Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How does Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary grow from entry-level to senior? National salary progression based on 38 states with BLS data.
222% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2025 • National averages across 38 states • Updated 2026-05-19
The salary range for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels spans from $45,413 at entry-level to $146,182 at senior level — a difference of $100,769 per year.
Senior Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss earn $100,769 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary increases with experience, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $45,413 | $3,784 | $21.83 |
| Early Career | P25 | $60,261 | $5,022 | $28.97 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $83,343 | $6,945 | $40.07 |
| Experienced | P75 | $111,626 | $9,302 | $53.67 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $146,182 | $12,182 | $70.28 |
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels offers exceptional career salary growth. Professionals who advance from entry-level to senior can expect their salary to more than triple — from $45,413 to $146,182. This 222% growth potential makes it one of the highest-growth occupations in terms of pay progression. Investing in skills development and certifications can accelerate this trajectory.
Which states pay the highest senior-level salaries for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels? Top 10 states ranked by 90th percentile (senior) pay.
Entry-level Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss (10th percentile) earn approximately $45,413 per year, or $3,784 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $60,261. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss (90th percentile) earn approximately $146,182 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $111,626. This represents a career premium of 222% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss is 222%. Entry-level professionals start at $45,413, while senior-level can earn up to $146,182 — a difference of $100,769 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 is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. National averages are computed across 38 states and the District of Columbia. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. Actual salaries vary based on location, employer, experience, education, and certifications.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS