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The differences between captains and boat captains can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a captain and a boat captain. Additionally, a captain has an average salary of $52,161, which is higher than the $43,632 average annual salary of a boat captain.
The top three skills for a captain include customer service, safety standards and food preparation. The most important skills for a boat captain are vessel maintenance, boats, and CPR.
| Captain | Boat Captain | |
| Yearly salary | $52,161 | $43,632 |
| Hourly rate | $25.08 | $20.98 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 1% |
| Number of jobs | 4,430 | 2,860 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 6 | 6 |
Captains oversee the entire operations of a sea vessel, usually ships. Their main responsibility is to ensure that the vessel safely travels from point A to point B. They are expert navigators who manage the course of the vessel. Captains should also be familiar with the different equipment aboard the ship and should be able to use them effectively. They should know how to properly maintain the equipment on board and should also know how to do repairs. Captains also manage their ship's crew and oversee the crews' overall performance. They also manage the finances and other operations-related activities during the course of their travel. Captains should have good communication skills, quick decision-making skills, and expert navigation skills.
A boat captain is primarily in charge of spearheading and overseeing boat operations and managing staff, ensuring efficient operations for a safe and successful voyage. With their years of experience, they have the authority to develop and implement strategies, delegate responsibilities among staff, conduct safety inspections before and after every journey, direct maintenance strategies, implement solutions if issues arise, and make significant decisions. In larger sea vessels, a boat captain may also act as the host and welcome passengers, communicating with them regularly throughout the journey.
Captains and boat captains have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Captain | Boat Captain | |
| Average salary | $52,161 | $43,632 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $85,000 | Between $28,000 And $66,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | - | |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between a captain and a boat captain in terms of educational background:
| Captain | Boat Captain | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 67% | Bachelor's Degree, 47% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between captains' and boat captains' demographics:
| Captain | Boat Captain | |
| Average age | 42 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 65.4% Female, 34.6% | Male, 92.0% Female, 8.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 3.1% White, 75.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 9.0% Asian, 3.2% White, 75.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% |
| LGBT Percentage | 11% | 11% |