Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Maryland make a median of $138,950 a year, or about $66.8 an hour. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $222K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $140,695 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,795/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Maryland. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $139K get you in Maryland?
About captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
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What this looks like in Maryland
Maryland sits well above the national pay line for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels, local pay runs about 50% higher than the U.S. median of $92K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,795/month, 21.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Maryland offers a genuinely strong financial position for captains, mates, and pilots of water vesselss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $139K. Top earners bring in $222K or more, a $167K 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 Maryland numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessel afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
Yes — at the median salary of $139K, rent takes 21.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/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 Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,295/month. At HUD’s $1,795/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 Maryland?
Local pay is 50% above the national median — $139K here vs. $92K nationally.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?
Maryland pays $139K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s +50%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $141K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Maryland?
The median is $138,950 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,920, and experienced captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels can clear $222,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $139K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,265/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 21.7% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $140,695 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.