Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay in the United States
In the U.S., the median pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels is $44.45 an hour ($92,460 a year). About 36,850 people work in this job there.
Pay range for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in the U.S.
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $22.80 | $47,420 |
| 25% of workers | $30.71 | $63,880 |
| Half of workers (median) | $44.45 | $92,460 |
| 75% of workers | $61.14 | $127,180 |
| 90% of workers | $82.04 | $170,640 |
Best-paying states for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
| State | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $138,950 | 450 |
| Tennessee | $132,710 | 940 |
| Louisiana | $117,160 | 6,830 |
| Texas | $111,390 | 3,400 |
| California | $110,090 | 2,420 |
| New York | $104,800 | 1,930 |
| Mississippi | $104,220 | 570 |
| Washington | $103,730 | 1,560 |
| Iowa | $97,700 | 80 |
| Oregon | $97,050 | 350 |
Pay by state
- Alaska · $88,230
- California · $110,090
- Florida · $76,040
- Hawaii · $72,960
- Illinois · $69,600
- Indiana · $92,000
- Louisiana · $117,160
- Massachusetts · $77,950
- Michigan · $53,590
- Mississippi · $104,220
- New Jersey · $90,310
- New York · $104,800
- Pennsylvania · $61,420
- South Carolina · $57,660
- Tennessee · $132,710
- Texas · $111,390
- Virginia · $87,610
- Washington · $103,730
Education, experience and outlook for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Job outlook: +4% over ten years, about as fast as average · about 3,800 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilots | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineers | $81,410 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $51,520 |
| Transportation Inspectors | $92,100 |
| Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $58,170 |
| Ship Engineers | $109,530 |
| Bridge and Lock Tenders | $57,700 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.