The median annual wage for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN is $76,090 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $82,860.
Pay spans roughly $36,900 at the 10th percentile to $129,500 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $36.58 per hour. An estimated 380 people work as captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN.
| Median (annual) | $76,090 |
| Mean (annual) | $82,860 |
| Median (hourly) | $36.58 |
| 10th percentile | $36,900 |
| 90th percentile | $129,500 |
| Employment | 380 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.