Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels Salary in Louisiana
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Louisiana earned a median of $117,160 a year ($56.33 an hour) and a mean of $119,980 in May 2025. The median is 26.7% above the U.S. median of $92,460, ranking 3rd of 40 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $117,160
- Median hourly
- $56.33
- Mean annual
- $119,980
- Jobs on record
- 6,830
Grey needle: U.S. median, $92,460 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Louisiana compare on pay for captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels?
Louisiana ranks 3rd of 40 states and territories. Maryland is highest at $138,950, $21,790 more than the Louisiana median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 1 | $138,950 | +50% | 450 |
| Tennessee | 2 | $132,710 | +44% | 940 |
| Louisiana | 3 | $117,160 | +27% | 6,830 |
| Texas | 4 | $111,390 | +20% | 3,400 |
| California | 5 | $110,090 | +19% | 2,420 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 40 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Louisiana pay go further after prices?
Prices in Louisiana run 11.8% below the U.S. average, so the $117,160 median buys about what $132,824 buys at average U.S. prices, above the $92,460 U.S. median. On this measure Louisiana ranks 2nd of 38, up from 3rd before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Louisiana pay captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels the most?
Baton Rouge, LA is highest at $129,260, 10.3% above the Louisiana median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | $129,260 | 900 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $121,710 | 1,940 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | $120,810 | 580 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $119,630 | 150 |
| Lafayette, LA | $116,200 | 270 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $103,780 | 2,040 |
| Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $102,460 | 530 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Louisiana is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels work in Louisiana?
BLS counts 6,830 jobs in Louisiana, 18.5% of the 36,850 in the U.S. That is the largest count among the 39 states and territories with a published figure. That is 3.5 of every 1,000 jobs in Louisiana, a location quotient of 14.89: the occupation's share of local jobs is 14.89 times its national share, so it is more concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Louisiana
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.