First Mate Salary in the United States

How much does a First Mate make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a First Mate in the United States is $110,989 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

However, a First Mate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $135,389
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $93,052 to $123,761
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $76,721
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View as table View as graph 25% $93,052 10% $76,721 90% $135,389 75% $123,761 $110,989 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

First Mate Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $123,761 $10,313 $2,380 $60
Average $110,989 $9,249 $2,134 $53
25th Percentile $93,052 $7,754 $1,789 $45
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Key Factors That Influence First Mate Salaries

A First Mate's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects First Mate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a First Mate's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $114,726
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $140,253
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $162,205
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $193,747
  • Expert (over 8 years): $168,357
Levels Salary
First Mat... Level First Mate$114,726
Pilot II Level First Mate$140,253
Pilot III... Level First Mate$162,205
Pilot IV Level First Mate$193,747
Chief Pil... Level First Mate$168,357
$114,726 0 yr
$140,253 < 2 yrs
$162,205 2-4 yrs
$193,747 5-8 yrs
$168,357 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for First Mates

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $139,990
  • San Francisco: $138,614
  • Oakland: $135,540

What Skills Can Increase a First Mate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 15% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Aviation (Mentioned in 5% Job Postings): Aviation is the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. Aircraft includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as hot air balloons and airships.
  • Counterintelligence (Mentioned in 5% Job Postings): Counterintelligence is an activity aimed at protecting an agency's intelligence program from an opposition's intelligence service.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 15%
Aviation 5%
Counterintelligence 5%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a First Mate's salary.
  • Security Clearance: Can increase your salary by up to 35%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 34%.
  • Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Security Clearance
$149,835
35%
Leadership
$148,725
34%
Planning
$136,516
23%
Counterintelligence
$128,747
16%
Attention to Detail
$127,637
15%
Commitment
$124,308
12%
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How Education impacts a First Mate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many First Mates enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a First Mate with a No Diploma is between $111,595 and $121,843).

First Mate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for First Mate
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 14.0%
High School 14.0%
Associates 16.3%
Bachelors 65.1%
Masters 4.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
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First Mate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a First Mate's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for First Mate

Salaries for a First Mate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $82,212 in 2023 to around $74,489 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of First Mate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of First Mate Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$82,212
2024
$77,763
2025
$74,489
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $82,212
2024 $77,763
2025 $74,489
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for First Mate

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for First Mate

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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