Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Minnesota make a median of $80,920 a year, or about $38.9 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $87,387 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 27.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Minnesota. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $81K get you in Minnesota?
About captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Minnesota runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $92K. Rent runs $1,384/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, Minnesota
Entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $97K 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 Minnesota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessel afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 27.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/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 Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,266/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 61% 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 Minnesota?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $81K here vs. $92K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?
Minnesota pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $92K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $87K — below the national median.
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Minnesota?
The median is $80,920 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,770, and experienced captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels can clear $134,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,103/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 27.1% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $87,387 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.