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2026 · refreshed monthly

Vessel Captain (Tug & Towing) Salary by Metro

National median $130,000. Top quartile $160,000. The full band across 50 metros.

Metro Mult. p25 p50 p75 p90
San Francisco 1.25× $131,250 $162,500 $200,000 $235,000
New York 1.20× $126,000 $156,000 $192,000 $225,600
Seattle 1.18× $123,900 $153,400 $188,800 $221,840
Washington DC 1.17× $122,850 $152,100 $187,200 $219,960
Los Angeles 1.15× $120,750 $149,500 $184,000 $216,200
San Diego 1.13× $118,650 $146,900 $180,800 $212,440
Boston 1.12× $117,600 $145,600 $179,200 $210,560
Sacramento 1.10× $115,500 $143,000 $176,000 $206,800
Anchorage 1.10× $115,500 $143,000 $176,000 $206,800
Portland 1.08× $113,400 $140,400 $172,800 $203,040
Hartford 1.08× $113,400 $140,400 $172,800 $203,040
Minneapolis 1.07× $112,350 $139,100 $171,200 $201,160
Baltimore 1.07× $112,350 $139,100 $171,200 $201,160
Philadelphia 1.06× $111,300 $137,800 $169,600 $199,280
Honolulu 1.06× $111,300 $137,800 $169,600 $199,280
Austin 1.05× $110,250 $136,500 $168,000 $197,400
Chicago 1.05× $110,250 $136,500 $168,000 $197,400
Dallas 1.04× $109,200 $135,200 $166,400 $195,520
Detroit 1.04× $109,200 $135,200 $166,400 $195,520
Raleigh 1.04× $109,200 $135,200 $166,400 $195,520
Denver 1.03× $108,150 $133,900 $164,800 $193,640
Houston 1.03× $108,150 $133,900 $164,800 $193,640
Salt Lake City 1.03× $108,150 $133,900 $164,800 $193,640
Providence 1.03× $108,150 $133,900 $164,800 $193,640
Charlotte 1.02× $107,100 $132,600 $163,200 $191,760
Milwaukee 1.02× $107,100 $132,600 $163,200 $191,760
Nashville 1.01× $106,050 $131,300 $161,600 $189,880
Richmond 1.01× $106,050 $131,300 $161,600 $189,880
National (US) 1.00× $105,000 $130,000 $160,000 $188,000
Pittsburgh 1.00× $105,000 $130,000 $160,000 $188,000
Columbus 1.00× $105,000 $130,000 $160,000 $188,000
Kansas City 1.00× $105,000 $130,000 $160,000 $188,000
Cincinnati 1.00× $105,000 $130,000 $160,000 $188,000
St Louis 1.00× $105,000 $130,000 $160,000 $188,000
Indianapolis 1.00× $105,000 $130,000 $160,000 $188,000
Buffalo 0.99× $103,950 $128,700 $158,400 $186,120
Virginia Beach 0.99× $103,950 $128,700 $158,400 $186,120
Omaha 0.99× $103,950 $128,700 $158,400 $186,120
Miami 0.98× $102,900 $127,400 $156,800 $184,240
Phoenix 0.98× $102,900 $127,400 $156,800 $184,240
Tampa 0.98× $102,900 $127,400 $156,800 $184,240
New Orleans 0.97× $101,850 $126,100 $155,200 $182,360
Louisville 0.97× $101,850 $126,100 $155,200 $182,360
Memphis 0.96× $100,800 $124,800 $153,600 $180,480
Birmingham 0.96× $100,800 $124,800 $153,600 $180,480
Atlanta 0.95× $99,750 $123,500 $152,000 $178,600
San Antonio 0.95× $99,750 $123,500 $152,000 $178,600
Orlando 0.95× $99,750 $123,500 $152,000 $178,600
Las Vegas 0.95× $99,750 $123,500 $152,000 $178,600
Oklahoma City 0.95× $99,750 $123,500 $152,000 $178,600

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