Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
Also called: Able Bodied Seaman (AB Seaman), Able Bodied Tankerman (AB Tankerman), Area Relief Pilot, Bar Pilot, Barge Captain, Barge Master
Median pay
$92,460
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$47,420 – $170,640
People employed
36,850
Holland code
RCE
Realistic · Conventional · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 2.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 3.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 4.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 5.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
The hard parts
- Work outdoors in all weather
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Tight deadlines are common
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (38 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary in every state →
What captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels do
- 01Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
- 02Prevent ships under navigational control from engaging in unsafe operations.
- 03Serve as a vessel's docking master upon arrival at a port or at a berth.
- 04Consult maps, charts, weather reports, or navigation equipment to determine and direct ship movements.
- 05Steer and operate vessels, using radios, depth finders, radars, lights, buoys, or lighthouses.
- 06Operate ship-to-shore radios to exchange information needed for ship operations.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- Mechanical
- Law and Government
- English Language
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Commercial Pilots86% · +33%
- Locomotive Engineers79% · −12%
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers78% · +151%
- Gas Plant Operators72% · −5%
- Subway and Streetcar Operators72% · −7%
Change into captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Bridge and Lock Tenders74% · $57,700
- Commercial Pilots74% · $123,220
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers72% · $68,840
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers71% · $59,320
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists71% · $56,870
Majors that lead here
- Commercial Fishing
- Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.