Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
SOC code 53-5021 · O*NET-SOC 53-5021.00 · Medium preparation needed · Transportation
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$92,460
a year
Hourly
$44.45
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$103,720
$49.87 per hour
Middle 50%
$63,880 – $127,180
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$47,420 – $170,640
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
36,850
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $47,420
- $22.80/hr
- 25th percentile
- $63,880
- $30.71/hr
- Median percentile
- $92,460
- $44.45/hr
- 75th percentile
- $127,180
- $61.14/hr
- 90th percentile
- $170,640
- $82.04/hr
What do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels do?
Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
- Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
- Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
- Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
- Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
- Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
- Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) — 42% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 3 — Medium preparation needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education reported by people doing this job
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)42%
- Post-Secondary Certificate37%
- Bachelor's Degree8%
- Some College Courses5%
Common questions
How much does a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels earn?
The national median is $92,460 a year. The full range runs from $47,420 at the 10th percentile to $170,640 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels without a degree?
Yes — this occupation sits in preparation zone 3, meaning the typical entry route is most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. A four-year degree is not the standard requirement, though licensing or certification may still apply.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Speaking3.5/5
- Monitoring3.5/5
- Active Listening3.4/5
- Critical Thinking3.4/5
- Reading Comprehension3.3/5
Knowledge areas
- Transportation4.1/5
- Public Safety and Security3.8/5
- Mechanical3.4/5
- Law and Government3.4/5
- English Language3.3/5
- Geography3.3/5
- Administration and Management3.2/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.2/5
Transferable strengths: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving.