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Port captain salary
Average port captain salary
$57,720
Understanding Port Captain Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Port Captain is approximately $57,720 annually. Salaries can differ significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry.
Salary by State
States like California and Florida offer some of the highest salaries for Port Captains due to the increased demand for maritime services in these regions. For example, a Port Captain in California can expect salaries exceeding $70,000 depending on experience and specific maritime operations.
Industry Insights
Port Captains are employed across various industries, including shipping, fishing, and tourism. The highest-paying industries tend to be shipping and logistics, where the complexity of operations requires skilled leadership to ensure safety and compliance.
With a growing job market and diverse opportunities, becoming a Port Captain not only offers competitive pay but also the chance to work in an exciting and dynamic environment.
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Where can a Port Captain earn more?
Port captain salary estimates from across the web
Average port captain salary by state
The average port captain salary in New Jersey, New York, and Delaware are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average port captain salary states are Colorado, South Dakota, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for port captains
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $65,624 | $31.55 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | $64,437 | $30.98 |
| 3 | Nevada | $59,194 | $28.46 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $64,119 | $30.83 |
| 5 | Michigan | $57,252 | $27.52 |
| 6 | Virginia | $62,783 | $30.18 |
| 7 | New York | $65,072 | $31.28 |
| 8 | Delaware | $64,793 | $31.15 |
| 9 | North Carolina | $56,287 | $27.06 |
| 10 | Ohio | $57,939 | $27.86 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $61,542 | $29.59 |
| 12 | District of Columbia | $63,632 | $30.59 |
| 13 | Arizona | $54,160 | $26.04 |
| 14 | Maryland | $63,849 | $30.70 |
| 15 | California | $61,693 | $29.66 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $59,101 | $28.41 |
| 17 | Indiana | $53,353 | $25.65 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $53,218 | $25.59 |
| 19 | Louisiana | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| 20 | Massachusetts | $57,649 | $27.72 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $53,187 | $25.57 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $51,962 | $24.98 |
| 23 | Texas | $51,331 | $24.68 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $51,107 | $24.57 |
| 25 | Oregon | $54,873 | $26.38 |
| 26 | Alaska | $50,981 | $24.51 |
| 27 | Florida | $50,888 | $24.47 |
| 28 | Washington | $51,807 | $24.91 |
| 29 | Illinois | $52,869 | $25.42 |
| 30 | Tennessee | $48,341 | $23.24 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $52,019 | $25.01 |
| 32 | Utah | $49,210 | $23.66 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $45,296 | $21.78 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $48,546 | $23.34 |
| 35 | Minnesota | $50,134 | $24.10 |
| 36 | Iowa | $48,860 | $23.49 |
| 37 | Idaho | $49,239 | $23.67 |
| 38 | Alabama | $47,866 | $23.01 |
| 39 | Montana | $45,757 | $22.00 |
| 40 | Colorado | $46,504 | $22.36 |
| 41 | Georgia | $48,382 | $23.26 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $47,727 | $22.95 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $47,666 | $22.92 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $52,674 | $25.32 |
| 45 | Nebraska | $46,166 | $22.20 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $47,140 | $22.66 |
| 47 | South Dakota | $46,393 | $22.30 |
| 48 | Missouri | $46,999 | $22.60 |
| 49 | Vermont | $46,760 | $22.48 |
| 50 | Kansas | $46,524 | $22.37 |
| 51 | Maine | $45,775 | $22.01 |
Highest paying cities for port captains
The highest-paying cities for port captains are Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Boston, MA, and Chesterton, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Englewood Cliffs, NJ | $65,553 | $31.52 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $57,285 | $27.54 |
| 3 | Chesterton, IN | $53,743 | $25.84 |
| 4 | Burns Harbor, IN | $53,683 | $25.81 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $52,252 | $25.12 |
| 6 | Bellaire, TX | $51,645 | $24.83 |
| 7 | Pasadena, TX | $51,623 | $24.82 |
| 8 | Houston, TX | $51,608 | $24.81 |
| 9 | Port Charlotte, FL | $51,450 | $24.74 |
| 10 | Kenner, LA | $50,760 | $24.40 |
| 11 | Port Wentworth, GA | $49,218 | $23.66 |
Port captain salary details
A port captain's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $95,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a port captain's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $95,000 | $7,917 | $46 |
| 75th Percentile | $75,000 | $6,250 | $36 |
| Average | $57,720 | $4,810 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying port captain jobs
The highest paying types of port captains are quarter master, master mariner, and oil tanker captain.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captain | $52,161 | $4,347 | $25.08 | 4,430 |
| Boat Captain | $43,632 | $3,636 | $20.98 | 2,860 |
Top companies hiring port captains now:
Which companies pay port captains the most?
Port captain salaries at Crowley Holdings Inc. and HealthTrust are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average port captain salary at companies like reLogistics Services, LLC and Allied Universal are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crowley Holdings Inc. | $61,305 | $29.47 |
| 2 | HealthTrust | $54,975 | $26.43 |
| 3 | reLogistics Services, LLC | $54,524 | $26.21 |
| 4 | Allied Universal | $41,351 | $19.88 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Port Captain salary by industry
The average port captain salary varies across industries:
- The average port captain salary in the energy industry is $84,070, the highest of any industry.
- The average port captain salary in the finance industry is $58,905.
- Port captains in the transportation industry earn an average salary of $54,428, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for port captains
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $84,070 | $40.42 |
| 2 | Finance | $58,905 | $28.32 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $56,205 | $27.02 |
| 4 | Transportation | $54,428 | $26.17 |
High paying port captain jobs
Port captain salary trends
The average port captain salary has risen by $9,886 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average port captain earned $47,834 annually, but today, they earn $57,720 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for port captains over the last decade.
Compare port captain salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average port captain salary over time
Compare port captain salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Port captain salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $57,700 | $27.75 | +6.2% |
| 2025 | $54,100 | $26.03 | +4.4% |
| 2024 | $51,800 | $24.89 | -2.5% |
| 2023 | $53,100 | $25.52 | -2.5% |
| 2022 | $54,400 | $26.15 | -5.6% |
Recently added port captain salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plaqueminesparish | Rescue Captain-Port-Rev | Noble, LA | 02/16/2025 | $70,332 |
| Curtin Maritime, Corp | Port Captain | Long Beach, CA | 02/16/2025 | $100,000 |
| Yusen Logistics (Americas) Inc. | Assistant Port Captain-PSW OPS Supervisor | Long Beach, CA | 12/16/2024 | $65,000 |
| Hornblower | Associate Port Captain | Sacramento, CA | 12/11/2024 | $68,871 |
| Alcatraz Cruises | Associate Port Captain | Sacramento, CA | 12/10/2024 | $68,871 |
| Uncruise Adventures | Port Captain | Seattle, WA | 11/27/2024 | $85,000 |
| Marathon Petroleum | Port Captain | Anacortes, WA | 10/14/2024 | $117,000 |
| Plaqueminesparish | Rescue Captain-Port-Rev | Noble, LA | 10/10/2024 | $70,332 |
| Yusen Logistics (Americas) Inc. | Assistant Port Captain-PSW OPS Supervisor | Long Beach, CA | 10/08/2024 | $65,000 |
| Topview Sightseeing | Port Captain | New York, NY | 10/06/2024 | $90,000 |
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