Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Wages
SOC 53-5021 • Full occupation profile
The median annual wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels is $88,730 nationally (2023 BLS OEWS). The 10th percentile is $44,600 and the 90th percentile is $161,510, showing the wide spread of wages in this occupation.
National Wage Distribution (2023)
Employment
34,520
P10
$44,600
P25
$60,550
Median
$88,730
P75
$123,640
P90
$161,510
National Wage Trend
How national median and mean wages for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels have moved across BLS OEWS release years.
| Year | Median | Mean | P10 | P90 | Employment | YoY Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $88,730 | $97,820 | $44,600 | $161,510 | 34,520 | — |
| 2022 | $95,210 | $104,190 | $42,090 | $160,140 | 34,940 | +7.3% |
| 2021 | $81,640 | $98,330 | $37,240 | $159,690 | 33,490 | -14.25% |
| 2020 | $77,130 | $89,740 | $36,810 | $153,070 | 27,590 | -5.52% |
Wages by State (2023)
State-level OEWS wage estimates for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels. The highest median is in Mississippi at $160,550, 81% above the U.S. median.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Mean Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $160,550 | +80.9% | $131,930 | 430 |
| Texas | $116,960 | +31.8% | $114,150 | 4,330 |
| Tennessee | $107,910 | +21.6% | $104,950 | 830 |
| New Jersey | $104,410 | +17.7% | $109,910 | 800 |
| Louisiana | $103,380 | +16.5% | $116,030 | 6,250 |
| Washington | $102,750 | +15.8% | $101,850 | 1,500 |
| Alabama | $99,590 | +12.2% | $93,410 | 330 |
| West Virginia | $98,590 | +11.1% | $105,810 | 100 |
| Minnesota | $93,630 | +5.5% | $99,880 | 130 |
| Maryland | $84,690 | -4.6% | $101,020 | 460 |
| Alaska | $83,200 | -6.2% | $87,740 | 700 |
| Connecticut | $83,200 | -6.2% | $92,700 | 330 |
| Indiana | $82,060 | -7.5% | $103,470 | 610 |
| Illinois | $82,050 | -7.5% | $88,830 | 750 |
| New York | $81,800 | -7.8% | $94,280 | 1,760 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,550 | -8.1% | $102,250 | 370 |
| Oregon | $81,060 | -8.6% | $88,950 | 360 |
| Iowa | $79,830 | -10% | $85,480 | 90 |
| Virginia | $78,710 | -11.3% | $81,330 | 1,860 |
| Delaware | $77,890 | -12.2% | $88,130 | 80 |
| Georgia | $73,100 | -17.6% | $96,630 | 190 |
| Hawaii | $71,820 | -19.1% | $85,790 | 570 |
| California | $70,780 | -20.2% | $91,300 | 1,750 |
| Michigan | $70,700 | -20.3% | $75,340 | 410 |
| South Carolina | $69,710 | -21.4% | $74,420 | 460 |
| Florida | $67,640 | -23.8% | $77,600 | 5,010 |
| Maine | $67,200 | -24.3% | $72,950 | 240 |
| Missouri | $65,500 | -26.2% | $77,820 | 470 |
| District of Columbia | $65,300 | -26.4% | $89,950 | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $63,700 | -28.2% | $76,470 | 30 |
| Vermont | $63,350 | -28.6% | $67,390 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $63,250 | -28.7% | $80,780 | 180 |
| North Carolina | $62,480 | -29.6% | $67,460 | 410 |
| Massachusetts | $61,830 | -30.3% | $71,130 | 560 |
| Rhode Island | $60,240 | -32.1% | $85,380 | 120 |
| Arizona | $57,200 | -35.5% | $66,660 | 40 |
| Kentucky | — | — | — | 1,550 |