Assembling your view…
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
If you're considering this career, the geography of pay matters. The national median salary for Fishermans in 2026 is $46,556, with entry-level positions averaging $33,520 and senior roles reaching $66,109. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $84,800, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Positioned in Agriculture within the broader Agriculture industry, Fishermans typically hold No formal requirement. The employment landscape is shaped by declining, and the day-to-day is vessel-based. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$51,600 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Fisherman in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $84,800 — $51,600 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($33,200). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Fishermans in 2026: $33,520 at entry (P10), $46,556 at midpoint, and $66,109 at the senior end (P90). Stack the top-paying states against the cheapest — the math is revealing. The $32,589 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $33,811 below the national median household income of $80,367.
The state breakdown adds another layer. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $79,200 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $33,467. That $45,733 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. That premium is real — and it compounds over a career.
A Fisherman in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $84,800 — $51,600 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($33,200). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $33,520 | $46,556 | $66,109 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £17,419 | £24,193 | £34,354 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$27,586 | CA$38,314 | CA$54,405 |
| Australia | 13 | A$34,466 | A$47,869 | A$67,974 |
| Sweden | 24 | 193,289 kr | 268,457 kr | 381,208 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $40,457 | $56,190 | $79,790 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $39,096 | $54,300 | $77,106 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $38,880 | $54,000 | $76,680 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $36,000 | $50,000 | $71,000 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $35,568 | $49,400 | $70,148 |
| Washington | 8 | $34,884 | $48,450 | $68,799 |
| New York | 5 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $32,832 | $45,600 | $64,752 |
| Florida | 22 | $32,583 | $45,255 | $64,261 |
| Colorado | 11 | $32,020 | $44,473 | $63,151 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $31,968 | $44,400 | $63,048 |
| Nevada | 5 | $31,910 | $44,320 | $62,934 |
| Arizona | 12 | $31,752 | $44,100 | $62,622 |
| Oregon | 5 | $31,680 | $44,000 | $62,480 |
| Idaho | 3 | $31,584 | $43,867 | $62,291 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $31,334 | $43,520 | $61,798 |
| Utah | 4 | $31,248 | $43,400 | $61,628 |
| Virginia | 7 | $30,734 | $42,686 | $60,614 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $30,336 | $42,133 | $59,829 |
| Alaska | 1 | $30,240 | $42,000 | $59,640 |
| Illinois | 5 | $29,894 | $41,520 | $58,958 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $29,152 | $40,489 | $57,494 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $28,800 | $40,000 | $56,800 |
| Montana | 1 | $28,800 | $40,000 | $56,800 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $28,704 | $39,867 | $56,611 |
| Texas | 40 | $28,562 | $39,670 | $56,331 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $28,512 | $39,600 | $56,232 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $28,368 | $39,400 | $55,948 |
| Georgia | 6 | $28,272 | $39,267 | $55,759 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $28,224 | $39,200 | $55,664 |
| Kansas | 4 | $28,080 | $39,000 | $55,380 |
| Michigan | 6 | $27,984 | $38,867 | $55,191 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $27,648 | $38,400 | $54,528 |
| Maryland | 1 | $27,648 | $38,400 | $54,528 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $27,360 | $38,000 | $53,960 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $27,360 | $38,000 | $53,960 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $26,640 | $37,000 | $52,540 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $26,496 | $36,800 | $52,256 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $26,136 | $36,300 | $51,546 |
| Missouri | 4 | $26,136 | $36,300 | $51,546 |
| Alabama | 5 | $26,035 | $36,160 | $51,347 |
| Indiana | 3 | $25,632 | $35,600 | $50,552 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $25,632 | $35,600 | $50,552 |
| Iowa | 2 | $25,344 | $35,200 | $49,984 |
| Ohio | 6 | $25,296 | $35,133 | $49,889 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $24,192 | $33,600 | $47,712 |
The state salary map for Fishermans: California at $56,190, Massachusetts at $54,300, Hawaii at $54,000 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($33,600), Ohio ($35,133), Iowa ($35,200) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $22,590.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($84,800 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $40,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $84,800 | 212 | $40,000 | $53,325 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $79,200 | 198 | $40,000 | $50,131 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $73,600 | 184 | $40,000 | $46,936 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $72,400 | 181 | $40,000 | $46,251 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $71,200 | 178 | $40,000 | $45,567 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $70,800 | 177 | $40,000 | $45,338 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $70,800 | 177 | $40,000 | $45,338 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $69,200 | 173 | $40,000 | $44,426 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $69,200 | 173 | $40,000 | $44,426 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $67,600 | 169 | $40,000 | $43,513 |
From a career planning perspective, Fisherman offers a $32,589 earning range. The 2.0× progression is steady — not explosive, but reliable. The typical entry requires No formal requirement. Day-to-day, expect vessel-based work environments. With data from 288 cities, the geographic flexibility is substantial — this career travels well.
The weighted national median salary for Fishermans is $46,556 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $33,520, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $66,109.
The highest-paying city for Fishermans is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $84,800. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($84,800), Santa Clara ($79,200), Irvine ($73,600). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Fisherman salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $33,200. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Fishermans (10th percentile) average $33,520 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $61,056. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Fishermans average $66,109 nationally — $32,589 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Fishermans can earn up to $120,416.
The top-paying states for Fishermans are California ($56,190 median), Massachusetts ($54,300 median), Hawaii ($54,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Fisherman involves No formal requirement. The field is in the Agriculture sector (Agriculture), and the career outlook is declining. Work style is typically vessel-based.
With a national median of $46,556 and representation across 288 metro areas, Fisherman offers a foundation that can be strengthened by strategic location choices. The $32,589 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: declining.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.