Average Salary for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
SOC 53-5021 · Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in the United States is $85,540 ($41.13/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $46,260 at the 10th percentile to $164,230 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 35,390 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 18.2% since 2014.
Median Annual
$85,540
Mean Annual
$97,660
10th Pct
$46,260
75th Pct
$124,530
Employment
35,390
Salary Distribution
$46k
10th
$61k
25th
$86k
Median
$125k
75th
$164k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $116,620 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $116,130 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $113,350 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $110,810 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $109,810 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $107,000 |
| Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA | $107,000 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $106,590 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $105,000 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $104,120 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $102,820 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $102,770 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $101,940 |
| Lafayette, LA | $101,680 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $101,650 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Mississippi | $112,670 |
| Texas | $105,790 |
| Washington | $104,560 |
| New York | $103,510 |
| Louisiana | $103,430 |
| Iowa | $100,330 |
| Maryland | $95,210 |
| West Virginia | $95,170 |
| Tennessee | $91,880 |
| New Jersey | $91,700 |
| Arkansas | $89,340 |
| Minnesota | $83,920 |
| Virginia | $82,470 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,050 |
| Kentucky | $81,820 |
| Indiana | $81,510 |
| Alaska | $80,430 |
| Georgia | $80,180 |
| California | $79,560 |
| Missouri | $78,020 |
| Alabama | $76,400 |
| Illinois | $76,090 |
| Hawaii | $75,980 |
| Oregon | $75,590 |
| Michigan | $72,810 |
| Connecticut | $72,380 |
| Delaware | $71,700 |
| Massachusetts | $67,690 |
| Rhode Island | $67,250 |
| North Carolina | $66,680 |
| New Hampshire | $66,560 |
| Wisconsin | $64,610 |
| Florida | $63,540 |
| Guam | $62,400 |
| Vermont | $61,880 |
| Maine | $61,280 |
| South Carolina | $58,280 |
| Ohio | $52,000 |
| Utah | $49,120 |
| Puerto Rico | $36,080 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods | $156,000 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) | $156,000 |
| Wholesale Trade | $138,780 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $136,720 |
| Support Activities for Mining | $136,720 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | $128,740 |
| Construction of Buildings | $114,560 |
| Real Estate | $110,440 |
| RV (Recreational Vehicle) Parks and Recreational Camps | $109,200 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation | $101,910 |
| Support Activities for Transportation | $101,690 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $101,140 |
| Water Transportation | $99,800 |
| Inland Water Transportation | $99,690 |
| Food Manufacturing | $95,010 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | $92,440 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $88,190 |
| Gambling Industries | $86,820 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $86,760 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $86,760 |
| Specialty Trade Contractors | $86,390 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $85,920 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | $85,520 |
| Rental and Leasing Services | $84,530 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $83,910 |
| Manufacturing | $82,970 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $82,680 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $82,680 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $82,660 |
| Construction | $82,390 |
| Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $81,580 |
| Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction | $81,430 |
| Rental and Leasing Services (5322, 5323, and 5324 only) | $81,410 |
| Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction | $81,270 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $81,060 |
| Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | $79,300 |
| Ship and Boat Building | $79,300 |
| Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | $77,080 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $77,060 |
| Other Specialty Trade Contractors | $76,880 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $75,710 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $74,790 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $74,790 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $73,070 |
| Engineering Services | $72,990 |
| Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying | $72,810 |
| Mining (except Oil and Gas) | $72,810 |
| Finance and Insurance | $67,010 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers | $66,160 |
| Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers | $66,160 |
| Sporting Goods Retailers | $66,160 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land | $65,990 |
| Retail Trade | $65,160 |
| Educational Services | $64,460 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $63,510 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $63,510 |
| Other Amusement and Recreation Industries | $62,760 |
| Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries | $62,180 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $62,160 |
| Educational Services | $62,140 |
| Other Schools and Instruction | $61,870 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $61,780 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $61,240 |
| Remediation and Other Waste Management Services | $61,080 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $61,080 |
| Waste Management and Remediation Services | $60,450 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $59,900 |
| Motor Vehicle and Parts Dealers | $59,590 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation | $58,540 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water | $58,300 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $55,990 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $55,900 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $55,900 |
| Other Motor Vehicle Dealers | $53,430 |
| Amusement Parks and Arcades | $39,820 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $85,540 |
| 2023 | $88,730 |
| 2022 | $95,210 |
| 2021 | $81,640 |
| 2020 | $77,130 |
| 2019 | $72,340 |
| 2018 | $69,180 |
| 2017 | $70,920 |
| 2016 | $72,680 |
| 2015 | $76,780 |
| 2014 | $72,340 |