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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2021

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)
33,490 3.4 % $ 47.27 $ 98,330 1.8 %

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

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 17.91 $ 28.56 $ 39.25 $ 58.90 $ 76.77
Annual Wage (2) $ 37,240 $ 59,400 $ 81,640 $ 122,520 $ 159,690


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 9,520 10.59 $ 52.32 $ 108,830
Inland Water Transportation 9,400 36.87 $ 55.32 $ 115,070
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation 4,100 12.68 $ 46.02 $ 95,710
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 3,130 27.76 $ 27.01 $ 56,180
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 1,240 0.06 $ 39.37 $ 81,880

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 9,400 36.87 $ 55.32 $ 115,070
Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water 3,130 27.76 $ 27.01 $ 56,180
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation 4,100 12.68 $ 46.02 $ 95,710
Support Activities for Water Transportation 9,520 10.59 $ 52.32 $ 108,830
Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 1,200 1.00 $ 39.61 $ 82,380

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)
Gambling Industries 40 0.02 $ 67.01 $ 139,370
Management of Companies and Enterprises (8) (8) $ 65.35 $ 135,940
Inland Water Transportation 9,400 36.87 $ 55.32 $ 115,070
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) 50 0.01 $ 52.64 $ 109,500
Support Activities for Water Transportation 9,520 10.59 $ 52.32 $ 108,830


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 2021


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 7,140 3.98 16.75 $ 57.51 $ 119,620
Florida 3,300 0.38 1.61 $ 37.75 $ 78,510
Texas 2,770 0.23 0.95 $ 50.00 $ 104,000
California 2,410 0.15 0.61 $ 49.96 $ 103,910
Virginia 2,270 0.61 2.55 $ 43.08 $ 89,610


Map of location quotient of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by state, May 2021


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 7,140 3.98 16.75 $ 57.51 $ 119,620
Alaska 590 2.01 8.44 $ 47.62 $ 99,040
Kentucky 1,580 0.86 3.61 $ 42.94 $ 89,320
Hawaii 450 0.83 3.48 $ 31.12 $ 64,730
Virginia 2,270 0.61 2.55 $ 43.08 $ 89,610


Map of annual mean wages of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by state, May 2021


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 7,140 3.98 16.75 $ 57.51 $ 119,620
Mississippi 450 0.41 1.73 $ 53.75 $ 111,800
Illinois 860 0.15 0.65 $ 50.95 $ 105,980
Texas 2,770 0.23 0.95 $ 50.00 $ 104,000
California 2,410 0.15 0.61 $ 49.96 $ 103,910



Map of employment of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by area, May 2021


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 2,620 5.18 21.79 $ 53.25 $ 110,750
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 2,150 0.74 3.12 $ 51.07 $ 106,230
Houma-Thibodaux, LA 1,930 24.18 101.73 (8) (8)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,790 0.21 0.87 $ 48.25 $ 100,370
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,300 0.23 0.95 $ 49.60 $ 103,160
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 1,290 0.52 2.21 $ 45.29 $ 94,190
Baton Rouge, LA 1,150 3.12 13.14 (8) (8)
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 980 0.51 2.14 $ 47.35 $ 98,480
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 710 2.09 8.78 $ 34.60 $ 71,970
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 570 0.25 1.07 $ 60.78 $ 126,420


Map of location quotient of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by area, May 2021


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 1,930 24.18 101.73 (8) (8)
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 2,620 5.18 21.79 $ 53.25 $ 110,750
Lake Charles, LA 410 4.53 19.07 $ 39.37 $ 81,890
Baton Rouge, LA 1,150 3.12 13.14 (8) (8)
Lafayette, LA 400 2.16 9.07 $ 45.24 $ 94,100
Charleston-North Charleston, SC 710 2.09 8.78 $ 34.60 $ 71,970
Savannah, GA 270 1.54 6.50 $ 38.37 $ 79,810
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI 100 1.48 6.24 $ 26.49 $ 55,090
Brunswick, GA 50 1.33 5.60 $ 43.81 $ 91,120
Barnstable Town, MA 120 1.23 5.19 $ 32.85 $ 68,320


Map of annual mean wages of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels by area, May 2021


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 570 0.25 1.07 $ 60.78 $ 126,420
Anchorage, AK 130 0.83 3.50 $ 57.03 $ 118,620
New Orleans-Metairie, LA 2,620 5.18 21.79 $ 53.25 $ 110,750
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX 170 1.16 4.87 $ 52.74 $ 109,700
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN 270 0.26 1.09 $ 52.73 $ 109,680
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 70 0.02 0.08 $ 52.24 $ 108,650
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 2,150 0.74 3.12 $ 51.07 $ 106,230
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 300 0.11 0.47 $ 49.93 $ 103,850
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,300 0.23 0.95 $ 49.60 $ 103,160
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 1,790 0.21 0.87 $ 48.25 $ 100,370

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 1,040 7.30 30.71 $ 43.13 $ 89,700
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 440 4.57 19.21 $ 44.71 $ 92,990
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area 420 6.40 26.95 $ 44.30 $ 92,150
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 330 4.77 20.08 $ 56.96 $ 118,480
South Florida nonmetropolitan area 190 2.52 10.62 $ 34.86 $ 72,510

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)
West Kentucky nonmetropolitan area 1,040 7.30 30.71 $ 43.13 $ 89,700
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area 420 6.40 26.95 $ 44.30 $ 92,150
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 330 4.77 20.08 $ 56.96 $ 118,480
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 440 4.57 19.21 $ 44.71 $ 92,990
South Florida nonmetropolitan area 190 2.52 10.62 $ 34.86 $ 72,510

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 Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 330 4.77 20.08 $ 56.96 $ 118,480
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 440 4.57 19.21 $ 44.71 $ 92,990
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area 420 6.40 26.95 $ 44.30 $ 92,150
Northern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area 110 0.85 3.60 $ 43.56 $ 90,600
Northeast Lower Peninsula of Michigan nonmetropolitan area 30 0.43 1.80 $ 43.36 $ 90,190


About May 2021 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 2021 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2021 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: March 31, 2022