Find Trade Colleges
What Does it Take to Be a Ship Captain?
Job Description: Command vessels in oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, or coastal waters.
List of Ship Captain Job Duties
- Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports or harbors or patrolling beaches.
- Monitor the loading or discharging of cargo or passengers.
- Adjust navigation according to weather conditions.
- Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.
- Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries.
- Compute positions, set courses, and determine speeds, using charts, area plotting sheets, compasses, sextants, and knowledge of local conditions.
Featured schools near , edit
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.
Related Job Titles
- Ship Master
- Sailing Master
- Marine Superintendent
- Ferryboat Operator
- Dredge Captain
Job Opportunities for Ship Captains
There were about 38,800 jobs for Ship Captain in 2016 (in the United States). 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. The BLS estimates 4,400 yearly job openings in this field.
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?
Ship Captains make between $35,410 and $144,690 a year.
Ship Captains who work in Texas, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Ship Captains 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 |
What Tools do Ship Captains Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Ship Captains may use on a daily basis:
- 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
Becoming a Ship Captain
Individuals working as a Ship Captain have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Ship Captain?
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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.
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.