Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Maine make a median of $72,770 a year, or about $34.99 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $104K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $74,483 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,281/month, or 27% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $73K get you in Maine?
About captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
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What this looks like in Maine
Pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Maine runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $92K. Rent runs $1,281/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) 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, Maine
Entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $104K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary by metro in Maine
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $74K | +2% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessel afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 27.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/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 Maine?
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 $2,858/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Maine?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $73K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?
Maine pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $74K — below the national median.
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Maine?
The median is $72,770 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,640, and experienced captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels can clear $104,240. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,657/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 27.5% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $74,483 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.