Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in Traverse City, MI
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Traverse City, MI make a median of $82,840 a year, or about $39.83 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.37), which stretches that salary to about $88,722 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,224/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $83K get you in Traverse City?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Traverse City’s Regional Price Parity (93.37). 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.
About captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Traverse City, MI
Entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $82K 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 Traverse City numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Traverse City, MI?
The median is $82,840 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,070, and experienced captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels can clear $135,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Traverse City?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,262/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,224/month, which eats 23.3% 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 Traverse City?
Traverse City has a Regional Price Parity of 93.37 (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 $88,722 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.