Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Florida make a median of $76,040 a year, or about $36.56 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $77,135 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,658/month, about 31.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $76K get you in Florida?
About captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
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What this looks like in Florida
Pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Florida runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $92K. Rent runs $1,658/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) 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, Florida
Entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $100K spread from bottom to top.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary by metro in Florida
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | $93K | +22% | 60 |
| Jacksonville | $83K | +9% | 670 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford | $80K | +5% | 440 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $78K | +3% | 1,710 |
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers | $78K | +2% | 130 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $77K | +1% | 580 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $75K | -1% | 110 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $74K | -2% | 130 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota | $72K | -6% | 170 |
| Port St. Lucie | $69K | -9% | 100 |
| Naples-Marco Island | $65K | -14% | 140 |
| Panama City-Panama City Beach | $63K | -17% | 90 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessel afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 32.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,500/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 Florida?
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 $2,174/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 76% 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 Florida?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $76K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?
Florida pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $77K — below the national median.
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Florida?
The median is $76,040 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,240, and experienced captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels can clear $136,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,157/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 32.2% 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 Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 $77,135 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.