Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Kentucky

Is Kentucky a good place for you to work as a Captain, Mate, or Pilot of a Water Vessel?

While jobs for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Kentucky are decreasing, those who do work in these jobs get paid higher than average.

• Employment for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Kentucky is expected to decrease.

• Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Kentucky earn higher salaries than the typical U.S. wage earner.

What Major Will Prepare You For a Captain, Mate, or Pilot of a Water Vessel Career?

• Transportation & Materials Moving
• Marine Transportation
• Commercial Fishing
• Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer

How Many Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Work in Kentucky?

In 2018, there were 1,200 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels working in the state.

There were 1,110 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels employed in this state in 2017.

That’s growth of 90 jobs between 2017 and 2018.

The typical state has 470 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels working in it, which means Kentucky has more Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels than average.

Job Projections for Kentucky

Jobs for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in this state are declining at a rate of 19.0% which is a faster decline than the nationwide estimated projection of 8.8%.

Kentucky Annual Job Openings

The BLS estimates there will be 100 annual job openings, and 1,150 total jobs in 2026 for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in this state.

Nationwide, the prediction is 4,400 annual jobs and 42,200 total jobs in 2026.

What do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Make in Kentucky?

In 2018 wages for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels ranged from $41,710 to $143,140 with $61,620 being the median annual salary.

Broken down to an hourly rate, workers in this field made anywhere from $20.05 to $68.82. The median hourly rate was $29.63.

In 2017 the median pay for this field was $30.59 an hour.

The hourly rate declined by $0.96.

The median salary in Kentucky is higher than the nationwide median salary.

Explore Best Ranked Schools for You

Top Kentucky Metros for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

The table below shows some of the metros in this state with the most Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels.

Metro	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	170	n/a

Top States for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Employment

View the list below to see where most Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels work.

State	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Florida	6,050	$62,080
Louisiana	5,680	$78,970
Texas	3,050	$98,990
New York	2,040	$84,400
Virginia	1,970	$70,990
Washington	1,440	$82,870
Hawaii	1,320	$51,010
Illinois	1,220	$43,670
Kentucky	1,200	$61,620
Tennessee	800	$40,460
Mississippi	730	$0
Alaska	640	$69,400
Pennsylvania	490	$78,490
Maryland	490	$85,930
New Jersey	480	$73,590
Massachusetts	480	$56,450
South Carolina	460	$58,390
North Carolina	370	$45,540
Ohio	320	$46,390
Oregon	310	$86,920

Below are the states where Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels get paid the most:

State	Annual Median Salary
Texas	$98,990
Oregon	$86,920
Maryland	$85,930
New York	$84,400
Washington	$82,870
Louisiana	$78,970
Pennsylvania	$78,490
Iowa	$73,720
New Jersey	$73,590
Alabama	$72,970

Related Careers in Kentucky

Discover similar careers:

• Motorboat Operators

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies.