Being a crab fisherman on Deadliest Catch is undoubtedly a dangerous gig, but sometimes it can come with a nice reward. Over the years, various stars of the show have dished on how much they make in their careers as fishermen.

“It varies year to year,” Kenny Ripka told People in 2016. “We don’t get paid a wage or a salary. We get paid on what we catch and what we deliver.”

He specified that he’s had years where he’s made “upwards of $150,000 to $170,000 a year” as a captain, adding that deckhands can usually make “anywhere from $15,000 to $50,000 for a couple months of work” on a boat. Gary Ripka weighed in to reveal that in 2016, his deckhands made $30,000 for “five, six weeks” of fishing work.

Jake Anderson shared his own salary details in a 2018 interview with Fox Business, revealing that he “grossed $2.5 million in 11 days” during a good season. Josh Harris said that captains can make $2 million in just two days if the catch is good.

While raking in profits in the millions is rare, captains are likely to make hundreds of thousands in a good season. Plus, the stars of Deadliest Catch are also paid to appear on the show. The captains earn between $25,000 and $50,000 per episode, according to Monsters & Critics.

Of course, these salaries don’t come without risk. Crab fishing is a dangerous job, and several Deadliest Catch stars have suffered health and medical issues while out at sea. Plus, it’s not always a reliable industry.

“We’ve had king crab season shut down for three, sometimes four years in a row,” Sig Hansen told Channel Guide. “And when your income relies on getting that boat out there, there is no retirement plan, so to speak. You don’t know from one year to the next if you’re even going to go fishing to make a living.

Deadliest Catch is returning for another season following a chaotic year. Last season featured multiple captains suffering from boat problems and health issues. A lot of risks were taken last season, including four boats racing to beat the closing canneries while battling harsh weather. But things are only getting interesting as Discovery Channel announced new details for the upcoming season. Keep reading to see what it was.

Deadliest Catch: Several Captains May Not Appear In Season 21

Deadliest Catch Season 20 featured a heartbreaking scene from Captain Keith after he suffered a cardiac arrest while sailing the seas. There are barely any updates about Keith today, as he’s not active on social media. However, there are several reports that he’s recovering well. Some fans also expect Keith to take a break from the show and may not appear in the upcoming season. Aside from Keith, Captain Bill is currently recovering from prostate cancer. He’s been sharing positive updates on social media, though it’s unclear if he’ll return in the upcoming season.

Season 21 New Details Announced

Discovery Channel recently released a new preview for the upcoming season of Deadliest Catch. It features a new remote island that the captains will take on. Captain Sig is aware of how dangerous the “west” seas can be, but it seems he’s taking his chances with his crew. The preview also showed Jake being given oxygen after suffering from an accident.

According to Discovery Channel, the captains will chase after monster red king crabs in the west. There will also be a “gold rush-style” race among the fleets as they battle the harsh and unknown seas of Adak Island, which is a remote island that is “beyond the bounds of rescue.” The description added, “Navigating through unfamiliar territory to secure the lucrative haul, the crews face extreme conditions and major ship malfunctions that put them in serious life-threatening situations, leaving the fleet at the mercy of the tumultuous western Bering Sea.” The boats that will sail to the remote island are Northwestern, Time Bandit, and Titan Explorer.

Deadliest Catch: When Will Season 21 Premiere?

The 21st season of Deadliest Catch will premiere on August 1, 2025, on Discovery Channel. It was also revealed that this season will have fewer episodes. But most of the episodes should be new to fans as the ships tries their luck in Adak Island.

There are already several cast members who will apppear in the season such as Sig Hansen, Mandy Hansen, Jake Anderson, and Sophie Nielsen. Johnathan Hillstrand will also rejoin the crew this season.

If you are looking for more Deadliest Catch news, come back to TV Shows Ace for all your updates.