53
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels is a notable career in the 53 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 53-5021 |
| title | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels |
| onet code | 53-5021.00 |
| description | Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard. |
| job zone | 3 |
| major group | 53 |
| tot emp | 35,390 |
| a mean | 97,660 |
| a median | 85,540 |
| a pct10 | 46,260 |
| a pct25 | 60,800 |
| a pct75 | 124,530 |
| a pct90 | 164,230 |
| h mean | 46 |
| h median | 41 |
The day-to-day work of a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels typically centers on direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Operation and Control, Speaking, and Monitoring. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 3.39 out of 5 — moderately weighted for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels, the most common entry qualification is a High School Diploma (42.0%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 8% of incumbents. Most workers enter without a four-year degree, making this a relatively accessible career path.
Median annual pay is highest in Mississippi at $112,670 and lowest in Utah at $49,120 — a 2.3× spread. The top five states (Mississippi, Texas, Washington, New York, Louisiana) average $105,992. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $112,670 | $120,580 | $45,760 | $169,530 | 530 |
| Texas | $105,790 | $110,750 | $57,920 | $168,060 | 4,090 |
| Washington | $104,560 | $105,140 | $60,690 | $152,400 | 1,600 |
| New York | $103,510 | $102,240 | $47,040 | $161,340 | 2,080 |
| Louisiana | $103,430 | $115,190 | $61,710 | $167,130 | 6,310 |
| Iowa | $100,330 | $92,880 | $38,340 | $155,070 | 100 |
| Maryland | $95,210 | $117,350 | $48,090 | $205,810 | 460 |
| West Virginia | $95,170 | $91,890 | $34,400 | $134,900 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $91,880 | $109,250 | $51,570 | $171,890 | 840 |
| New Jersey | $91,700 | $107,930 | $37,440 | $171,020 | 880 |
| Arkansas | $89,340 | $83,830 | $43,540 | $122,880 | — |
| Minnesota | $83,920 | $91,800 | $36,650 | $153,400 | 90 |
| Virginia | $82,470 | $88,990 | $50,700 | $129,860 | 1,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $82,050 | $91,250 | $37,520 | $129,240 | 530 |
| Kentucky | $81,820 | $103,310 | $49,410 | $162,600 | 1,490 |
| Indiana | $81,510 | $100,880 | $55,790 | $161,690 | 810 |
| Alaska | $80,430 | $89,170 | $39,000 | $168,110 | 710 |
| Georgia | $80,180 | $101,580 | $37,570 | $134,530 | 200 |
| California | $79,560 | $96,940 | $54,030 | $158,730 | 1,970 |
| Missouri | $78,020 | $80,430 | $34,330 | $125,120 | 370 |
| Alabama | $76,400 | $91,710 | $54,170 | $136,000 | 410 |
| Illinois | $76,090 | $84,110 | $41,620 | $138,780 | 840 |
| Hawaii | $75,980 | $86,960 | $49,090 | $139,600 | 530 |
| Oregon | $75,590 | $89,830 | $45,870 | $135,560 | 480 |
| Michigan | $72,810 | $81,920 | $34,840 | $138,020 | 490 |
| Connecticut | $72,380 | $84,750 | $44,500 | $133,210 | 340 |
| Delaware | $71,700 | $86,250 | $50,770 | $152,050 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $67,690 | $78,620 | $45,380 | $122,970 | 560 |
| Rhode Island | $67,250 | $85,480 | $38,410 | $165,560 | 170 |
| North Carolina | $66,680 | $80,070 | $39,260 | $148,510 | 430 |
| New Hampshire | $66,560 | $71,830 | $44,930 | $97,520 | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $64,610 | $74,590 | $35,710 | $130,700 | 150 |
| Florida | $63,540 | $75,890 | $34,030 | $126,440 | 4,360 |
| Vermont | $61,880 | $65,430 | $29,320 | $100,050 | 50 |
| Maine | $61,280 | $67,620 | $45,500 | $89,590 | 330 |
| South Carolina | $58,280 | $65,560 | $25,560 | $120,470 | 410 |
| Ohio | $52,000 | $66,230 | $37,070 | $116,170 | 310 |
| Utah | $49,120 | $49,550 | $37,480 | $51,430 | — |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman) or Able Bodied Tankerman (AB Tankerman) frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels compares to others in the 53 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
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