SOC 535021

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard. Excludes "Motorboat Operators" (53-5022).

National Median

$85,540

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$85,540

Entry Level (10th pct)

$46,260

Experienced (90th pct)

$164,230

Total Employed

35,390

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$46,260 - $60,800
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$60,800 - $124,530
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$124,530 - $164,230

Highest Paying Locations for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area

$160,320

+87.4% vs national

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

$116,620

+36.3% vs national

Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA

$116,130

+35.8% vs national

Lake Charles, LA

$113,350

+32.5% vs national

Mississippi

$112,670

+31.7% vs national

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area	$160,320	290
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$116,620	2,850
Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	$116,130	730
Lake Charles, LA	$113,350	160
Mississippi	$112,670	530
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$110,810	400
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	$109,810	200
Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	$107,000	40
Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	$107,000	60
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$106,590	2,510
Texas	$105,790	4,090
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$105,000	1,260
Southeast Iowa nonmetropolitan area	$104,610	60
Washington	$104,560	1,600
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$104,120	340
New York	$103,510	2,080
Louisiana	$103,430	6,310
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area	$102,900	90
Baton Rouge, LA	$102,820	820
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$102,770	1,820
Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	$101,940	1,760
Lafayette, LA	$101,680	260
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$101,650	290
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area	$100,360	60
Iowa	$100,330	100
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	$100,090	70
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area	$99,820	600
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area	$98,510	30
St. Louis, MO-IL	$96,330	220
Maryland	$95,210	460
West Virginia	$95,170	110
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$94,740	320
Tennessee	$91,880	840
New Jersey	$91,700	880
Arkansas	$89,340	N/A
Paducah, KY-IL	$88,600	1,080
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$87,670	50
Jacksonville, FL	$86,650	780
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	$86,620	40
Northern Michigan nonmetropolitan area	$84,650	70
Pittsburgh, PA	$84,310	300
Minnesota	$83,920	90
Urban Honolulu, HI	$83,710	290
Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	$83,230	70
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$82,970	110
Traverse City, MI	$82,840	80
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	$82,820	80
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$82,660	1,730
Virginia	$82,470	1,890
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	$82,390	90

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels?

The national median annual salary for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels is $85,540, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss is Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area, with a median salary of $160,320.

How much can an experienced Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels make?

Top-earning Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss (90th percentile) make $164,230 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.