How Much Does a Cruise Ship Captain Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$92,460
Cruise ship captains in the U.S. earn a median of $92,460 a year, or $44.45 an hour. Half of cruise ship captains earn more than $92,460 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $170,640.
Pay percentiles for cruise ship captains
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $22.80 | $47,420 |
| 25th | $30.71 | $63,880 |
| 50th (median) | $44.45 | $92,460 |
| 75th | $61.14 | $127,180 |
| 90th | $82.04 | $170,640 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (SOC 53-5021). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
Highest-paying states for cruise ship captains
| State | Median annual | Median hourly | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $138,950 | $66.80 | +50% |
| Tennessee | $132,710 | $63.80 | +44% |
| Louisiana | $117,160 | $56.33 | +27% |
| Texas | $111,390 | $53.55 | +20% |
| California | $110,090 | $52.93 | +19% |
| New York | $104,800 | $50.39 | +13% |
| Mississippi | $104,220 | $50.11 | +13% |
| Washington | $103,730 | $49.87 | +12% |
| Iowa | $97,700 | $46.97 | +6% |
| Oregon | $97,050 | $46.66 | +5% |
| United States | $92,460 | $44.45 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many cruise ship captains are there?
BLS counts about 36,850 cruise ship captains employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels”. The most jobs are in Louisiana (6,830), Florida (5,040) and Texas (3,400).
The mean (average) annual wage is $103,720, higher than the median of $92,460.
Hourly to annual pay calculator
Per year
- Monthly
- $7,705
- Biweekly
- $3,556
- Weekly
- $1,778
- Daily (8 hours)
- $356
- Hours per year
- 2,080
BLS annual figure; hourly × 2,080 may differ slightly.
Frequently asked questions
How much do cruise ship captains make an hour?
The median hourly wage for cruise ship captains is $44.45. The middle 50% earn between $30.71 and $61.14 an hour.
Which state pays cruise ship captains the most?
Maryland has the highest median wage for cruise ship captains at $138,950, +50% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for cruise ship captains?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of cruise ship captains earn less than $47,420 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.