Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in Tennessee

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vesselss in Tennessee have a median annual salary of $132,710, which works out to about $63.80 per hour, with a typical 25th–75th percentile range of $76,420 to $165,700, based on the latest BLS OEWS data.

53-5021 · Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay in Tennessee at a glance

Median annual salary

$132,710

Median hourly wage

$63.80/hr

Average annual salary

$132,020

Average hourly wage

$63.47/hr

25th percentile

$76,420

75th percentile

$165,700

10th percentile

$60,270

90th percentile

$215,470

People employed

940

Salary distribution

Reported wage points from the lowest to the highest paid captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels roles in Tennessee.

10th percentile
$60,270
25th percentile
$76,420
Median percentile
$132,710
75th percentile
$165,700
90th percentile
$215,470

Tennessee vs U.S. salary

The median salary for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels roles in Tennessee is about 43.5% above the U.S. median of $92,460 for the same occupation.

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How much does a captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels make in Tennessee?

Half of captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels roles in Tennessee report earning more than $132,710 a year and half report earning less — that is the median. The mean (average) of $132,020 is pulled up or down by the highest and lowest earners, which is why the median is usually the better benchmark.

Salary range

A quarter of reported salaries fall below $76,420 and a quarter are above $165,700, so most captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels pay sits between those two figures. These percentiles describe how pay is spread across all reported roles — they are not a direct measure of years of experience.

What can affect captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels pay?

  • Years of experience and level of responsibility
  • Employer type and size
  • Specialization within the occupation
  • Certifications and licensing
  • Industry
  • Hours worked, shift patterns and overtime
  • The local labor market where the job is based

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels pay in other states

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Methodology · Data sources

Salary figures are benchmarks and can vary by employer, experience, specialization, hours worked and other factors.