Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed
Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
Median pay: $92,460/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +0.5% projected growth, 2024–2034 — slower than average.
About 4,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
• Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
• Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
• Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
• Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
• Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
• Dock or undock vessels, sometimes maneuvering through narrow spaces, such as locks.
• Stand watches on vessels during specified periods while vessels are under way.
What's the median pay for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels?
The median pay for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels is $92,460 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels?
Employment for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels is projected to change +0.5% from 2024 to 2034 - slower than average.
What education is typically required for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels?
Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
How many job openings are there each year for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels?
About 4,300 openings per year, on average, over the decade.