About Riverboat Crew Member Pay

From
The Mississippi Steamboat Era
In Historic Photographs
Natchez to New Orleans
Dover Books

What Did The Crew Members of a Paddlewheeler Make?

By the late 1800s the Anchor Line had pretty much set the standards for riverboat wages. Most other lines and independent owners went along with them.

Captain - $150 a month
Pilots - $150 a month
Chief Clerks - $125 a month
Chief Engineers - $125 a month
Mates - $125 a month
Boat's Carpenter - $75 a month

Open The Alphabetical Index For Boats, Captains & Owners