SOC 53-5021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — New Jersey
New Jersey · 1 metro areas compared
At $90,310, median pay for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in New Jersey tracks the national median of $92,460 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $90,310, median pay for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in New Jersey tracks the national median of $92,460 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $59,860 and $130,130. The lowest tenth earn under $50,420, while the highest tenth earn more than $156,790.
Employment stands at 510, or 0.1 jobs per thousand held locally. Among the 38 states with published data for this occupation, New Jersey ranks 12th by median wage. Atlantic City leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $79,990. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 207th of 736 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $50,420 | −45.5% |
| 25th | $59,860 | −35.3% |
| Median (50th) | $90,310 | −2.3% |
| 75th | $130,130 | +40.7% |
| 90th | $156,790 | +69.6% |
| Mean | $99,540 | +7.7% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New Jersey
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlantic City | $79,990 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Jersey run 8.8% above the national average, so the median of $90,310 buys what $83,006 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 10.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$90,310as reported by BLSLocal price level
108.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$83,006US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $90,310 a year, 2.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $50,420 to $156,790 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 510 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 12th of 38 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Atlantic City, at $79,990.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in New Jersey?
The median annual wage is $90,310, or $43.42 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 New Jersey is 2.3% 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 New Jersey earns more than $156,790 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $50,420 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 Atlantic City, at $79,990 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 510 jobs in this occupation in New Jersey. 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.
Explore related data