How much does an average cruise ship captain make?

Question

what type of captain makes the most? (cruise ship, ferry, tug boat, etc.)

Answer 1

"Compensation:

Salaries can vary widely depending on the size and type of vessels involved. Captains with many years of experience working on container ships, oil tankers, or passenger ships may earn $100,000 or more each year. Captains of tugboats also tend to earn high pay.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that ship captains, mates, and marine pilots, studied as a group, earned an average salary of $53,140 in 2005.


Outlook:

Government economists expect slower-than-average job growth in this field between 2004 and 2014. The outlook has improved recently due to a number of factors that make it easier for American ships to compete with the ships of other countries.

Answer 2

The average wage for a cruiseline Captain is about US$12,000 per month while onboard (8 months of the year). This is about US$96,000 a year but they can also get bonuses based on fuel consumption.

A pilot also makes a lot of money but their insurance liabilites are huge. Imagine what 1 Billion in liability insurance is!

These days, of the Captains you mentioned, Cruise Captains make the most.

Answer 3

Staff captain job is horrible. You have 1000 crew, many who probably don't speak any language you do (if they don't want to), and your job is to babysit them on US flag ships or screw them over on foreign flag ships. I was making $5600/month in 2007 on a cruise ship and that was pretty near the bottom of the deck department. The staff capt. was probably making closer to $15000/month. Foreign flag ships with crews from all over probably make much less.

Answer 4

There is a lot of pay difference in your examples. Off hand they start about $1000. a week and go up quick.

Answer 5

wow, amazing answers. Didn't have a clue. Wrong job i got damn it!