SOC 53-5021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — Western Washington
Western Washington nonmetropolitan area · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay in Western Washington, WA is $68,460 a year, 26.0% under the national median of $92,460 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Western Washington, WA is $68,460 a year, 26.0% under the national median of $92,460 for this occupation. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $54,200 and $113,850. The lowest tenth earn under $40,230, while the highest tenth earn more than $143,460.
The area has 110 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.9 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Bremerton records the highest median at $113,850. Of the 355 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 158th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $40,230 | −56.5% |
| 25th | $54,200 | −41.4% |
| Median (50th) | $68,460 | −26.0% |
| 75th | $113,850 | +23.1% |
| 90th | $143,460 | +55.2% |
| Mean | $83,850 | −9.3% |
Other metro areas in Washington
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bremerton | $113,850 | 60 | |
| 2 | Mount Vernon | $113,850 | 40 | |
| 3 | Seattle | $109,080 | 1,140 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Western Washington run 7.0% above the national average, so the median of $68,460 buys what $63,981 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 30.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$68,460as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.0US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$63,981US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $68,460 a year, 26.0% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $40,230 to $143,460 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 110 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Bremerton, at $113,850.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Western Washington, WA?
The median annual wage is $68,460, or $32.91 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 Western Washington, WA is 26.0% 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 Western Washington, WA earns more than $143,460 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $40,230 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 Bremerton, at $113,850 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 110 jobs in this occupation in Western Washington, WA. 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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