Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Arizona make a median of $58,700 a year, or about $28.22 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $60,886 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,437/month, about 36.6% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Arizona. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $59K get you in Arizona?
About captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
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What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Arizona runs about 37% below the U.S. median of $92K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,437/month, which is 36.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for captains, mates, and pilots of water vesselss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $84K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessel afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 36.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels typically earn — is $36K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,142/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 67% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is captains, mates, and pilots of water vessel a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay runs 37% below the national median — $59K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?
Arizona pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -37%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $61K — below the national median.
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Arizona?
The median is $58,700 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,700, and experienced captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels can clear $119,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,978/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 36.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary is worth about $60,886 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.