Some ‘Deadliest Catch’ Captains Can Make as Much as $150,000 in a Single Season

Working on any of the boats on Deadliest Catch is a strenuous and dangerous job, but being the captain of one of those boats is even harder. The crew endures extreme weather conditions and fierce competition from other boats to secure the largest haul of crab for the biggest payout.

The physical strain and the risk of coming back empty-handed begs the question: Is it all worth it? Perhaps if you knew how much captains of the Deadliest Catch boats make a season, then it would justify their actions. Let’s dive into the number!

While the work is dangerous, the crew members have made it clear that the payout for these trips is often worth it. While there is no set hourly rate for being on board, a six-week trip can bring each of the crew members a payday of tens of thousands of dollars.

“We don’t get paid a wage or a salary, we get paid based on what we catch and what we deliver,” captain Kenny Ripka told People. “We’ve had years … where I’ve made upwards of $150,000 to $170,000.”

Of course, the payout is dependent on how much you bring back, which captain Gary Ripka said can be the problem on some of these trips.

“One mistake can be tens of thousands of dollars, and you can never catch up … It’s a race for the crabs,” he told People.

But these payouts from the trip are added to their payment per episode. While there is no official number that has been shared to reveal just how much the cast members are paid, they’re reportedly paid tens of thousands per episode.

This means the payout for one fishing trip could easily amount to more money than many people make in a calendar year, depending on the size of their haul. Add to that the amount per episode and it’s understandable why so many crew members want to be part of Deadliest Catch, despite the dangers.

While one season can equate to hundreds of thousands for some captains, others have claimed that their hauls bring in millions. Jake Anderson, now the captain of the Titan Explorer, claims that he’s made as much as $2 million in days.

“You’ve watched the American Dream unfold through me,” he told FOX in 2018. “There I was, a bum on the street, and now 14 years later … I’m managing a multi-million dollar company.”

“I think I grossed $2.5 million in 11 days,” he said.

Jake isn’t even the richest captain on the show. Sig Hansen is reportedly the richest captain, with a net worth of around $4 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Jake’s is around $1.8 million.

Of course, these paydays don’t always make up for some of the horrors the crew has to see, and there are a fair number of cast members of the show who have died on these trips. But for those who know what they’re doing, it can be a lucrative gig.

Deadliest Catch airs on Discovery on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. EST.