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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

53-5021 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard. Excludes “Motorboat Operators” (53-5022).


National estimates for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
Industry profile for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
Geographic profile for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

National estimates for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
34,940 3.7 % $ 50.09 $ 104,190 1.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 20.24 $ 29.51 $ 45.77 $ 60.43 $ 76.99
Annual Wage (2) $ 42,090 $ 61,390 $ 95,210 $ 125,700 $ 160,140


Industry profile for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Support Activities for Water Transportation 10,020 10.67 $ 46.54 $ 96,810
Inland Water Transportation 8,410 31.99 $ 65.29 $ 135,790
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation 4,850 13.55 $ 56.22 $ 116,930
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 3,810 24.84 $ 29.79 $ 61,960
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 1,190 0.06 $ 39.98 $ 83,150

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Inland Water Transportation 8,410 31.99 $ 65.29 $ 135,790
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 3,810 24.84 $ 29.79 $ 61,960
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation 4,850 13.55 $ 56.22 $ 116,930
Support Activities for Water Transportation 10,020 10.67 $ 46.54 $ 96,810
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 770 0.62 $ 64.30 $ 133,740

Top paying industries for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) 140 0.03 $ 65.74 $ 136,750
Inland Water Transportation 8,410 31.99 $ 65.29 $ 135,790
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 770 0.62 $ 64.30 $ 133,740
Management of Companies and Enterprises (8) (8) $ 63.32 $ 131,700
Gambling Industries (8) (8) $ 62.23 $ 129,450


Geographic profile for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Louisiana 6,530 3.53 14.96 $ 59.86 $ 124,510
Florida 4,870 0.53 2.24 $ 41.46 $ 86,240
California 3,250 0.18 0.78 $ 52.22 $ 108,620
Texas 2,550 0.20 0.83 $ 58.42 $ 121,510
Virginia 2,180 0.56 2.38 $ 42.99 $ 89,420


Map of location quotient of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Louisiana 6,530 3.53 14.96 $ 59.86 $ 124,510
Alaska 580 1.88 7.98 $ 49.39 $ 102,730
Kentucky 1,260 0.66 2.81 (8) (8)
Hawaii 380 0.64 2.70 $ 36.37 $ 75,640
Virginia 2,180 0.56 2.38 $ 42.99 $ 89,420


Map of annual mean wages of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Louisiana 6,530 3.53 14.96 $ 59.86 $ 124,510
Maryland 510 0.19 0.81 $ 58.47 $ 121,620
Texas 2,550 0.20 0.83 $ 58.42 $ 121,510
Tennessee 900 0.29 1.22 $ 57.89 $ 120,410
Mississippi 460 0.41 1.72 $ 56.70 $ 117,930



Map of employment of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 2,490 4.81 20.36 $ 60.04 $ 124,870
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 2,130 0.23 0.98 $ 48.50 $ 100,880
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 2,080 0.79 3.36 $ 48.41 $ 100,690
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,080 0.34 1.44 $ 50.67 $ 105,400
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC 1,910 2.63 11.13 $ 44.86 $ 93,310
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 1,800 0.59 2.50 $ 62.21 $ 129,390
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 1,740 22.30 94.37 $ 61.55 $ 128,030
Jacksonville, FL 850 1.17 4.97 $ 41.98 $ 87,320
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 750 0.37 1.55 $ 49.63 $ 103,230
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 610 0.26 1.08 $ 66.82 $ 138,980


Map of location quotient of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 1,740 22.30 94.37 $ 61.55 $ 128,030
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 2,490 4.81 20.36 $ 60.04 $ 124,870
Lake Charles, LA 350 3.72 15.73 $ 50.26 $ 104,550
Savannah, GA 530 2.88 12.18 $ 46.39 $ 96,500
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC 1,910 2.63 11.13 $ 44.86 $ 93,310
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 600 1.67 7.08 $ 32.93 $ 68,500
Brunswick, GA 70 1.61 6.83 $ 48.86 $ 101,630
Lafayette, LA 300 1.55 6.55 $ 50.13 $ 104,260
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 110 1.54 6.52 $ 25.89 $ 53,850
Baton Rouge, LA 570 1.47 6.21 (8) (8)


Map of annual mean wages of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 610 0.26 1.08 $ 66.82 $ 138,980
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 1,800 0.59 2.50 $ 62.21 $ 129,390
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 1,740 22.30 94.37 $ 61.55 $ 128,030
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 2,490 4.81 20.36 $ 60.04 $ 124,870
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 150 0.14 0.59 $ 58.18 $ 121,010
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 180 1.20 5.09 $ 55.58 $ 115,610
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 100 0.03 0.11 $ 55.41 $ 115,250
Anchorage, AK 150 0.88 3.71 $ 54.53 $ 113,420
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA 340 0.29 1.21 $ 52.38 $ 108,950
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 2,080 0.34 1.44 $ 50.67 $ 105,400

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 890 6.08 25.72 (8) (8)
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area 420 6.25 26.45 $ 51.29 $ 106,690
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 400 3.97 16.80 $ 48.17 $ 100,190
South Florida nonmetropolitan area 320 4.05 17.13 $ 34.28 $ 71,300
Southwest Maine nonmetropolitan area 90 0.50 2.11 $ 32.12 $ 66,800

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area 420 6.25 26.45 $ 51.29 $ 106,690
West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 890 6.08 25.72 (8) (8)
South Florida nonmetropolitan area 320 4.05 17.13 $ 34.28 $ 71,300
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 400 3.97 16.80 $ 48.17 $ 100,190
Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area 90 0.88 3.71 $ 29.31 $ 60,960

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area 420 6.25 26.45 $ 51.29 $ 106,690
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area 40 0.32 1.36 $ 49.06 $ 102,040
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 400 3.97 16.80 $ 48.17 $ 100,190
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 40 0.53 2.23 $ 44.46 $ 92,490
West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area 40 0.34 1.46 $ 44.10 $ 91,730


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia. The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023