Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How does Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary grow from entry-level to senior in California? State salary progression based on 2025 BLS data.
521% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2025 • California salary data • Updated 2026-05-19
The salary range for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in California spans from $56,060 at entry-level to $348,100 at senior level — a difference of $292,040 per year.
Senior Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss in California earn $292,040 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary increases with experience in California, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $56,060 | $4,672 | $26.95 |
| Early Career | P25 | $73,630 | $6,136 | $35.40 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $110,090 | $9,174 | $52.93 |
| Experienced | P75 | $132,310 | $11,026 | $63.61 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $348,100 | $29,008 | $167.36 |
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in California offers exceptional career salary growth. Professionals who advance from entry-level to senior can expect their salary to more than triple — from $56,060 to $348,100. This 521% growth potential makes it one of the highest-growth occupations in terms of pay progression in the state. Investing in skills development and certifications can accelerate this trajectory.
Where does California rank for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels senior-level salaries? Compare California's P90 pay to other top-paying states.
Entry-level Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss (10th percentile) earn approximately $56,060 per year, or $4,671 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $73,630. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss (90th percentile) earn approximately $348,100 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $132,310. This represents a career premium of 521% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss is 521%. Entry-level professionals start at $56,060, while senior-level can earn up to $348,100 — a difference of $292,040 per year.
The highest-paying state for senior Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss is California, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $348,100 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.
We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.
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Salary percentile data for California from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within California.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS