Captain Visa Sponsorship Jobs in California

Captain visa sponsorship jobs in California span maritime operations on San Francisco Bay and the Port of Los Angeles, inland waterway work, and ferry services run by operators like the Golden Gate Ferry and San Francisco Bay Ferry. Major port authorities, cruise lines docking at Long Beach, and offshore support companies actively hire captains across the state.

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Overview

Open Jobs24+
Top Visa TypeGreen Card
Work Type67% On-site
Top LocationAlameda, CA
Most JobsDICK'S Sporting Goods

Showing 5 of 24+ Captain Jobs in California with Visa Sponsorship

Asset Protection Captain
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New 13h ago
Asset Protection Captain
Macy's
Palm Desert, California
Health & Safety (EHS & OHS)
Security & Protective Services
$19 - $31/hr
On-Site
None
10,000+

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Team Captain Operations
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New 17h ago
Team Captain Operations
DICK'S Sporting Goods
Stockton, California
Human Resources
Customer Service & Support
Project & Program Management
$53k - $67k/yr
On-Site
High School
10,000+

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Job Captain
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Added 2w ago
Job Captain
Lionakis
Sacramento, California
Project & Program Management
Construction Management
Healthcare Administration
Project Management
$90k - $119k/yr
Hybrid
Bachelor's
201-500

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Port Captain
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Added 2w ago
Port Captain
Norton Lilly International
Oakland, California
Procurement & Supply Chain
Customer Service & Support
Project & Program Management
$85k - $95k/yr
Hybrid
High School
501-1,000

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Captain
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Added 1mo ago
Captain
Hornblower Group
San Francisco, California
Customer Service & Support
Customer Service
On-Site
None
1,001-5,000

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Captain Job Roles in California

Project & Program Management14 jobs
Construction Management10 jobs
Customer Service & Support9 jobs
Project Management7 jobs
Human Resources6 jobs
Specialized Engineering4 jobs
Engineering (Non-Software)4 jobs
Sales2 jobs
Account Management2 jobs
Healthcare Administration2 jobs

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Captain Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies sponsor visas for captains in California?

Port authorities, ferry operators, and maritime logistics companies are the most active sponsors. The Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District, San Francisco Bay Ferry, and Port of Long Beach area operators have hired international maritime professionals. Offshore vessel operators supporting California's energy and research sectors also sponsor captains, particularly for specialized vessel commands requiring documented international experience.

Which visa types realistically fit captain roles in California?

The H-1B visa applies if the captain role qualifies as a specialty occupation requiring a directly related bachelor's degree, though many maritime captain positions are licensed-trade roles that may not meet that standard. The H-2B visa covers temporary or seasonal non-agricultural work and fits time-limited vessel contracts. EB-3 green card sponsorship is available for skilled workers with at least two years of relevant experience, which many licensed captains exceed.

Which cities in California have the most captain sponsorship jobs?

Los Angeles and Long Beach lead due to the busiest container port complex in North America, generating demand for harbor pilots, tugboat captains, and vessel operators. San Francisco and Oakland follow closely, driven by Bay Area ferry services and research vessel operations. San Diego supports a strong maritime sector tied to naval adjacent commercial activity and sport fishing charter operations requiring licensed captains.

How to find captain visa sponsorship jobs in California?

Migrate Mate lists California employers with verified visa sponsorship history, searchable by role and city. For captain positions specifically, filtering by port cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego surfaces the most active sponsors. Migrate Mate's database focuses on employers who have demonstrated sponsorship intent, which saves significant time compared to cold outreach to maritime companies.

Are there state-specific considerations for captains seeking visa sponsorship in California?

California's Coast Guard Sector San Francisco and Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach oversee licensing requirements, and foreign mariners must ensure their credentials are accepted or converted under U.S. Coast Guard standards before employer sponsorship can proceed. California's strong offshore wind development pipeline along its central and northern coast is also creating emerging demand for experienced vessel captains, particularly those with offshore construction or survey vessel backgrounds.

What is the prevailing wage for sponsored captain jobs in California?

U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.