Career comparison
Deckhand vs. Ship Captain
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Ship captains earn more at the median ($92,460 vs. $51,520), while deckhands usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks of training). Deckhands work aboard tugboats, barges, ferries and ships handling lines, cargo and maintenance. Ship captains command and navigate ships, tugs and ferries on oceans, rivers and lakes.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Deckhand | Ship Captain | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $51,520 ($24.77/hr) | $92,460 ($44.45/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,560 – $83,620 | $47,420 – $170,640 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.2% (about as fast as average) | +4.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 3,600 | 3,800 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 1–4 weeks | Years of sea time and credentials |
| Key credential | Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) | USCG Master or Mate license |
| Work setting | Deckhands work on vessels in all weather, on slippery decks, around heavy lines and machinery and far from shore. | Captains work on vessels for weeks or months at a time.. |
What each job does
Deckhand
- Handle mooring lines and tie up vessels
- Build and break barge tows
- Stand lookout and security watches
- Load, secure and check cargo
- Clean, chip and paint the vessel
Ship Captain
- Navigate vessels
- Stand watch
- Supervise crew
- Plan voyages
- Oversee cargo
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working outdoors, teamwork, and travel. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose deckhand if…
- I love being on the water
- I can be away for weeks at a time
- I like hard physical work
Choose ship captain if…
- I love the water
- I can lead a crew
- I can be away for weeks
Still torn? Take the Deckhand fit quiz and the Ship Captain fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, deckhand or ship captain?
Ship Captains earn more at the median: $92,460 versus $51,520 for deckhands, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Deckhands typically train faster (1–4 weeks) than ship captains (Years of sea time and credentials).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects ship captains to grow +4.0% from 2025–35, compared with +3.2% for deckhands.