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.
31% 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 |
| 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 |
| Maryland | $50,470 |
| 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 |
| Puerto Rico | $31,670 |
| Virgin Islands, U.S. | $28,190 |
| Arkansas | $23,960 |
| District of Columbia | $23,920 |
How do sailor salaries compare to similar careers?
Sailors earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than bus drivers but more than tour guides.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Bus driver salary | $67K |
| Rail transportation worker salary | $67K |
| Highway maintenance worker salary | $60K |
| Truck driver salary | $60K |
| Cargo and freight agent salary | $58K |
| Sailor salary | $55K |
| Travel agent salary | $51K |
| Delivery service driver salary | $47K |
| Shipping/Receiving clerk salary | $47K |
| Tour guide salary | $46K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)