Average Captains, Mates, And Pilots Of Water Vessels Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Captains, Mates, And Pilots Of Water Vessels is $92,460 per year. The middle 50% earn between $63,880 and $127,180, with 36,850 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 39 states and 77 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Captains, Mates, And Pilots Of Water Vessels pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $47,420
- 25th
- $63,880
- Median
- $92,460
- 75th
- $127,180
- 90th
- $170,640
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Pay is well above the national median for all US workers. This is an upper-income occupation.
Pay varies significantly across workers. Seniority, employer size, and specialization all move the needle, so it is normal for two captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels at different points in their careers to earn very different salaries.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels from 2024 to 2034. Growth is below the US average of roughly 4% across all occupations. The field is relatively stable but not expanding quickly.
- Projected growth
- +0.5%
- 200 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 4,300
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave. Annual openings reflect typical replacement demand alongside any growth.
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
Postsecondary training beyond high school is typically required, but a full four-year degree is not always necessary.
Where Captains, Mates, And Pilots Of Water Vessels earn the most
Location matters a lot. The gap between top-paying and bottom-paying states is large, so where captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels work can reshape their total compensation. Right now, the top-paying state is Maryland at $138,950, about 50.3% above the national median. At the metro level, Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN leads with a median of $130,380.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $130,380 | 800 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $129,260 | 900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $124,610 | 440 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $121,710 | 1,940 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $120,810 | 580 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $119,630 | 150 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $118,830 | 2,550 |
| Lafayette, LA | $116,200 | 270 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2025, the national median salary for Captains, Mates, And Pilots Of Water Vessels rose from $72,340 to $92,460, a gain of +27.8% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +25.9%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $72,340 would need to be worth $91,096 in 2025 dollars.
The actual 2025 median of $92,460 is $1,364 above that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of +1.5% in purchasing power.
Wages have roughly kept pace with inflation. Nominal pay rose by 27.8%, but inflation absorbed most of it.
- Nominal change
- +27.8%
- 2019–2025
- Cumulative inflation
- +25.9%
- US CPI, 2019–2025
- Real change
- +1.5%
- After adjusting for inflation
Median salary over time
Captains, Mates, And Pilots Of Water Vessels median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $92,460
- 2024
- $85,540
- 2023
- $88,730
- 2022
- $95,210
- 2021
- $81,640
- 2020
- $77,130
- 2019
- $72,340
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2018, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Ship Engineers
- $109,530
- Sailors And Marine Oilers
- $51,520
- Motorboat Operators
- $47,520
- Transportation Inspectors
- $92,100
- Subway And Streetcar Operators
- $86,380
- Locomotive Engineers
- $81,410
Common salary questions for Captains, Mates, And Pilots Of Water Vessels
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Captains, Mates, And Pilots Of Water Vessels workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.