The average salary for a sailor in California is around $55,180 per year.
Avg Salary
Sailors earn an average yearly salary of $55,180.
Wages typically start from $37,210 and go up to $79,290.
32% below national average Updated in 2025
Sailor earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level sailor earnings begin at:
$38.12 per hour
$79,290 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level sailor earnings begin at:
$33.07 per hour
$68,780 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level sailor earnings begin at:
$26.53 per hour
$55,180 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level sailor earnings begin at:
$20.93 per hour
$43,540 per year
10th percentile
Starting level sailor earnings begin at:
$17.89 per hour
$37,210 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Sailor salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Hawaii | $76,140 |
| New Jersey | $71,880 |
| Oregon | $70,410 |
| Washington | $66,700 |
| Alaska | $63,130 |
| Maryland | $62,280 |
| Tennessee | $60,580 |
| Delaware | $60,040 |
| Florida | $57,930 |
| Minnesota | $56,680 |
| Indiana | $56,570 |
| Texas | $55,610 |
| California | $55,180 |
| New York | $54,210 |
| Ohio | $53,520 |
| Missouri | $51,940 |
| Michigan | $51,310 |
| South Carolina | $50,500 |
| Mississippi | $50,390 |
| Virginia | $49,120 |
| Illinois | $49,090 |
| Wisconsin | $48,880 |
| Rhode Island | $48,860 |
| Iowa | $48,100 |
| Kentucky | $47,460 |
| West Virginia | $47,370 |
| Maine | $46,800 |
| Louisiana | $46,610 |
| Connecticut | $45,280 |
| North Carolina | $44,770 |
| Massachusetts | $44,070 |
| Alabama | $43,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,810 |
| Georgia | $37,500 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $28,880 |
| Arkansas | $23,960 |
| District of Columbia | $23,920 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,020 |
How do sailor salaries compare to similar careers?
Sailors earn 6% less than similar careers in California. On average, they make less than ship loaders but more than couriers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Ship loader salary | $69K |
| Bus driver salary | $67K |
| Rail transportation worker salary | $67K |
| Truck driver salary | $60K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $58K |
| Sailor salary | $55K |
| Travel agent salary | $51K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $47K |
| Tour guide salary | $46K |
| Courier salary | $45K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)