Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
SOC 53-5021 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels is $88,730, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $97,820, and an estimated 34,520 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +15% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -2.3% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 0.5% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $88,730 | $88,730 | 34,520 |
| 2022 | $95,210 | $99,129 | 34,940 |
| 2021 | $81,640 | $91,803 | 33,490 |
| 2020 | $77,130 | $90,806 | 27,590 |
Nominal change
+15%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-2.3%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+0.5%
About average
Employment 2024
40,700
Projected 2034
40,900
Annual Openings
4,300
Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $88,730. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | $163,830 | +84.6% | 240 |
| Mississippi | $160,550 | +80.9% | 430 |
| Texas | $116,960 | +31.8% | 4,330 |
| West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area | $109,360 | +23.3% | 1,100 |
| Tennessee | $107,910 | +21.6% | 830 |
| New Jersey | $104,410 | +17.7% | 800 |
| Louisiana | $103,380 | +16.5% | 6,250 |
| Washington | $102,750 | +15.8% | 1,500 |
| Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $99,800 | +12.5% | 70 |
| Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $99,780 | +12.5% | 520 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$44,600
25th Pct
$60,550
Median
$88,730
75th Pct
$123,640
90th Pct
$161,510
Related Occupations in Transportation & Material Moving
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.