Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$47,420
- 25th Percentile — Junior$63,880
- 50th Percentile — Median$92,460
- 75th Percentile — Senior$127,180
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$170,640
The top 10% of Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels earn $170,640 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $47,420, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (est.) | $157,654 | +52.0% |
| Maryland | $143,980 | +38.8% |
| Tennessee | $132,020 | +27.3% |
| California | $129,580 | +24.9% |
| Louisiana | $119,980 | +15.7% |
| Indiana | $114,900 | +10.8% |
| Colorado (est.) | $114,092 | +10.0% |
| Texas | $112,180 | +8.2% |
| Mississippi | $111,940 | +7.9% |
| New York | $108,420 | +4.5% |
| Nevada (est.) | $105,794 | +2.0% |
| Washington | $103,890 | +0.2% |
| New Jersey | $99,540 | -4.0% |
| Montana (est.) | $98,534 | -5.0% |
| Oregon | $97,140 | -6.3% |
| Idaho (est.) | $96,460 | -7.0% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $96,460 | -7.0% |
| Connecticut | $95,590 | -7.8% |
| North Dakota (est.) | $95,422 | -8.0% |
| Alaska | $94,450 | -8.9% |
| Virginia | $92,850 | -10.5% |
| Iowa | $91,380 | -11.9% |
| Nebraska (est.) | $91,274 | -12.0% |
| New Mexico (est.) | $91,274 | -12.0% |
| South Dakota (est.) | $90,236 | -13.0% |
| New Hampshire | $89,750 | -13.5% |
| Missouri | $88,920 | -14.3% |
| Minnesota | $88,660 | -14.5% |
| Kansas (est.) | $88,162 | -15.0% |
| West Virginia | $87,950 | -15.2% |
| Oklahoma | $87,230 | -15.9% |
| Arkansas (est.) | $86,088 | -17.0% |
| Kentucky (est.) | $86,088 | -17.0% |
| Massachusetts | $85,830 | -17.2% |
| Rhode Island | $85,220 | -17.8% |
| Wisconsin | $85,140 | -17.9% |
| Florida | $84,720 | -18.3% |
| Georgia | $84,640 | -18.4% |
| Illinois | $83,930 | -19.1% |
| Pennsylvania | $82,220 | -20.7% |
| Alabama | $80,400 | -22.5% |
| Delaware | $79,840 | -23.0% |
| Hawaii | $79,360 | -23.5% |
| North Carolina | $79,180 | -23.7% |
| Vermont | $76,590 | -26.2% |
| Maine | $74,300 | -28.4% |
| South Carolina | $70,300 | -32.2% |
| Arizona | $69,200 | -33.3% |
| Ohio | $64,010 | -38.3% |
| Michigan | $62,290 | -39.9% |
| Utah | $53,670 | -48.3% |
What Factors Affect Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: Maryland pays an average of $143,980, while Utah pays $53,670 — a gap of $90,310 per year.
The middle half of Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels earn between $63,880 and $127,180 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $47,420, while the top 10% earn more than $170,640.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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- Light Truck Drivers $48,770/yr United States 53.0% vs this role
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- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States 2.2% vs this role
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels?
The average salary for Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels in the United States is $103,720 per year, with a median of $92,460.
What is the starting salary for Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels?
Entry-level Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels typically earn between $47,420 and $63,880 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels the most?
Maryland pays Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels the most at $143,980 per year on average, followed by Tennessee ($132,020) and California ($129,580).
How much do Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $103,720, Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels earn approximately $49.87 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 36,850 Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $103,720 and a median of $92,460 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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