How Much Does a Yacht Captain Make?
Captain Level |
Size of Vessel |
Salary Range |
Senior Master |
170 ft – 200 ft + |
$144,000 – $300,000 |
Captain |
100 ft – 170 ft |
$84,000 – $180,000 |
Junior Captain |
60 ft – 100 ft |
$48,000 – $98,000 |
What is the highest paid ship captain?
High Paying Ship Captain Jobs
- Boat Pilot. Salary range: $42,000-$223,000 per year.
- Tugboat Captain. Salary range: $72,000-$141,500 per year.
- Port Captain. Salary range: $52,000-$107,000 per year.
- Marine Superintendent. Salary range: $72,500-$104,000 per year.
- Vessel Master. Salary range: $43,000-$84,000 per year.
- Captain.
How much do yacht captains get paid?
According to data from the 2021 Salary Survey, captains working on vessels between 60- and 99-feet were earning an average of $8,002.01 per month, with a range of $3,105 to $20,000 per month. The average monthly tips earned by captains on yachts available for charter in this range was $1,374.
What is the salary of a cruise line captain?
What Is the Salary of a Cruise Ship Captain? ZipRecruiter reports that the annual pay for 2022 for cruise ship captains is $54,229 per year. It also reports that annual salaries can be as high as $100,000 to as low as $17,500.
How much do captains of boats make? – Related Questions
Who is the highest paid person on a cruise ship?
It comes as no surprise that the ship’s captain has the biggest salary from working on a cruise ship. The master of the vessel has a huge responsibility for ship safety for crew and passengers along with navigation. The captain can earn almost $100,000 manually depending on the cruise line and experience.
Who earns more pilot or captain?
Pilots, as Captains, make less unless they are senior doing international routes. However, pilots do not work nowheres near the amount of hours so, proportionately, they would earn more.
How much does a Royal Caribbean cruise ship captain make?
Average Total Cash Compensation
The base salary for Captain/Pilot in Command (Large Jet) in companies like ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD range from $131,141 to $170,929 with the average base salary of $151,402.
Do cruise ship captain’s live on the ship?
There are crew cabins on several floors, from deck 00 — below sea level — to deck three, though the captain and bridge officers typically live adjacent to the bridge higher up.
How many hours does a cruise ship captain work?
Your daily work schedule while onboard will depend on your particular position, but you can expect to work seven days a week and anywhere between 10-13 hours per day.
How long does it take to become a cruise ship captain?
A captain’s license obtained by a federal maritime authority is required for the position. Obtaining this license may take 10 years. To put it in perspective, it takes longer to become a cruise ship captain than a brain surgeon. Most captains earn their bars in 18 to 22 years.
Who is the youngest cruise ship captain?
Kate McCue |
Alma mater |
California State University Maritime Academy |
Occupation |
Cruise Ship Captain |
Years active |
1999–present |
Employer |
Celebrity Cruises |
How hard is it to become a ship captain?
You’d need to have a thorough understanding of logistics, navigation, maritime and safety law and management from your studies. Years of experience and significant on-the-job training is also required, and you’d need to earn a captain’s license from a federal maritime authority – which can take up to ten years!
Is it hard to be a cruise ship captain?
Therefore, the role of the captain becomes much more diverse and complex than on cargo ships. A cruise ship captain needs to excel in leadership, management, multi-tasking and decision-making skills in order to be able to successfully preside over the everyday operations of the cruise ship.
Is ship captain a good career?
Ship captains rate their happiness above average. At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, ship captains rate their career happiness 3.5 out of 5 stars which puts them in the top 33% of careers.
What qualifications do you need to be a ship captain?
How to become a ship’s captain
- Complete your secondary school studies.
- Obtain a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant course.
- Take part in extra training.
- Gain professional experience.
- Consider going to graduate school.
- Research available job roles.
- Apply for full-time jobs.
What education does a cruise ship captain need?
Most positions as a cruise ship captain require a bachelor’s degree. After finishing high school or an equivalent, seek out programs such as a specialized academy that will prepare you with the skills you need to succeed as a captain.
Can I become a captain without a degree?
Even though most captains have a college degree, it’s possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
What are the working hours on a cruise ship?
On average, cruise staff members work 7 days per week, for up to 10-12 hours per day. You will get a good break for lunch and an evening meal within this.
How many captains are on a cruise ship?
A river cruise ship will usually only have one captain who will be responsible for all of the sailing of the ship.
Why do ship captains go down with the ship?
If a ship is sinking, maritime tradition dictates that the captain ensures the safe evacuation of every passenger before he evacuates himself. He (or she) is responsible for the lives of those onboard, and he can’t coordinate their exit unless he’s the last person off.