What is a Captain, Mate, or Pilot of a Water Vessel?
Job Description & Duties Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
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Other Captain, Mate or Pilot Job Titles
- Docking Pilot
- Car Ferry Master
- Barge Captain
- Harbor Boat Pilot
- Ferry Boat Captain
Are There Job Opportunities for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels?
In the United States, there were 38,800 jobs for Captain, Mate, or Pilot of a Water Vessel in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,400 new jobs for Captain, Mate, or Pilot of a Water Vessel by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,400 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Captain, Mate or Pilot are Nevada, Georgia, and Tennessee. Watch out if you plan on working in Kentucky, Indiana, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels ranges between about $35,410 and $144,690 a year.

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels who work in Texas, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $79,750 |
Alaska | $72,570 |
California | $70,840 |
Delaware | $74,790 |
Florida | $78,880 |
Georgia | $73,410 |
Hawaii | $52,830 |
Illinois | $67,020 |
Iowa | $75,600 |
Kentucky | $79,130 |
Louisiana | $93,010 |
Maine | $61,410 |
Maryland | $86,460 |
Massachusetts | $57,700 |
Michigan | $83,040 |
Minnesota | $73,910 |
New Hampshire | $51,490 |
New Jersey | $75,170 |
New York | $95,370 |
North Carolina | $55,710 |
Ohio | $47,810 |
Oregon | $100,150 |
Pennsylvania | $74,780 |
South Carolina | $67,090 |
Tennessee | $54,480 |
Texas | $103,950 |
Virginia | $77,370 |
Washington | $90,890 |
Wisconsin | $48,190 |
Who Employs Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels?

Below are examples of industries where Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels work:

References:
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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