Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Hawaii make a median of $72,960 a year, or about $35.08 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $115K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 110.17), so that salary is closer to $66,225 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,240/month, about 47% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Hawaii. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Hawaii?
About captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
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What this looks like in Hawaii
Pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Hawaii runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $92K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,240/month, which is 49.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 10% above the national average (BEA RPP 110.17), so groceries and services cost more too. 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, Hawaii
Entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $115K or more, a $68K spread from bottom to top.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary by metro in Hawaii
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului-Wailuku | $81K | +11% | 140 |
| Urban Honolulu | $73K | -0% | 420 |
Compare to other states
Track captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Hawaii numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessel afford a 2BR apartment alone in Hawaii?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 49.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,240/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 Hawaii?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,853/month. At HUD’s $2,240/month FMR, rent would take 79% 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 Hawaii?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $73K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Hawaii compare to the national average for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?
Hawaii pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 110.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Hawaii?
The median is $72,960 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,550, and experienced captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels can clear $115,100. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Hawaii?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,552/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,240/month, which eats 49.2% 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 Hawaii?
Hawaii has a Regional Price Parity of 110.17 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary is worth about $66,225 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.