Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels · Tennessee

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in Tennessee

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Tennessee earn a median annual wage of $132,710 —43.5% above the national median of $92,460. That ranks TN #2 of 38 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$132,710
Median hourly
$63.80
Entry level (P10)
$60,270
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$215,470
90th percentile
Employment
940
0.3 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+43.5%
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
$60,270
$76,420
$132,710
$165,700
$60,270$132,710$215,470
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $132,710.

Employment is 1.20× as concentrated as the national average, making Tennessee a strong market for this occupation.

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

All 38 states ranked by median annual wage. Tennessee 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 Tennessee

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Tennessee.

Frequently asked questions

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

The median annual wage for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Tennessee is $132,710, or $63.80 per hour. That is 43.5% above the national median of $92,460.

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

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $60,270 per year ($28.98/hour). The 25th percentile is $76,420.

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

About 940 people work in this occupation in Tennessee, or 0.3 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

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

Tennessee ranks #2 of 38 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is 1.20x as concentrated as the national average, making Tennessee a strong market for this occupation.

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