Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels · North Carolina

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in North Carolina

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $69,170 —25.2% below the national median of $92,460. That ranks NC #30 of 38 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$69,170
Median hourly
$33.26
Entry level (P10)
$43,040
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$105,880
90th percentile
Employment
490
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-25.2%
U.S. $92,460

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$43,040
$57,870
$69,170
$95,840
$43,040$69,170$105,880
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $69,170.

Employment is only 0.42× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Highest-paying states for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

All 38 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Maryland$138,950$66.804500.69
2Tennessee$132,710$63.809401.20
3Louisiana$117,160$56.336,83014.89
4Texas$111,390$53.553,4001.02
5California$110,090$52.932,4200.56
6New York$104,800$50.391,9300.84
7Mississippi$104,220$50.115702.08
8Washington$103,730$49.871,5601.86
9Iowa$97,700$46.97800.21
10Oregon$97,050$46.663500.75

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

Frequently asked questions

How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in North Carolina is $69,170, or $33.26 per hour. That is 25.2% below the national median of $92,460.

What is the entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $43,040 per year ($20.69/hour). The 25th percentile is $57,870.

How many people work as captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in North Carolina?

About 490 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?

North Carolina ranks #30 of 38 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.42x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in North Carolina.

Which state pays captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels the most?

Maryland has the highest median wage at $138,950 per year, followed by Tennessee ($132,710) and Louisiana ($117,160).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes