Paycheck Atlas

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary in California

The median captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in California earns $110,090 a year, 19% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $6,548 a month.

10th percentile
$56,060
25th percentile
$73,630
Median percentile
$110,090
75th percentile
$132,310
90th percentile
$348,100

Based on 2,420 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.

What you keep

$78,572 take-home a year
Gross pay$110,090
Federal income tax−$15,390
Social Security + Medicare−$8,422
California income tax (approx.)−$7,706
Monthly take-home$6,548
Every two weeks$3,022

Does it go far here?

$99,431Median pay in California is worth this at average US prices (local price level 110.7 vs 100).
31%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,036 a month, Census ACS).

Top-paying jobs in California

JobMedian pay
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric$400,150
Neurologists$357,080
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers$353,900
Psychiatrists$353,500
General Internal Medicine Physicians$313,890
Obstetricians and Gynecologists$301,240
Nurse Anesthetists$292,410
Physicians, All Other$281,590

All captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels salaries · Take-home pay in California