Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary by state
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels is a professional role in the Transportation and Material Moving job family, focused on Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.
What Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss do
Typical education: High School Diploma
Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
Top skills:Operation and ControlSpeakingMonitoringOperations MonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingCritical Thinking
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay by experience level
Entry level$49,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$66,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$95,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$131,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$176,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+0.5%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
4,300
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary by industry
Water Transportation
14,610 workers
$116,000
Inland Water Transportation
9,970 workers
$119,500
Support Activities for Transportation
9,290 workers
$117,000
Support Activities for Water Transportation
8,720 workers
$116,000
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation
4,640 workers
$108,500
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation
4,290 workers
$73,500
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water
4,240 workers
$73,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
2,400 workers
$97,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
1,250 workers
$96,000
Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries
1,170 workers
$84,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pays 56% above the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).
Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels make?
The average base salary for a Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in the United States is $107,500 per year, or about $51.68 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $66,000 and $131,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Transportation and Material Moving roles?
The Transportation and Material Moving job family averages $69,000 across 53 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
