SOC 53-5021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — Hawaii
Hawaii · 2 metro areas compared
The median wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Hawaii is $72,960 per year, 21.1% below the national median of $92,460.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Hawaii is $72,960 per year, 21.1% below the national median of $92,460. Half of workers earn between $52,980 and $102,750. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $47,550 and the ninetieth at $115,100.
Employment stands at 700, or 1.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Hawaii ranks number 27th out of 38 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Kahului records the highest median at $80,800. Of the 537 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 221st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $47,550 | −48.6% |
| 25th | $52,980 | −42.7% |
| Median (50th) | $72,960 | −21.1% |
| 75th | $102,750 | +11.1% |
| 90th | $115,100 | +24.5% |
| Mean | $79,360 | −14.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Hawaii
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului | $80,800 | 140 | |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu | $72,880 | 420 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Hawaii run 10.0% above the national average, so the median of $72,960 buys what $66,327 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 28.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$72,960as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$66,327US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $72,960 a year, 21.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $47,550 to $115,100 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 700 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 27th of 38 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Kahului, at $80,800.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Hawaii?
The median annual wage is $72,960, or $35.08 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 Hawaii is 21.1% 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 Hawaii earns more than $115,100 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $47,550 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 Kahului, at $80,800 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 700 jobs in this occupation in Hawaii. 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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