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The salary for a Boat Deckhand typically starts at around $35,090 annually. However, this figure can vary significantly based on location, experience, and the specific industry. For instance, deckhands working in fishing or tourism may see different salary ranges compared to those in transportation or research.
In states with a strong maritime industry, such as Florida and California, salaries tend to be higher than the national average. Understanding regional salary differences is crucial for job seekers looking to optimize their earnings.
Experience as a boat deckhand can lead to higher-paying positions, such as First Mate or Captain. Gaining additional certifications can further enhance earning potential. Explore current job listings to find opportunities that align with your career goals.
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The highest-paying states for boat deckhands are New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. The lowest average boat deckhand salary states are Oklahoma, Colorado, and Wyoming.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $58,010 | $27.89 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $58,600 | $28.17 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $48,136 | $23.14 |
| 4 | Illinois | $44,751 | $21.51 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $41,887 | $20.14 |
| 6 | Delaware | $49,645 | $23.87 |
| 7 | Alaska | $38,410 | $18.47 |
| 8 | Iowa | $42,604 | $20.48 |
| 9 | Nevada | $38,245 | $18.39 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $44,016 | $21.16 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $46,131 | $22.18 |
| 12 | Michigan | $39,511 | $19.00 |
| 13 | Maryland | $48,566 | $23.35 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $42,616 | $20.49 |
| 15 | Vermont | $39,801 | $19.14 |
| 16 | District of Columbia | $48,122 | $23.14 |
| 17 | Kansas | $39,528 | $19.00 |
| 18 | Ohio | $38,712 | $18.61 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $34,936 | $16.80 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $39,161 | $18.83 |
| 21 | Virginia | $40,097 | $19.28 |
| 22 | Wisconsin | $34,721 | $16.69 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $37,308 | $17.94 |
| 24 | Indiana | $32,732 | $15.74 |
| 25 | Texas | $34,289 | $16.49 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $33,194 | $15.96 |
| 27 | Arizona | $33,321 | $16.02 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $34,432 | $16.55 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $34,387 | $16.53 |
| 30 | Missouri | $31,605 | $15.19 |
| 31 | California | $38,241 | $18.39 |
| 32 | Maine | $33,825 | $16.26 |
| 33 | New Mexico | $34,271 | $16.48 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $32,529 | $15.64 |
| 35 | Tennessee | $31,417 | $15.10 |
| 36 | Mississippi | $31,519 | $15.15 |
| 37 | Montana | $33,784 | $16.24 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $32,419 | $15.59 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $32,053 | $15.41 |
| 40 | Utah | $30,933 | $14.87 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $39,410 | $18.95 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $33,354 | $16.04 |
| 43 | Washington | $31,366 | $15.08 |
| 44 | Alabama | $29,552 | $14.21 |
| 45 | Florida | $29,428 | $14.15 |
| 46 | Georgia | $31,331 | $15.06 |
| 47 | Oregon | $30,984 | $14.90 |
| 48 | Oklahoma | $30,760 | $14.79 |
| 49 | Idaho | $29,731 | $14.29 |
| 50 | Colorado | $30,546 | $14.69 |
| 51 | Wyoming | $29,789 | $14.32 |
The highest-paying cities for boat deckhands are Baton Rouge, LA, Houma, LA, and Bourg, LA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $35,116 | $16.88 |
| 2 | Houma, LA | $35,035 | $16.84 |
| 3 | Bourg, LA | $35,016 | $16.83 |
| 4 | Chauvin, LA | $35,000 | $16.83 |
| 5 | Montegut, LA | $34,999 | $16.83 |
| 6 | Fulton, TX | $34,431 | $16.55 |
| 7 | Brownsville, TX | $34,419 | $16.55 |
| 8 | Port Isabel, TX | $34,386 | $16.53 |
| 9 | Seadrift, TX | $34,383 | $16.53 |
| 10 | Port Lavaca, TX | $34,372 | $16.52 |
| 11 | Port OConnor, TX | $34,335 | $16.51 |
| 12 | Palacios, TX | $34,316 | $16.50 |
| 13 | San Leon, TX | $34,180 | $16.43 |
| 14 | Texas City, TX | $34,166 | $16.43 |
| 15 | Beaumont, TX | $34,123 | $16.41 |
| 16 | Vancouver, WA | $30,954 | $14.88 |
| 17 | Page, AZ | $30,410 | $14.62 |
A boat deckhand's salary ranges from $21,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $58,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| Average | $35,090 | $2,924 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $26,000 | $2,167 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $21,000 | $1,750 | $10 |
The highest paying types of boat deckhands are waterman, deckhand, and commercial crabber.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deckhand | $56,163 | $4,680 | $27.00 | 500 |
Top companies hiring boat deckhands now:
Boat deckhand salaries at David Evans and Associates and W&W; are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average boat deckhand salary at companies like Kirby and Aramark are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David Evans and Associates | $69,536 | $33.43 |
| 2 | W&W | $37,672 | $18.11 |
| 3 | Kirby | $35,944 | $17.28 |
| 4 | Aramark | $30,988 | $14.90 |
The average boat deckhand salary varies across industries:
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $36,433 | $17.52 |
| 2 | Transportation | $33,616 | $16.16 |
| 3 | Construction | $33,511 | $16.11 |
| 4 | Retail | $28,912 | $13.90 |
The average boat deckhand salary has risen by $7,579 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average boat deckhand earned $27,511 annually, but today, they earn $35,090 a year. That works out to a 27% change in pay for boat deckhands over the last decade.
Compare boat deckhand salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare boat deckhand salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $35,100 | $16.87 | +8.4% |
| 2024 | $32,100 | $15.45 | +6.6% |
| 2023 | $30,000 | $14.43 | +3.9% |
| 2022 | $28,800 | $13.87 | +4.2% |
| 2021 | $27,600 | $13.28 | -0.8% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blessed Shepherd Inc. | Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Boat Deckhand/Header | Brownsville, TX | 02/28/2025 | $35,291 |
| Kirby Corp | Fleet Boat Deckhand | Channelview, TX | 02/13/2025 | $54,001 |
| Tatum Trawlers Inc. | Shrimp Boat Deckhand/Header | Brownsville, TX | 01/07/2025 | $35,291 |
| Twin City Shrimp Co Inc. | Shrimp Boat Deckhand/Header | Port Isabel, TX | 01/07/2025 | $35,291 |
| Miss Tammy Sue, Inc. | Shrimp Boat Deckhand/Header | Port Isabel, TX | 01/07/2025 | $35,291 |
| Blessed Shepherd Inc. | Shrimp Boat Deckhand/Header | Brownsville, TX | 01/07/2025 | $35,291 |
| Chapa Shrimp Trawlers | Shrimp Boat Deckhand/Header | Brownsville, TX | 01/07/2025 | $35,291 |
| Kirby Corp | Fleet Boat Deckhand | Channelview, TX | 09/12/2024 | $50,871 |
| Kirby Corp | Fleet Boat Deckhand | Channelview, TX | 09/12/2024 | $50,871 |
| Vero's Oysters LLC | Oyster Boat Deckhand | Seadrift, TX | 07/05/2024 | $30,345 |
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