Vessel Captain Salary in Houston, Texas

How much does a Vessel Captain make in Houston, TX?

As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Vessel Captain in Houston, TX is $103,283. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $89,395 to $120,211, with most professionals earning between $76,752 and $135,623.

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Salary range for a Vessel Captain

$89,395 to $120,211

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What is a Vessel Captain?

A Vessel Captain is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of a ship or boat. They oversee the navigation, crew management, and overall maintenance of the vessel. Captains are also responsible for ensuring compliance with maritime regulations and safety protocols. They must possess strong leadership and decision-making skills, as well as extensive knowledge of navigation, weather patterns, and maritime laws. Additionally, vessel captains are often required to communicate with port authorities, other vessels, and their own crew to ensure smooth and successful voyages.

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Job Openings for Vessel Captain in Houston, TX

What does a Vessel Captain do?

Common responsibilities of a Vessel Captain

Ensure compliance with all relevant maritime laws and regulations.

September 08, 2023

Plan and execute the vessel's itinerary, including navigation and port calls.

September 17, 2023

Handle emergency situations, including coordinating with authorities and implementing emergency response plans.

September 24, 2023

Monitor and maintain the vessel's equipment and systems, including conducting regular inspections and maintenance.

October 01, 2023

Ensure the safety and security of passengers and crew members.

October 05, 2023

Represent the vessel and its owners in interactions with port authorities, customers, and other stakeholders.

October 08, 2023

Maintain communication with shore-based personnel, including reporting on the vessel's status and any incidents.

October 09, 2023

Oversee the safe and efficient operation of the vessel.

October 10, 2023

Manage the vessel's budget and expenses, including procurement of supplies and services.

October 23, 2023

Manage and supervise the crew, including assigning duties and responsibilities.

November 04, 2023

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Vessel Captain Salary By Experience Levels in Houston, TX

How much should you be earning in Vessel Captain in Houston, TX based on your current experience?

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RELEVANT JOB EXPERIENCE

Length of experience is a pay differentiator. Those with greater experience may have an advantage in negotiating salary. For those with less experience, other factors such as education or special skills could impact your pay. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.

Vessel Captain Salary By Level of Education in Houston, TX

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LEVEL OF EDUCATION

Depending on the job, educational levels may have a significant impact on pay levels. Be informed and understand how things like education and certifications can help to increase potential earnings for the career you are interested in. Please visit Professional Salary Report for more details.

Average Salary Range for Vessel Captain in Houston, TX

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

89395

120211

103283

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

92157

126216

106872

What is the average salary for Vessel Captain in 2025?

These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Vessel Captain in Houston, TX. The base salary for Vessel Captain ranges from $89,395 to $120,211 with the average base salary of $103,283. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $92,157 to $126,216 with the average total cash compensation of $106,872.

View Average Salary for Vessel Captain as table

	Average Salary	Average Salary Range
Base Salary	$103,283	$89,395 - $120,211
Bonus	$3,590	$2,762 - $6,006
Total Pay	$106,872	$92,157 - $126,216

* Base Salary represents gross income before taxes and deductions. It does not include additional pay such as benefits, bonuses, profit sharing or commissions.

* Total Pay combines base salary, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job.

Vessel Captain Salary Near Houston, TX

CITY, STATE	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE	COMPARE TO Houston, TX
CITY, STATE Pasadena, TX	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $89,064 - $119,765	COMPARE TO Houston, TX
CITY, STATE Galveston, TX	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $89,064 - $119,765	COMPARE TO Houston, TX
CITY, STATE Beaumont, TX	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $86,413 - $116,201	COMPARE TO Houston, TX
CITY, STATE Port Arthur, TX	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $84,828 - $114,069	COMPARE TO Houston, TX
CITY, STATE Lake Charles, LA	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $82,947 - $111,540	COMPARE TO Houston, TX
CITY, STATE Austin, TX	AVERAGE SALARY RANGE $88,670 - $119,235	COMPARE TO Houston, TX

See salaries for Vessel Captain in locations close to Houston, TX. Pay for the same job may vary based on the location and on the location and on other factors such as the size of company, the industry, and other local conditions.

About Houston, Texas

Houston is located 165 miles (266 km) east of Austin, 88 miles (142 km) west of the Louisiana border, and 250 miles (400 km) south of Dallas. The city has a total area of 627 square miles (1,620 km2); this comprises 599.59 square miles (1,552.9 km2) of land and 22.3 square miles (58 km2) covered by water. The Piney Woods are north of Houston. Most of Houston is located on the gulf coastal plain, and its vegetation is classified as temperate grassland and forest. Much of the city was built on forested land, marshes, swamp, or prairie and are all still visible in surrounding areas.[citation need...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/11/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

View Salary for Similar Jobs to Vessel Captain in Houston, TX

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JOB TITLE	LOCATION	MINIMUM SALARY	MAXIMUM SALARY
JOB TITLE Captain	LOCATION Houston, TX	MINIMUM SALARY $130,800	MAXIMUM SALARY $164,700
JOB TITLE Vessel Manager	LOCATION Houston, TX	MINIMUM SALARY $92,466	MAXIMUM SALARY $128,278
JOB TITLE Vessel Operator	LOCATION Houston, TX	MINIMUM SALARY $43,767	MAXIMUM SALARY $55,481
JOB TITLE Vessel Coordinator	LOCATION Houston, TX	MINIMUM SALARY $46,541	MAXIMUM SALARY $56,286
JOB TITLE Vessel Agent	LOCATION Houston, TX	MINIMUM SALARY $47,300	MAXIMUM SALARY $57,199
JOB TITLE Vessel Engineer	LOCATION Houston, TX	MINIMUM SALARY $86,466	MAXIMUM SALARY $109,379

The Vessel Captain job could be listed using titles that are not exactly the same, but actually are for the same or very similar job. Here are some job titles in Houston, TX that might be a good fit for the type of job and salary you are looking for.

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