.92.
For further details, explore the specific methodology.
Background
In surveys spanning various demographics, salary consistently emerges as the most critical factor in job satisfaction. Many individuals ask, “How much do crew members earn in my area?”
While various factors influence individual salaries, robust data exists regarding average crew member salaries across states, categorized by experience level. Though local salaries may differ slightly from state averages, these figures provide a valuable benchmark for what to expect.
Currently, Alaska offers the highest salary for crew members following this analysis.
Here’s a snapshot of the top ten states for crew member salaries:
Next, let’s delve into the full rankings of crew member salaries across all states.
Highest-Paid Crew Members By State
| Rank | State | Average Crew Member Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $39,335 | $34,000 | $45,000 |
| 2 | Washington | $34,798 | $27,000 | $44,000 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $34,301 | $26,000 | $44,000 |
| 4 | North Dakota | $33,808 | $26,000 | $43,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $33,065 | $25,000 | $42,000 |
| 6 | Oregon | $32,737 | $25,000 | $42,000 |
| 7 | Minnesota | $32,677 | $25,000 | $42,000 |
| 8 | Montana | $32,600 | $25,000 | $42,000 |
| 9 | Wisconsin | $32,193 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 10 | South Dakota | $31,956 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 11 | Maine | $31,519 | $25,000 | $39,000 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $31,442 | $24,000 | $40,000 |
| 13 | Vermont | $31,405 | $24,000 | $39,000 |
| 14 | New York | $31,127 | $24,000 | $40,000 |
| 15 | Illinois | $30,138 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $30,057 | $23,000 | $38,000 |
| 17 | California | $29,936 | $22,000 | $39,000 |
| 18 | Maryland | $29,530 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 19 | Michigan | $29,282 | $22,000 | $38,000 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $28,412 | $21,000 | $37,000 |
| 21 | Colorado | $28,150 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 22 | Idaho | $28,069 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 23 | Ohio | $28,002 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $27,908 | $21,000 | $36,000 |
| 25 | Rhode Island | $27,896 | $21,000 | $35,000 |
| 26 | Utah | $27,330 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 27 | Nebraska | $27,055 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 28 | Indiana | $26,931 | $20,000 | $35,000 |
| 29 | Nevada | $26,468 | $20,000 | $34,000 |
| 30 | Virginia | $26,279 | $19,000 | $34,000 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $26,212 | $21,000 | $32,000 |
| 32 | Arizona | $26,062 | $19,000 | $34,000 |
| 33 | Delaware | $25,878 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 34 | Iowa | $25,807 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 35 | West Virginia | $25,584 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 36 | Kentucky | $25,140 | $19,000 | $33,000 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $24,120 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $24,059 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 39 | New Mexico | $24,037 | $18,000 | $31,000 |
| 40 | Texas | $23,754 | $17,000 | $31,000 |
| 41 | North Carolina | $23,627 | $17,000 | $31,000 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $23,402 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
| 43 | Kansas | $23,395 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
| 44 | Missouri | $23,395 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $22,745 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
| 46 | Alabama | $22,645 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $22,626 | $17,000 | $30,000 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $22,476 | $16,000 | $29,000 |
| 49 | Florida | $22,131 | $16,000 | $29,000 |
| 50 | Georgia | $21,766 | $16,000 | $28,000 |
Methodology: Crew Member Salary By State
To evaluate crew member salaries by state, Zippia compiled data from various sources, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Federal Labor Commission (FLC), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). This data is supplemented by actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average to derive the expected salary for crew members by state.
This analysis ranks every state based on average annual salary data for crew members, with Alaska topping the list as the state with the highest average salary.
Crew Member Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for crew members?
The highest-paid state for crew members is Alaska, with an average salary of $39,335 per year.
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What city pays crew members the most?
Seattle, WA, offers the highest average salary for crew members at $34,968 per year.
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What is the worst state for crew members?
The lowest-paying state for crew members is Georgia, with an average salary of $21,766 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
