Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Georgia make a median of $77,090 a year, or about $37.06 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $122K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $83,894 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 28.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $77K get you in Georgia?
About captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
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What this looks like in Georgia
Pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Georgia runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $92K. Rent runs $1,434/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $122K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary by metro in Georgia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Savannah | $81K | +5% | 130 |
Compare to other states
Track captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessel afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,318/month. At HUD’s $1,434/month FMR, rent would take 62% 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 Georgia?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $77K here vs. $92K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?
Georgia pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — below the national median.
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Georgia?
The median is $77,090 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,640, and experienced captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels can clear $121,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,903/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 29.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary go in Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $83,894 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.