Life As a Ship Captain
Career Description Command vessels in oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, or coastal waters.
A Day in the Life of a Ship Captain
- Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
- Purchase supplies or equipment.
- Resolve questions or problems with customs officials.
- Interview and hire crew members.
- Assign watches or living quarters to crew members.
- Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.
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What Every Ship Captain Should Know
When polled, Ship Captains say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Types of Ship Captain
- Oil Tanker Captain
- Fishing Vessel Captain
- Navigation Officer
- Deep Submergence Vehicle Operator
- Dock Master
Is There Going to be Demand for Ship Captains?
In the United States, there were 38,800 jobs for Ship Captain in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,400 new jobs for Ship Captain by 2026. There will be an estimated 4,400 positions for Ship Captain per year.
The states with the most job growth for Ship Captain are Nevada, Georgia, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Indiana, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Ship Captains Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Ship Captains ranges between about $35,410 and $144,690 a year.
Ship Captains who work in Texas, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Ship Captains make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $79,750 |
| Alaska | $72,570 |
| California | $70,840 |
| Delaware | $74,790 |
| Florida | $78,880 |
| Georgia | $73,410 |
| Hawaii | $52,830 |
| Illinois | $67,020 |
| Iowa | $75,600 |
| Kentucky | $79,130 |
| Louisiana | $93,010 |
| Maine | $61,410 |
| Maryland | $86,460 |
| Massachusetts | $57,700 |
| Michigan | $83,040 |
| Minnesota | $73,910 |
| New Hampshire | $51,490 |
| New Jersey | $75,170 |
| New York | $95,370 |
| North Carolina | $55,710 |
| Ohio | $47,810 |
| Oregon | $100,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $74,780 |
| South Carolina | $67,090 |
| Tennessee | $54,480 |
| Texas | $103,950 |
| Virginia | $77,370 |
| Washington | $90,890 |
| Wisconsin | $48,190 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Ship Captains
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Ship Captains:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Autodesk Revit
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Log book software
- Jeppesen Marine Nobeltec Admiral
- Maptech The CAPN
- KNMI TurboWin
How to Become a Ship Captain
What education or degrees do I need to become a Ship Captain?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Ship Captain?
Where do Ship Captains Work?
Below are examples of industries where Ship Captains work:
Related Careers
Those who work as a Ship Captain sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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