How much do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels make?
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels earn a median annual salary of $92,460 in the United States, which works out to roughly $44.45 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $47,420 at the entry level and $170,640 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $63,880 and $127,180 a year.
That is $31,070 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary range by percentile
Half of all Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels earn between $63,880 and $127,180 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,420 | $22.80 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $63,880 | $30.71 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $92,460 | $44.45 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $127,180 | $61.14 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $170,640 | $82.04 |
Highest-paying states for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Maryland leads the country for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay at $138,950 a year, followed by Tennessee ($132,710) and Louisiana ($117,160). At the other end, Utah posts the lowest median at $50,010 — a gap of $88,940 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $138,950 | $66.80 | +50% |
| 2 | Tennessee | $132,710 | $63.80 | +44% |
| 3 | Louisiana | $117,160 | $56.33 | +27% |
| 4 | Texas | $111,390 | $53.55 | +20% |
| 5 | California | $110,090 | $52.93 | +19% |
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 38 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 37,000 people work as Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $103,720 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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