Jobs Similar to Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Motorboat Operators, Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Sailors and Marine Oilers.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels: $92,460 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Motorboat OperatorsSame group | 80% | $47,520−49% | High school |
| 2 | Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | 79% | $60,600−34% | High school |
| 3 | Sailors and Marine OilersSame group | 78% | $51,520−44% | High school |
| 4 | Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | 77% | $58,870−36% | High school |
| 5 | Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | 77% | $68,840−26% | High school |
| 6 | Aircraft Service Attendants | 77% | $40,450−56% | High school |
| 7 | Forest and Conservation Workers | 76% | $43,680−53% | High school |
| 8 | Commercial Pilots | 76% | $123,220+33% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Locomotive Engineers | 76% | $81,410−12% | High school |
| 10 | Gas Plant Operators | 75% | $87,820−5% | High school |
| 11 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 75% | $56,450−39% | High school |
| 12 | Subway and Streetcar Operators | 75% | $86,380−7% | High school |
| 13 | Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas | 75% | $58,620−37% | High school |
| 14 | Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers | 74% | $96,710+5% | High school |
| 15 | Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas | 74% | $67,890−27% | High school |
| 16 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 73% | $49,880−46% | High school |
| 17 | Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | 73% | $49,690−46% | High school |
| 18 | Tree Trimmers and Pruners | 73% | $50,960−45% | High school |
| 19 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 73% | $232,140+151% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Hazardous Materials Removal Workers | 73% | $49,450−47% | High school |
- 1Motorboat Operators
80% similar · $47,520 (−49%) · High school · Same group
- 2Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
79% similar · $60,600 (−34%) · High school
- 3Sailors and Marine Oilers
78% similar · $51,520 (−44%) · High school · Same group
- 4Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
77% similar · $58,870 (−36%) · High school
- 5Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
77% similar · $68,840 (−26%) · High school
- 6Aircraft Service Attendants
77% similar · $40,450 (−56%) · High school
- 7Forest and Conservation Workers
76% similar · $43,680 (−53%) · High school
- 8Commercial Pilots
76% similar · $123,220 (+33%) · Training or associate
- 9Locomotive Engineers
76% similar · $81,410 (−12%) · High school
- 10Gas Plant Operators
75% similar · $87,820 (−5%) · High school
- 11Hoist and Winch Operators
75% similar · $56,450 (−39%) · High school
- 12Subway and Streetcar Operators
75% similar · $86,380 (−7%) · High school
- 13Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas
75% similar · $58,620 (−37%) · High school
- 14Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
74% similar · $96,710 (+5%) · High school
- 15Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas
74% similar · $67,890 (−27%) · High school
- 16Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
73% similar · $49,880 (−46%) · High school
- 17Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
73% similar · $49,690 (−46%) · High school
- 18Tree Trimmers and Pruners
73% similar · $50,960 (−45%) · High school
- 19Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
73% similar · $232,140 (+151%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
73% similar · $49,450 (−47%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Motorboat Operators80% similar · High school
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers79% similar · High school
- Sailors and Marine Oilers78% similar · High school
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders77% similar · High school
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers77% similar · High school
- Aircraft Service Attendants77% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs for former captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels →
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Bridge and Lock Tenders (74)
- Commercial Pilots (74)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (72)
- First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers (71)
- Forest Fire Inspectors and Prevention Specialists (71)
- Forest and Conservation Workers (71)
- Locomotive Engineers (71)
- Gas Plant Operators (70)
- Subway and Streetcar Operators (70)
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers (69)
Questions about jobs like captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
What jobs are most similar to captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Motorboat Operators (80% similar), Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers (79% similar), Sailors and Marine Oilers (78% similar), Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders (77% similar) and Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers (77% similar).
Which jobs like captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($232,140, +151%; usually a bachelor's degree), Commercial Pilots ($123,220, +33%; usually training or an associate degree) and Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers ($96,710, +5%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels ($92,460). Without more preparation than captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels usually need: Commercial Pilots and Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.