Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in San Francisco, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

Median annual salary $110,810 +29.5% vs national
Median hourly $53.28
10th percentile $62,150
90th percentile $138,580
Employed locally 400
National median $85,540

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

Type a city below to see how San Francisco, CA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
in
San Francisco, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $62,150
    25th
    $64,170
    50th (median)
    $110,810
    75th
    $129,810
    90th
    $138,580

    San Francisco economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $133,780 2023 • Census ACS
    Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary vs area income 83% Median Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary is 17% below 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
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $116,620
    Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA $116,130
    Lake Charles, LA $113,350
    Mississippi $112,670
    Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX $109,810

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

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA $101,940
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $101,650
    Paducah, KY-IL $88,600
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $87,670
    California $79,560
    Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $76,970

    Related occupations in San Francisco, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$48,220
    Stockers and Order Fillers$44,630
    Light Truck Drivers$49,300
    Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$64,210
    First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$72,230
    Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$57,250

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in San Francisco, CA is $53.28, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $94.89 or more per hour.

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

    The median Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary in San Francisco, CA is 29.5% 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 San Francisco?

    Entry-level Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (10th percentile) earn around $62,150 per year in San Francisco, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $64,170.