Ship and Boat Captains and Operators
SOC 53-5020
The median annual wage for Ship and Boat Captains and Operators is $82,630, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $94,480, and an estimated 37,220 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +12.3% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -4.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation).
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Ship and Boat Captains and Operators 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 | $82,630 | $82,630 | 37,220 |
| 2022 | $87,320 | $90,914 | 38,050 |
| 2021 | $80,010 | $89,970 | 36,220 |
| 2020 | $73,610 | $86,662 | 29,980 |
Nominal change
+12.3%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-4.7%
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
$40,710
25th Pct
$58,050
Median
$82,630
75th Pct
$120,380
90th Pct
$161,240
Related Occupations in Transportation & Material Moving
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.