Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay in California
In California, the median pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels is $52.93 an hour ($110,090 a year). About 2,420 people work in this job there.
That is 19% higher than the U.S. median ($92,460). California ranks 5th of 38 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $26.95 | $56,060 |
| 25% of workers | $35.40 | $73,630 |
| Half of workers (median) | $52.93 | $110,090 |
| 75% of workers | $63.61 | $132,310 |
| 90% of workers | $167.36 | $348,100 |
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $124,610 | 440 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $113,260 | 1,210 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $80,100 | 60 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $78,380 | 70 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $76,490 | 290 |
| Salinas | $60,070 | 40 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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 California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $353,900 |
| Commercial Pilots | $165,590 |
| Transportation Inspectors | $83,000 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $55,180 |
| Locomotive Engineers | $77,070 |
| Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,530 |
| Ship Engineers | $97,660 |
Other job titles for this job
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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.