What is a Captain, Mate, or Pilot of a Water Vessel?
Job Description: Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
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Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Tug Boat Captain
- Tow Boat Captain
- Sailboat Captain
- Port Captain
- Harbor Tug Captain
Job Demand for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
There were about 38,800 jobs for Captain, Mate, or Pilot of a Water Vessel in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,400 new jobs for Captain, Mate, or Pilot of a Water Vessel by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Captain, Mate or Pilot are Nevada, Georgia, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Indiana, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Make A Lot Of Money?
The average yearly salary of a Captain, Mate or Pilot ranges between $35,410 and $144,690.

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels who work in Texas, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $79,750 |
Alaska | $72,570 |
California | $70,840 |
Delaware | $74,790 |
Florida | $78,880 |
Georgia | $73,410 |
Hawaii | $52,830 |
Illinois | $67,020 |
Iowa | $75,600 |
Kentucky | $79,130 |
Louisiana | $93,010 |
Maine | $61,410 |
Maryland | $86,460 |
Massachusetts | $57,700 |
Michigan | $83,040 |
Minnesota | $73,910 |
New Hampshire | $51,490 |
New Jersey | $75,170 |
New York | $95,370 |
North Carolina | $55,710 |
Ohio | $47,810 |
Oregon | $100,150 |
Pennsylvania | $74,780 |
South Carolina | $67,090 |
Tennessee | $54,480 |
Texas | $103,950 |
Virginia | $77,370 |
Washington | $90,890 |
Wisconsin | $48,190 |
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels employed by various industries.

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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