Life As a Ship Captain
Example of Ship Captain Job Command vessels in oceans, bays, lakes, rivers, or coastal waters.
Life As a Ship Captain: What Do They Do?
- Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries.
- Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.
- Sort logs, form log booms, or salvage lost logs.
- Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.
- Compute positions, set courses, and determine speeds, using charts, area plotting sheets, compasses, sextants, and knowledge of local conditions.
- Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.
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Things a Ship Captain Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Ship Captains say are important on the job.
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.
Types of Ship Captain Jobs
- Marine Superintendent
- Ship Master
- Ship Captain
- Canal Boat Captain
- Scow Captain
Job Opportunities 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. 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.
How Much Does a Ship Captain Make?
The salary for Ship Captains ranges between about $35,410 and $144,690 a year.
Ship Captains who work in Texas, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Ship Captains make 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 & Technology 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
How to Become a Ship Captain
Individuals working as a Ship Captain have obtained the following education levels:
What work experience do I need to become a Ship Captain?
Where Ship Captains Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Ship Captains employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Career changers with experience as a Ship Captain sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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