Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in Houston, TX

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

Median annual salary $116,620 +36.3% vs national
Median hourly $56.07
10th percentile $67,590
90th percentile $173,360
Employed locally 2,850
National median $85,540

Compare Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Houston, TX stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
in
Houston, TX
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $67,590
    25th
    $73,890
    50th (median)
    $116,620
    75th
    $164,630
    90th
    $173,360

    Houston economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.40% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,458 2023 • Census ACS
    Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary vs area income 145% Median Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary is 45% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Lower West Mississippi nonmetropolitan area $160,320
    Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $116,130
    Lake Charles, LA $113,350
    Mississippi $112,670
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $110,810
    Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $109,810

    Nearby metros — Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $109,810
    Corpus Christi, TX $75,010
    Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX $69,630
    Brownsville-Harlingen, TX $60,800

    Related occupations in Houston, TX

    OccupationMedian salary
    Stockers and Order Fillers $36,200
    Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $37,600
    Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,500
    Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $46,240
    Light Truck Drivers $43,690
    First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $59,890

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels make per hour in Houston?

    The median hourly wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Houston, TX is $56.07, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $84.82 or more per hour.

    Is Houston above or below average for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salaries?

    The median Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary in Houston, TX is 36.3% above the national median of $85,540. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Houston?

    Entry-level Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (10th percentile) earn around $67,590 per year in Houston, TX. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $73,890.