SOC 53-5021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — Texas
Texas · 4 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Texas comes to $111,390 a year, ahead of the national median of $92,460 by 20.5%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Texas comes to $111,390 a year, ahead of the national median of $92,460 by 20.5%. Pay ranges from under $64,850 at the tenth percentile to more than $170,800 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $70,780 to $145,560.
Employment stands at 3,400, or 0.2 jobs per thousand held locally. Texas ranks number 4th out of 38 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Houston records the highest median at $118,830. Of the 794 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 83rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,850 | −29.9% |
| 25th | $70,780 | −23.4% |
| Median (50th) | $111,390 | +20.5% |
| 75th | $145,560 | +57.4% |
| 90th | $170,800 | +84.7% |
| Mean | $112,180 | +21.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston | $118,830 | 2,550 | |
| 2 | Beaumont | $112,320 | 230 | |
| 3 | Brownsville | $103,800 | 50 | |
| 4 | Corpus Christi | $79,060 | 180 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Texas run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $111,390 goes as far as $114,717 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 24.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$111,390as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$114,717US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $111,390 a year, 20.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,850 to $170,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,400 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 4th of 38 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Houston, at $118,830.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Texas?
The median annual wage is $111,390, or $53.55 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 Texas is 20.5% higher. 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 Texas earns more than $170,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,850 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 Houston, at $118,830 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,400 jobs in this occupation in Texas. 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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