2021 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary Guide

Command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary

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Salary

$72.3K

Growth

-0%

Bright Outlook

Below Average

Green

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Job Description

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 known as:

Boat Captain, Boat Operator, Captain, Ferry Boat Captain, First Mate, Ship Captain, Ship Pilot, Tugboat Captain, Tugboat Mate, Vessel Master

How Much Do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Make ? 2021

Percentile	10%	25%	50% (Median)	75%	90%
Annual Wage	$37,270	$50,020	$72,340	$105,330	$153,700
Hourly Wage	$17.92	$24.05	$34.78	$50.64	$73.89

How Much Do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Make ? 2021

Percentile

10%

25%

50% (Median)

75%

90%

Annual Wage

$37,270

$50,020

$72,340

$105,330

$153,700

Hourly Wage

$17.92

$24.05

$34.78

$50.64

$73.89

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Tasks

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.
Inspect vessels to ensure efficient and safe operation of vessels and equipment and conformance to regulations.
Read gauges to verify sufficient levels of hydraulic fluid, air pressure, or oxygen.
Tow and maneuver barges or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations.
Tow and maneuver barges or signal tugboats to tow barges to destinations.
Report to appropriate authorities any violations of federal or state pilotage laws.
Provide assistance in maritime rescue operations.
Signal passing vessels, using whistles, flashing lights, flags, or radios.
Measure depths of water, using depth-measuring equipment.
Maintain boats or equipment on board, such as engines, winches, navigational systems, fire extinguishers, or life preservers.
Signal crew members or deckhands to rig tow lines, open or close gates or ramps, or pull guard chains across entries.
Perform various marine duties, such as checking for oil spills or other pollutants around ports or harbors or patrolling beaches.
Maintain records of daily activities, personnel reports, ship positions and movements, ports of call, weather and sea conditions, pollution control efforts, or cargo or passenger status.
Advise ships' masters on harbor rules and customs procedures.
Observe loading or unloading of cargo or equipment to ensure that handling and storage are performed according to specifications.
Calculate sightings of land, using electronic sounding devices and following contour lines on charts.
Learn to operate new technology systems and procedures through instruction, simulators, or models.
Direct or coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading or unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, or operating, maintaining, or repairing ship equipment.
Direct or coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading or unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, or operating, maintaining, or repairing ship equipment.
Direct or coordinate crew members or workers performing activities such as loading or unloading cargo, steering vessels, operating engines, or operating, maintaining, or repairing ship equipment.
Arrange for ships to be fueled, restocked with supplies, or repaired.
Assign watches or living quarters to crew members.
Supervise crews in cleaning or maintaining decks, superstructures, or bridges.
Purchase supplies or equipment.
Interview and hire crew members.

What Activities Do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Do?

Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
Direct passenger or freight transport activities.
Direct passenger or freight transport activities.
Read maps to determine routes.
Operate ships or other watercraft.
Operate communications equipment or systems.
Operate ships or other watercraft.
Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Operate ships or other watercraft.
Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
Assist others during emergencies.
Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Measure the level or depth of water or other liquids.
Maintain watercraft engines or machinery.
Communicate with others to coordinate material handling or movement.
Monitor surroundings to detect potential hazards.
Record operational details of travel.
Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
Monitor work environment to ensure safety or adherence to specifications.
Determine geographic coordinates.
Maintain professional knowledge or certifications.
Direct maintenance or repair activities.
Direct material handling or moving activities.
Direct passenger or freight transport activities.
Arrange maintenance activities.
Direct passenger or freight transport activities.
Direct maintenance or repair activities.
Acquire supplies or equipment.
Recommend personnel decisions or human resources activities.

Typical Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Knowledge?

Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Law and Government - Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

What Are Typical Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Abilities?

Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.

What Are Typical Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Skills? 2021

Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

What Are Typical Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Interests?

Conventional - Occupations related to Conventional interests frequently involve following set procedures and routines. They include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Enterprising - Occupations with Enterprising interests frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. Many involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Realistic - Occupations with Realistic interests frequently involve practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

What Is The Projected Employment For Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels ? 2021

Location	2019 Employment	2029 Employment	Percent change	Annual projected job openings
United States	38,900	38,700	-0%	3,300

What Is The Projected Employment For Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels ? 2021

Location

2019 Employment

2029 Employment

Percent change

Annual projected job openings

United States

38,900

38,700

-0%

3,300

What Is The Required Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Education & Experience? 2021

Postsecondary certificate
Less than 5 years work experience
No on-the-job training

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Schools ?

School	Program Name	Location	Length / Graduates
Alpena Community College	Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer	Alpena, MI	2 years: 1
California State University Maritime Academy	Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer	Vallejo, CA	4 years: 1 4 years: 80
Clatsop Community College	Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer	Astoria, OR	At least one but less than two years: 0 Less than one year: 4
Maine Maritime Academy	Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer	Castine, ME	2 years: 4 4 years: 47
Massachusetts Maritime Academy	Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer	Buzzards Bay, MA	4 years: 59
Northwestern Michigan College	Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer	Traverse City, MI	4 years: 58
San Jacinto Community College	Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer	Pasadena, TX	2 years: 23
Seattle Central College	Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer	Seattle, WA	At least one but less than two years: 5
SUNY Maritime College	Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer	Throggs Neck, NY	4 years: 160
Texas A & M University-College Station	Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer	College Station, TX	4 years: 76

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Schools ?

11 United States

School

Program Name

Location

Length / Graduates

Alpena Community College