Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL make a median of $65,650 a year, or about $31.56 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 114.16), so that salary is closer to $57,507 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,436/month — about 53.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $66K get you in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach’s Regional Price Parity (114.16). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $66K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | $113K | +32% | 530 |
| Texas | $106K | +24% | 4,090 |
| Washington | $105K | +22% | 1,600 |
| New York | $104K | +21% | 2,080 |
| Louisiana | $103K | +21% | 6,310 |
| Iowa | $100K | +17% | 100 |
| Maryland | $95K | +11% | 460 |
| West Virginia | $95K | +11% | 110 |
| Tennessee | $92K | +7% | 840 |
| New Jersey | $92K | +7% | 880 |
| Arkansas | $89K | +4% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $84K | -2% | 90 |
| Virginia | $82K | -4% | 1,890 |
| Pennsylvania | $82K | -4% | 530 |
| Kentucky | $82K | -4% | 1,490 |
| Indiana | $82K | -5% | 810 |
| Alaska | $80K | -6% | 710 |
| Georgia | $80K | -6% | 200 |
| California | $80K | -7% | 1,970 |
| Missouri | $78K | -9% | 370 |
| Alabama | $76K | -11% | 410 |
| Illinois | $76K | -11% | 840 |
| Hawaii | $76K | -11% | 530 |
| Oregon | $76K | -12% | 480 |
| Michigan | $73K | -15% | 490 |
| Connecticut | $72K | -15% | 340 |
| Delaware | $72K | -16% | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $68K | -21% | 560 |
| Rhode Island | $67K | -21% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $67K | -22% | 430 |
| New Hampshire | $67K | -22% | 40 |
| Wisconsin | $65K | -24% | 150 |
| Florida | $64K | -26% | 4,360 |
| Vermont | $62K | -28% | 50 |
| Maine | $61K | -28% | 330 |
| South Carolina | $58K | -32% | 410 |
| Ohio | $52K | -39% | 310 |
| Utah | $49K | -43% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 38 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL?
The median is $65,650 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,190, and experienced captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels can clear $126,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $66K enough to live in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,548/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,436/month, which eats 53.6% 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach has a Regional Price Parity of 114.16 (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 $57,507 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.