Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary
The median captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary in the United States is $92,460 per year ($44.45/hour). Salaries range from $47,420 at the entry level to $170,640+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 36,850 captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 0.5% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$92,460
per year
Hourly Rate
$44.45
per hour
Employment
36,850
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$47,420
25th percentile
$63,880
Median
$92,460
75th percentile
$127,180
90th percentile
$170,640
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+0.5%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
4,300
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Postsecondary nondegree award
+ Less than 5 years experience
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$50K$139K■ No data
Top Paying States
Maryland
$139K
+50%
Tennessee
$133K
+44%
Louisiana
$117K
+27%
Texas
$111K
+20%
California
$110K
+19%
New York
$105K
+13%
Mississippi
$104K
+13%
Washington
$104K
+12%
Iowa
$98K
+6%
Oregon
$97K
+5%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $138,950 | +50.3% |
| Tennessee | $132,710 | +43.5% |
| Louisiana | $117,160 | +26.7% |
| Texas | $111,390 | +20.5% |
| California | $110,090 | +19.1% |
| New York | $104,800 | +13.3% |
| Mississippi | $104,220 | +12.7% |
| Washington | $103,730 | +12.2% |
| Iowa | $97,700 | +5.7% |
| Oregon | $97,050 | +5.0% |
Showing 1–10 of 38
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $130,380 | +41.0% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $129,260 | +39.8% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $124,610 | +34.8% |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $121,710 | +31.6% |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $120,810 | +30.7% |
| Lake Charles, LA | $119,630 | +29.4% |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $118,830 | +28.5% |
| Lafayette, LA | $116,200 | +25.7% |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $113,850 | +23.1% |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $113,850 | +23.1% |
Showing 1–10 of 77
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels earning $92,460/year would need 645 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 692 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary trend (2011–2024) →