Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,120 a year or less, while the top 10% make $197,380 or more. The middle half of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in San Francisco earn between $85,030 and $130,410.
- $64K10th
- $85K25th
- $125KMedian
- $130K75th
- $197K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $132,650 | $11,054 | $63.77 |
| Median | $124,610 | $10,384 | $59.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,030 | $7,086 | $40.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $130,410 | $10,868 | $62.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in San Francisco earn about the same as the California average ($129,580) and 28% more than the U.S. average ($103,720). At the median the gap is +35% against the U.S. median of $92,460.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $132,650 | $124,610 | $64,120 | $197,380 | 440 |
| California | $129,580 | $110,090 | $56,060 | $348,100 | 2,420 |
| United States | $103,720 | $92,460 | $47,420 | $170,640 | 36,850 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $132,650, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $93,688 a year, or $7,807 a month and $3,603 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $132,650 buys what about $114,736 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 8.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 2nd of 6 California metro areas for this job; Los Angeles pays the most ($144,120).
- Los Angeles$144,120
- San Francisco$132,650
- Oxnard$103,610
- Sacramento$101,680
- San Diego$93,150
- Salinas$73,490
All Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
Baton Rouge, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($149,980).
- Baton Rouge, LA$149,980
- Los Angeles, CA$144,120
- San Francisco, CA$132,650
- Louisville, KY$127,740
- Slidell, LA$122,670
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Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make an hour in San Francisco?
$63.77 an hour on average, and $59.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,120 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $93,688 a year ($7,807 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $132,650. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 28% more than the U.S. average for this job ($103,720).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-5021; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 16.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.78, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.78).
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