Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in Wilmington, NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Wilmington, NC

Median annual salary $59,350 -30.6% vs national
Median hourly $28.53
10th percentile $39,090
90th percentile $99,490
Employed locally 130
National median $85,540

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

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Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
in
Wilmington, NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $39,090
    25th
    $44,300
    50th (median)
    $59,350
    75th
    $77,600
    90th
    $99,490

    Wilmington economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.50% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $73,687 2023 • Census ACS
    Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary vs area income 81% Median Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary is 19% 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
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $110,810

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

    Metro areaMedian salary
    San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $110,810
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $104,120
    Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC $82,660
    Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN $80,480
    Anchorage, AK $78,490
    Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC $76,480

    Related occupations in Wilmington, NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Stockers and Order Fillers $34,670
    Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand $36,260
    Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $48,430
    Light Truck Drivers $37,390
    First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors $59,160
    Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment $30,820

    Frequently asked questions

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

    The median hourly wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Wilmington, NC is $28.53, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $49.13 or more per hour.

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

    The median Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary in Wilmington, NC is 30.6% below 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 Wilmington?

    Entry-level Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (10th percentile) earn around $39,090 per year in Wilmington, NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $44,300.