Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay in Virginia
In Virginia, the median pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels is $42.12 an hour ($87,610 a year). About 2,270 people work in this job there.
That is 5% lower than the U.S. median ($92,460). Virginia ranks 14th of 38 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Virginia
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $26.23 | $54,560 |
| 25% of workers | $31.95 | $66,460 |
| Half of workers (median) | $42.12 | $87,610 |
| 75% of workers | $57.91 | $120,460 |
| 90% of workers | $63.54 | $132,160 |
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay in Virginia metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $86,940 | 2,050 |
Virginia unemployment rate: 3.6% (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 Virginia
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $49,120 |
| Ship Engineers | $82,370 |
| Commercial Pilots | $104,890 |
| Locomotive Engineers | $90,780 |
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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.