Ferry Captain

Also called: Passenger Ferry Master

Pilots passenger and car ferries across harbors, bays, and sounds.

A day in the life

Ferry captains run the same route many times a day, as in Washington State or New York, docking in currents and fog while carrying thousands of commuters.

Pay over a career

Starting
$60k
Typical
$92k
High
$130k

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

Certificate, about 6 years after high school. Work up from deckhand to mate to captain with USCG licenses.

Ways in: On-the-job training, Certification, 4-year college. Training cost: Get paid while you train.

Majors to look at: Marine Transportation.

Outlook

Growing slowly (about 1% over 10 years).

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Automated docking and autonomous ferries are being tested abroad; US ferries will keep licensed captains for years.

Start now, in high school

Classes: Physics, Earth science, Driver's ed.

Official data: O*NET occupation 53-5021.

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Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.