Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Delaware make a median of $73,280 a year, or about $35.23 an hour. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.51), that's roughly $75,151 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,448/month, about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Delaware. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $73K get you in Delaware?
About captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
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What this looks like in Delaware
Pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Delaware runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $92K. Rent runs $1,448/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.51) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Delaware
Entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $83K 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 Delaware numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessel afford a 2BR apartment alone in Delaware?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 30.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,448/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,400/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 Delaware?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,669/month. At HUD’s $1,448/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Delaware?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $73K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Delaware compare to the national average for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?
Delaware pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — below the national median.
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Delaware?
The median is $73,280 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,480, and experienced captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels can clear $127,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Delaware?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,696/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,448/month, which eats 30.8% 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 Delaware?
Delaware has a Regional Price Parity of 97.51 (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 $75,151 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.