How much does a ship captain or pilot make?
Typical yearly pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in the United States.
median pay per year, about $7,705 a month or $44.45 an hour.
That's more than 70% of the 100 jobs in our salary guide, ranking #31 of 100.
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| Theatrical makeup artist | $97,150 |
| MRI technologist | $95,480 |
| Power line worker | $95,320 |
| Ship captain or pilot | $92,460 |
| Accountant | $83,680 |
| Train engineer | $81,410 |
| Aircraft mechanic | $79,870 |
Similar jobs
- Train engineer$81,410
- Railroad conductor$78,000
- Flight attendant$63,580
- Long-haul truck driver$58,640
- School bus driver$47,920
- Air traffic controller$148,080
How much does a ship captain or pilot make per hour?
About $44.45 an hour, if you spread the median yearly pay over a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year. Actual hourly pay varies with overtime, shift work and location.
Becoming a ship captain or pilot
The U.S. Department of Labor's career profile covers the training, licenses and day-to-day tasks for this job.
How to become a ship captain or pilot
About this number
This is the national median wage for the occupation “Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels” (code 53-5021.00) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 release, as published on O*NET OnLine. The median is the middle value: half of workers earn more, half earn less.