The median annual salary for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels was $88,730 in May 2023, according to the Department of Labor. The lowest 10 percent earned $44,600 or less and the highest 10 percent earned $161,510 or more. Salaries vary depending on the water transportation industry. Those who work in deep-sea, coastal, and Great Lakes water transportation earn higher annual salaries (average of $106,700) than those who work in scenic and sightseeing transportation (average of $64,160). The average annual salary for captains, mates, and pilots who are employed in inland transportation is $119,180.
Payscale reported the median salary for ship captains in 2025 was $103,015. Salaries ranged from $56,000 to $203,000. Ship captains with one to four years of experience earned approximately $70,981 per year.
- Adventure Travel Specialists
- Air Traffic Controllers
- Airplane Dispatchers
- Airport Security Personnel
- Airport Service Workers
- Amusement Park Workers
- App Services Workers
- Armored Truck Drivers
- Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Test Drivers
- Aviation Safety Inspectors
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Bicycle Mechanics
- Boilermakers and Mechanics
- Cruise Ship Workers
- Customs Officials
- Diesel Mechanics
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Engineers
- Export-Import Specialists
- Fleet Maintenance Technicians
- Flight Attendants
- Flight Instructors
- Gaming Occupations
- Green Transportation Careers
- Hosts/Hostesses
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Inbound Tour Guides
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Lifeguards and Swimming Instructors
- Logistics Analysts
- Logistics Engineers
- Marine Engineers
- Marine Services Technicians
- Merchant Mariners
- Mobility Managers
- Museum Attendants
- Museum Directors and Curators
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- National Park Service Employees
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Park Rangers
- Parking Attendants
- Pilots
- Public Transportation Operators
- Race Car Drivers
- Railroad Conductors
- Recreation Workers
- Reservation and Ticket Agents
- Resort Workers
- Ski Resort Workers
- Spa Attendants
- Spa Managers
- Space Pilots
- Space Tourism Managers
- Sports Facility Managers
- Sports Instructors and Coaches
- Stadium Ushers and Vendors
- Stevedores
- Strength and Conditioning Coaches
- Supply Chain Managers
- Swimming Pool Designers
- Taxi Drivers
- Toll Collectors
- Tour Guides
- Traffic Engineers
- Transportation Engineers
- Transportation Planners
- Travel Agents
- Truck Dispatchers
- Truck Drivers
- Yoga and Pilates Instructors