SOC 53-5021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — Florida
Florida · 10 metro areas compared
In Florida the median wage is $76,040.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Florida the median wage is $76,040. That is 17.8% lower than the national median of $92,460. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $53,250 and $102,540. The lowest tenth earn under $36,240, while the highest tenth earn more than $136,120.
Employment stands at 5,040, or 0.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 38 states with published data for this occupation, Florida ranks 22nd by median wage. Deltona leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $92,580. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 202nd of 777 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $36,240 | −60.8% |
| 25th | $53,250 | −42.4% |
| Median (50th) | $76,040 | −17.8% |
| 75th | $102,540 | +10.9% |
| 90th | $136,120 | +47.2% |
| Mean | $84,720 | −8.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Florida
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deltona | $92,580 | 60 | |
| 2 | Jacksonville | $83,190 | 670 | |
| 3 | Orlando | $79,720 | 440 | |
| 4 | Miami | $78,280 | 1,710 | |
| 5 | Cape Coral | $77,630 | 130 | |
| 6 | Tampa | $77,180 | 580 | |
| 7 | Crestview | $75,370 | 110 | |
| 8 | Palm Bay | $74,260 | 130 | |
| 9 | North Port | $71,840 | 170 | |
| 10 | Port St. Lucie | $69,050 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Florida run 3.4% above the national average, so the median of $76,040 buys what $73,540 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 20.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$76,040as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.4US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$73,540US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $76,040 a year, 17.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $36,240 to $136,120 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 5,040 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 22nd of 38 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Deltona, at $92,580.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Florida?
The median annual wage is $76,040, or $36.56 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $92,460, so pay in Florida is 17.8% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Florida earns more than $136,120 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $36,240 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Deltona, at $92,580 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 5,040 jobs in this occupation in Florida. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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