📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
Average
$96,480
per year
Median
$91,280
per year
Hourly
$46.38
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$60,990
25th Percentile — Junior$79,830
50th Percentile — Median$91,280
75th Percentile — Senior$122,220
90th Percentile — Top Earners$138,442
💡 The top 10% of Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vesselss earn $138,442 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $60,990, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$85.3k
2021
$87.4k
2022
$89.6k
2023
$91.8k
2024
$94.1k
2025
$96.5k
2026
📈 Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels salaries have grown 2.5% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $11,206.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $149,544 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $146,650 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $137,002 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $133,142 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $127,354 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $125,424 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $123,494 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $120,600 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $117,706 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $110,952 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $110,952 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $109,987 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $108,058 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $106,128 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $106,128 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $104,198 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $101,304 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $101,304 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $98,410 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $98,410 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $96,480 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $96,480 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $95,515 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $95,515 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $94,550 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $91,656 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $91,656 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $89,726 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $89,726 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $89,726 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $88,762 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $88,762 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $87,797 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $86,832 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $84,902 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $84,902 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $84,902 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $84,902 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $84,902 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $84,902 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $83,938 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $83,938 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $83,938 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $82,973 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $82,008 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $82,008 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $81,043 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $80,078 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $80,078 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $77,184 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $75,254 | -22.0% | Medium |
What Factors Affect Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vesselss typically earn $60,990–$79,830 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $122,220–$138,442 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 2.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Transportation sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels?The average salary for a Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels in the United States is $96,480 per year, with a median of $91,280.
-
What is the starting salary for a Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels?Entry-level Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vesselss typically earn between $60,990 and $79,830 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vesselss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vesselss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $96,480, a Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels earns approximately $46.38 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels a good career in 2026?Yes — the Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels role has medium demand with 2.5% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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