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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.
Every Ship Captain/Mate has a salary range. Few people know how wide it actually is. The national median salary for Ship Captain/Mates in 2026 is $93,111, with entry-level positions averaging $67,040 and senior roles reaching $132,218. But those numbers flatten a reality with enormous geographic variation — Sunnyvale pays a median of $169,600, while other markets fall well below the national average. We tracked 288 cities to build the complete picture.
Ship Captain/Mate falls within the Transportation & Logistics sector, specifically in Transportation. The typical education path involves Coast Guard license. The career outlook? Steady. Work style is ship-based — which means location flexibility varies, and so does the premium different markets are willing to pay. Cost-adjusted, this occupation outearns its reputation.
$103,200 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Ship Captain/Mate in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $169,600 — $103,200 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($66,400). 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 Ship Captain/Mates in 2026: $67,040 at entry (P10), $93,111 at midpoint, and $132,218 at the senior end (P90). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The $65,178 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $12,744 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Zoom out to the career trajectory, and the entry-level picture changes. The top 3 paying cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) average $158,400 — while the bottom 3 (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) average $66,933. That $91,467 gap means choosing the right city could be the equivalent of a major promotion. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
A Ship Captain/Mate in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $169,600 — $103,200 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($66,400). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Ship Captain/Mate is $67,040, while senior-level (P90) earners average $132,218. That $65,178 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
At the 90th percentile, Ship Captain/Mates pull in an average of $132,218. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
Even at the 10th percentile, Ship Captain/Mates average $67,040 nationally. That's a higher starting floor than many careers' median — a signal of strong baseline demand and compensation.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $67,040 | $93,111 | $132,218 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £33,498 | £46,525 | £66,066 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$53,946 | CA$74,924 | CA$106,393 |
| Australia | 13 | A$62,366 | A$86,620 | A$123,000 |
| Sweden | 24 | 380,441 kr | 528,391 kr | 750,315 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $80,914 | $112,380 | $159,580 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $78,192 | $108,600 | $154,212 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $77,760 | $108,000 | $153,360 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $72,000 | $100,000 | $142,000 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $71,136 | $98,800 | $140,296 |
| Washington | 8 | $69,768 | $96,900 | $137,598 |
| New York | 5 | $65,664 | $91,200 | $129,504 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $65,664 | $91,200 | $129,504 |
| Florida | 22 | $65,167 | $90,509 | $128,523 |
| Colorado | 11 | $64,041 | $88,945 | $126,303 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $63,936 | $88,800 | $126,096 |
| Nevada | 5 | $63,821 | $88,640 | $125,869 |
| Arizona | 12 | $63,504 | $88,200 | $125,244 |
| Oregon | 5 | $63,360 | $88,000 | $124,960 |
| Idaho | 3 | $63,168 | $87,733 | $124,581 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $62,669 | $87,040 | $123,597 |
| Utah | 4 | $62,496 | $86,800 | $123,256 |
| Virginia | 7 | $61,467 | $85,371 | $121,227 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $60,672 | $84,267 | $119,659 |
| Alaska | 1 | $60,480 | $84,000 | $119,280 |
| Illinois | 5 | $59,789 | $83,040 | $117,917 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $58,304 | $80,978 | $114,988 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $57,600 | $80,000 | $113,600 |
| Montana | 1 | $57,600 | $80,000 | $113,600 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $57,408 | $79,733 | $113,221 |
| Texas | 40 | $57,125 | $79,340 | $112,663 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $57,024 | $79,200 | $112,464 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $56,736 | $78,800 | $111,896 |
| Georgia | 6 | $56,544 | $78,533 | $111,517 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $56,448 | $78,400 | $111,328 |
| Kansas | 4 | $56,160 | $78,000 | $110,760 |
| Michigan | 6 | $55,968 | $77,733 | $110,381 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $55,296 | $76,800 | $109,056 |
| Maryland | 1 | $55,296 | $76,800 | $109,056 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $54,720 | $76,000 | $107,920 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $54,720 | $76,000 | $107,920 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $53,280 | $74,000 | $105,080 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $52,992 | $73,600 | $104,512 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $52,272 | $72,600 | $103,092 |
| Missouri | 4 | $52,272 | $72,600 | $103,092 |
| Alabama | 5 | $52,070 | $72,320 | $102,694 |
| Indiana | 3 | $51,264 | $71,200 | $101,104 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $51,264 | $71,200 | $101,104 |
| Iowa | 2 | $50,688 | $70,400 | $99,968 |
| Ohio | 6 | $50,592 | $70,267 | $99,779 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $48,384 | $67,200 | $95,424 |
The state salary map for Ship Captain/Mates: California at $112,380, Massachusetts at $108,600, Hawaii at $108,000 lead the pack. The bottom tier — Mississippi ($67,200), Ohio ($70,267), Iowa ($70,400) — shows how regional economics reshape compensation. Across all 46 states with data, the state-level spread alone is $45,180.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($169,600 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $80,000 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 | $169,600 | 212 | $80,000 | $100,322 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $158,400 | 198 | $80,000 | $94,157 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $147,200 | 184 | $80,000 | $87,991 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $144,800 | 181 | $80,000 | $86,670 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $142,400 | 178 | $80,000 | $85,349 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $141,600 | 177 | $80,000 | $84,908 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $141,600 | 177 | $80,000 | $84,908 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $138,400 | 173 | $80,000 | $83,147 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $138,400 | 173 | $80,000 | $83,147 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $135,200 | 169 | $80,000 | $81,385 |
The $65,178 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Ship Captain/Mate career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Transportation & Logistics sector, steady, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Ship Captain/Mates is $93,111 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $67,040, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $132,218.
The highest-paying city for Ship Captain/Mates is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $169,600. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($169,600), Santa Clara ($158,400), Irvine ($147,200). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Ship Captain/Mate salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $66,400. 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 Ship Captain/Mates (10th percentile) average $67,040 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $122,112. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Ship Captain/Mates average $132,218 nationally — $65,178 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Ship Captain/Mates can earn up to $240,832.
The top-paying states for Ship Captain/Mates are California ($112,380 median), Massachusetts ($108,600 median), Hawaii ($108,000 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Ship Captain/Mate involves Coast Guard license. The field is in the Transportation & Logistics sector (Transportation), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically ship-based.
With a national median of $93,111 and representation across 288 metro areas, Ship Captain/Mate offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $65,178 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
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.