First Mate Salary

$21K

$47.5K

$156.5K

$63,233

/year

$30.40

/hour

First Mate Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$63,233

Columbus

Ohio

$61,077

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    How much does a First Mate make?

    As of Aug 12, 2026, the average annual pay for a First Mate in the United States is $63,233 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $30.40 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,216/week or $5,269/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $156,500 and as low as $21,000, the majority of First Mate salaries currently range between $31,500 (25th percentile) to $85,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $139,000 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a First Mate varies greatly (by as much as 54000), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

    A First Mate in your area makes on average $61,077 per year, or $2,156 (3.410%) less than the national average annual salary of $63,233. Ohio ranks number 30 out of 50 states nationwide for First Mate salaries.

    To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for First Mate jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

    Find your next high paying job as a First Mate on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for First Mate Jobs

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a First Mate job is above the national average. Topping the list is Surry, VA, , with Scotts Valley, CA, and Ventura, CA, close behind in the second and third positions. Ventura, CA, beats the national average by $16,499 (26.1%), and Surry, VA, furthers that trend with another $27,711 (43.8%) above the $63,233 average.

    With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a First Mate appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

    However, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies modestly at 18% between Surry, VA, and White Plains, NY, , suggesting it may be difficult to see much positive wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may help determine the balance between location and salary for a First Mate role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Surry, VA

    $90,944

    $43.72

    Scotts Valley, CA

    $81,830

    $39.34

    Ventura, CA

    $79,732

    $38.33

    Barrow, AK

    $78,774

    $37.87

    Berkeley, CA

    $77,425

    $37.22

    Oak Bluffs, MA

    $76,575

    $36.81

    Vineyard Haven, MA

    $76,421

    $36.74

    Sitka, AK

    $76,176

    $36.62

    Livermore, CA

    $76,019

    $36.55

    White Plains, NY

    $75,365

    $36.23

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related First Mate Jobs in the U.S.

    Analyzing some similar jobs related to the First Mate job category, we found that Lathrop Ca jobs have average salaries greater than First Mate jobs.

    Significantly, Lathrop Ca jobs pay $15,943 (25.2%) more than the average First Mate salary of $63,233. If you're qualified, finding work as a Lathrop Ca may help you make more money than that of the average First Mate position.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Lathrop Ca

    $79,176

    $38.07

    Disney Hotel

    $55,109

    $26.49

    Support Ninja

    $38,671

    $18.59

    Work From Home Breakfast Server

    $28,656

    $13.78

    Gourmet

    $25,489

    $12.25

    About Our Data

    ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

    Infographic detailing First Mate salary across the United States as of August 2026. Displays a bar chart with salary percentiles, a national average salary of $63,233 per year or $30.40 an hour, and a color-coded map showing state-by-state salary variations.