Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in U.S.
SOC 53-5021 · National · 2024 BLS OEWS
The median salary for a Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in U.S. is $85,540 per year as of 2024. That works out to roughly $41.13 per hour. 35,390 people work as Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in U.S.. Wages have grown 18% since 2014, when the median was $72,340.
Median Annual Salary
$85,540
Mean Annual
$97,660
Median Hourly
$41.13
Total Employed
35,390
Salary Distribution
$46k
10th
$61k
25th
$86k
Median
$125k
75th
$164k
90th
Salary by Industry
| 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 |
Salary 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 |
Related Transportation and Material Moving Occupations Jobs in U.S.
Other occupations in the same group, sorted by salary.
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $226,600 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $144,580 |
| Commercial Pilots | $122,670 |
| Ship Engineers | $101,320 |
| Transportation Inspectors | $85,750 |
| Subway and Streetcar Operators | $84,830 |