All About Ship Captains
Career Description Command vessels in oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, or coastal waters.
A Day in the Life of a Ship Captain
- Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired.
- Resolve questions or problems with customs officials.
- Purchase supplies or equipment.
- Collect fares from customers or signal ferryboat helpers to collect fares.
- Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.
- Adjust navigation according to weather conditions.
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What a Ship Captain Should Know
Ship Captains state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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 for this Occupation:
- Shrimp Boat Captain
- Sailing Master
- Ship Captain
- Master
- Sea Captain
Job Demand for Ship Captains
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 38,800 jobs in the United States for Ship Captain. 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.
Salary for a Ship Captain
The average yearly salary of a Ship Captain ranges between $35,410 and $144,690.

Ship Captains who work in Texas, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Ship Captains make in each U.S. state?
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
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
How to Become 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?

Who Employs Ship Captains?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Career changers with experience as a Ship Captain sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
Image Credit:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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