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Crab Captain Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This position may sort crab by species and tend or operate machines to meet Company standards of ... This position reports directly to the Captain of the Vessel Starting wage : Crewshare- Status : Non ...

Crab Captain information

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$9

$37

$76

How much do crab captain jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 11, 2026, the average hourly pay for crab captain in the United States is $37.32, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.31 and $41.35 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by a crab captain during a typical crabbing season?

Crab Captains often face demanding challenges such as unpredictable weather conditions, mechanical issues with fishing vessels, and fluctuating crab populations. Managing a crew in harsh, sometimes dangerous environments requires strong leadership and quick decision-making. Additionally, staying compliant with strict fishing regulations and quotas is essential to avoid penalties and ensure sustainable fishing practices. These factors make adaptability, resilience, and clear communication vital for success in this role.

How much money do crab captains make?

Crab captains typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, the size of the vessel, and the season. They often work long hours in challenging conditions and may receive additional pay based on catch volume or season length.

What is the difference between Crab Captain vs Crab Fisherman?

AspectCrab CaptainCrab Fisherman
CertificationsCommercial fishing license, safety trainingCommercial fishing license, safety training
Work EnvironmentLeads crew, manages boat operationsPerforms fishing tasks on boats, in open water
Job RoleOversees crab fishing expeditions, navigates vesselsPerforms crab trapping and harvesting

Crab Captain and Crab Fisherman both require similar certifications and work in the fishing industry. The Crab Captain primarily manages the vessel and crew, overseeing the entire operation, while the Crab Fisherman focuses on the actual harvesting of crabs. The Captain's role involves leadership and navigation, whereas the Fisherman's role is hands-on with fishing tasks. Both positions are essential in crab fishing, but they differ in responsibilities and scope.

What is a crab captain?

Crab Captains are experienced maritime professionals who command fishing vessels, specifically those engaged in crab fishing, such as Alaskan king crab or snow crab. They are responsible for navigating the boat, managing the crew, ensuring safety procedures are followed, and overseeing the entire crab harvesting process. Crab Captains often make critical decisions about where and when to set traps based on weather, regulations, and crab migration patterns. Their leadership and expertise are vital for a successful and safe crab fishing operation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a crab captain?

To thrive as a Crab Captain, you need extensive experience in commercial fishing, strong navigational skills, and relevant maritime licenses such as a U.S. Coast Guard captain's license. Mastery of vessel operations, crab fishing gear, GPS navigation systems, and safety protocols is essential. Leadership, quick decision-making, and the ability to manage a crew effectively are standout soft skills for this role. These capabilities are crucial to ensure safe operations, maximize crab harvests, and maintain crew safety in challenging and hazardous sea conditions.

How to become a crab captain?

To become a crab captain, you typically need experience in commercial fishing, especially in crab harvesting, and often start as a deckhand or crew member. Obtaining relevant certifications such as a captain's license and gaining knowledge of navigation, safety procedures, and crab fishing techniques are essential steps in advancing to a captain role.
More about Crab Captain jobs
What cities are hiring for Crab Captain jobs? Cities with the most Crab Captain job openings:
What states have the most Crab Captain jobs? States with the most job openings for Crab Captain jobs include:
Infographic showing various Crab Captain job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $77,625 per year, or $37.3 per hour.

Full-time

Posted 21 days ago


Job description

Coastal Alaska Premier Seafoods, a subsidiary of Coastal Villages Region Fund, is currently seeking applications for deck hands aboard our Crab Catcher vessels. The primary job responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to, working on-board our fishing vessels in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, and Aleutian Islands to harvest crab of different species. This position may sort crab by species and tend or operate machines to meet Company standards of quality. This position may also be responsible for, loading and unloading supplies on the vessel, cleaning vessel and equipment, and performing other duties as assigned. This position is not sedentary.
Specific Duties Include:
  • Sort crab by species and size, color and sex ensuring superior product is brought to market, and all regulatory guidelines are adhered to at all times.
  • Maintain a safe and clean working and living environment.
  • Discard cull (inferior or defective) items and foreign matter.
  • Assist in offloads of product, and load and unload supplies. May be required to pass crane operator certification
  • Manually and by operating machines move live seafood from place to place.
  • Must be able to work and move safely on an uneven, slippery and moving surface around machinery and crab pots weighing 850-1150 pounds.
  • Must be able to work 12-16 hour shifts, in adverse weather conditions, and up to 24 hour shifts as required by fishing and market conditions.
  • Must attend and successfully pass all safety drills, training, and education required by regulatory agencies and CVRF.
  • Must be able to manipulate heavy crab pots, equipment and to move large amounts of crab.
  • Other duties as assigned.

This position reports directly to the Captain of the Vessel
Starting wage: Crewshare- Status: Non-Exempt - Seasonal
Coastal Villages Region Fund has a zero tolerance Drug and Alcohol Policy.
- This is a safety sensitive position, and impairment by any amount of drugs or alcohol may result in undue harm to self or others.
Selected applicants will be required to successfully pass a post-offer background, drug test and reference check. Applicants must be willing and able to be away from home for extended periods of time, and must be willing to live and work in a cramped environment, and work as a team member at all times. In addition, good communication skills, self motivation, and a positive attitude are important to ensure a high quality product and the safety of all crew members.
Requirements
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
  • Crew members must be capable of working consecutive, long and variable work shifts for extended periods of time. Shifts typically range from 12 to 24 hours per day with periodic breaks depending on work demands, production requirements, availability of fish, and travel schedules.
  • The work is strenuous and sometimes hazardous due to exposure to operating machinery, mechanical parts, fumes, chemicals, pressurized fluids, vibration and with the vessel operating under all types of weather conditions including extreme cold. This means standing, walking and maintaining balance in rain, snow, ice, wind, rough seas or other types of weather.
  • Both hands must be capable of grabbing, holding or gripping rope, rails, equipment and vessel structures for long periods of time. Forceful grasping along with repetitive finger and hand use is frequent.
  • Applicant must also be able to occasionally sit, kneel, crouch and crawl. Applicants must be able to climb up and down, safely ascend and descend ladders, work in small and confined spaces, and pass all safety test requirements.
  • Applicants must be able to frequently lift 11-20 pounds from the floor to the waist and above the shoulders and occasionally lift 51-100 pounds in the same manner. Applicants must be able to occasionally push, pull and carry 21-50 pounds and on a limited basis, 100 pounds.
  • Specific vision requirements for this position may require the applicant to determine shades, colors and shadows. The crew member will need to have distance and depth perception abilities.
  • Applicants will be required to gain medical clearance for use of a tight fitting respirator.

BASIC MENTAL FUNCTIONS:
  • Applicants must be able to perform basic math; add, subtract numbers between 1-100; multiply and divide by 10's and 100's. Applicant must also be able to understand, read, speak and write in English
  • Applicant must possess the ability to apply these basic functions to American currency, weight, distance and volumes
  • Applicant needs the ability to perform these basic functions in stressful, noisy environments and in the adverse weather conditions as mentioned above.

Upon receiving a conditional offer, selected applicants may be required to have physical examinations. The results of those tests may require a LHCP and selected applicant to determine whether reasonable accommodations can be structured to allow for safe performance of the job described above while in a remote and hazardous location.
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