Best states for a fishing vessel deckhand

Q: What is the best state for fishing vessel deckhands?

The best state to be a fishing vessel deckhand is New York based on fishing vessel deckhand salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for fishing vessel deckhands?

The highest paying state for fishing vessel deckhands is Idaho based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for fishing vessel deckhands?

The worst state for fishing vessel deckhands is Idaho, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

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It seems like fishing vessel deckhands are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for fishing vessel deckhands aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. Our research shows that New York is the best state in the country for fishing vessel deckhands.

In order to get you the best states for fishing vessel deckhands, we looked at our data on jobs and wages -- specifically the average annual wage and the number of available jobs per capita.We found that the West is best for fishing vessel deckhands, and the Northeast is the worst. Channelview, TX is the best city in the country for fishing vessel deckhand jobs, where as New York is the best state in the country.

10 best states for fishing vessel deckhands in 2025

1. New York
Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs: 12
Average annual salary: $75,018
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $158,000
Location Quotient:
1.27
Fishing vessel deckhand jobs in New York
2. New Jersey
Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs: 5
Average annual salary: $75,941
Lowest 10 percent earn: $35,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $160,000
Location Quotient:
0.86
Fishing vessel deckhand jobs in New Jersey
3. Delaware
Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $66,189
Lowest 10 percent earn: $30,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $144,000
Location Quotient:
0
Fishing vessel deckhand jobs in Delaware
4. Illinois
Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs: 10
Average annual salary: $54,869
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $105,000
Location Quotient:
1.14
Fishing vessel deckhand jobs in Illinois
5. Maryland
Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs: 1
Average annual salary: $65,155
Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $142,000
Location Quotient:
0.21
Fishing vessel deckhand jobs in Maryland
6. Massachusetts
Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs: 6
Average annual salary: $57,144
Lowest 10 percent earn: $26,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000
Location Quotient:
0.89
Fishing vessel deckhand jobs in Massachusetts
7. Alaska
Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs: 12
Average annual salary: $47,769
Lowest 10 percent earn: $23,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $98,000
Location Quotient:
19.55
Fishing vessel deckhand jobs in Alaska
8. Connecticut
Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $62,770
Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000
Location Quotient:
0
Fishing vessel deckhand jobs in Connecticut
9. Pennsylvania
Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs: 3
Average annual salary: $56,539
Lowest 10 percent earn: $25,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $126,000
Location Quotient:
0.35
Fishing vessel deckhand jobs in Pennsylvania
10. Rhode Island
Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs: 0
Average annual salary: $60,045
Lowest 10 percent earn: $27,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000
Location Quotient:
0
Fishing vessel deckhand jobs in Rhode Island

Fishing vessel deckhand jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be a fishing vessel deckhand

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for a fishing vessel deckhand

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	New York	$75,018	$35,000	19,849,399	12
2	New Jersey	$75,941	$35,000	9,005,644	5
3	Delaware	$66,189	$30,000	961,939	0
4	Illinois	$54,869	$28,000	12,802,023	10
5	Maryland	$65,155	$29,000	6,052,177	1
6	Massachusetts	$57,144	$26,000	6,859,819	6
7	Alaska	$47,769	$23,000	739,795	12
8	Connecticut	$62,770	$28,000	3,588,184	0
9	Pennsylvania	$56,539	$25,000	12,805,537	3
10	Rhode Island	$60,045	$27,000	1,059,639	0
11	District of Columbia	$64,832	$29,000	693,972	0
12	Ohio	$50,128	$23,000	11,658,609	6
13	Virginia	$53,805	$23,000	8,470,020	5
14	Michigan	$50,375	$24,000	9,962,311	4
15	New Hampshire	$53,706	$25,000	1,342,795	0
16	West Virginia	$51,254	$23,000	1,815,857	0
17	Iowa	$46,139	$25,000	3,145,711	2
18	Texas	$45,760	$21,000	28,304,596	15
19	Indiana	$40,797	$20,000	6,666,818	12
20	Nevada	$42,661	$19,000	2,998,039	3
21	Vermont	$49,358	$24,000	623,657	0
22	Kentucky	$41,203	$20,000	4,454,189	5
23	Arizona	$43,021	$19,000	7,016,270	4
24	North Carolina	$44,139	$20,000	10,273,419	2
25	Maine	$41,464	$21,000	1,335,907	1
26	Hawaii	$40,316	$23,000	1,427,538	3
27	Mississippi	$39,469	$19,000	2,984,100	3
28	Wisconsin	$41,743	$22,000	5,795,483	2
29	South Carolina	$41,355	$20,000	5,024,369	2
30	Louisiana	$38,169	$18,000	4,684,333	6
31	Tennessee	$37,941	$19,000	6,715,984	6
32	Alabama	$36,761	$18,000	4,874,747	13
33	California	$46,340	$20,000	39,536,653	2
34	Kansas	$41,446	$22,000	2,913,123	0
35	New Mexico	$41,804	$19,000	2,088,070	0
36	Florida	$37,348	$18,000	20,984,400	28
37	Arkansas	$38,058	$19,000	3,004,279	1
38	North Dakota	$36,382	$23,000	755,393	0
39	Minnesota	$37,945	$22,000	5,576,606	2
40	Missouri	$34,626	$18,000	6,113,532	8
41	Georgia	$38,618	$19,000	10,429,379	2
42	South Dakota	$33,262	$19,000	869,666	0
43	Montana	$29,602	$17,000	1,050,493	1
44	Washington	$26,584	$14,000	7,405,743	17
45	Oklahoma	$34,921	$18,000	3,930,864	0
46	Colorado	$29,321	$16,000	5,607,154	4
47	Nebraska	$32,100	$18,000	1,920,076	0
48	Utah	$28,364	$14,000	3,101,833	0
49	Oregon	$26,288	$13,000	4,142,776	2
50	Wyoming	$27,010	$15,000	579,315	0
51	Idaho	$26,096	$14,000	1,716,943	0

Highest paying states for fishing vessel deckhands

Rank	State	Avg. Fishing Vessel Deckhand Salary
1	New York	$75,018
2	New Jersey	$75,941
3	Delaware	$66,189
4	Illinois	$54,869
5	Maryland	$65,155
6	Massachusetts	$57,144
7	Alaska	$47,769
8	Connecticut	$62,770
9	Pennsylvania	$56,539
10	Rhode Island	$60,045
11	District of Columbia	$64,832
12	Ohio	$50,128
13	Virginia	$53,805
14	Michigan	$50,375
15	New Hampshire	$53,706
16	West Virginia	$51,254
17	Iowa	$46,139
18	Texas	$45,760
19	Indiana	$40,797
20	Nevada	$42,661
21	Vermont	$49,358
22	Kentucky	$41,203
23	Arizona	$43,021
24	North Carolina	$44,139
25	Maine	$41,464
26	Hawaii	$40,316
27	Mississippi	$39,469
28	Wisconsin	$41,743
29	South Carolina	$41,355
30	Louisiana	$38,169
31	Tennessee	$37,941
32	Alabama	$36,761
33	California	$46,340
34	Kansas	$41,446
35	New Mexico	$41,804
36	Florida	$37,348
37	Arkansas	$38,058
38	North Dakota	$36,382
39	Minnesota	$37,945
40	Missouri	$34,626
41	Georgia	$38,618
42	South Dakota	$33,262
43	Montana	$29,602
44	Washington	$26,584
45	Oklahoma	$34,921
46	Colorado	$29,321
47	Nebraska	$32,100
48	Utah	$28,364
49	Oregon	$26,288
50	Wyoming	$27,010
51	Idaho	$26,096

Fishing vessel deckhand best states FAQs

What is the best state for fishing vessel deckhands?

What is the highest paying state for fishing vessel deckhands?

What is the worst state for fishing vessel deckhands?

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Fishing Vessel Deckhand
Best states for Fishing Vessel Deckhands

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse farming, fishing, and forestry jobs

Total fishing vessel deckhand jobs:	12
Average annual salary:	$75,018
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$35,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$158,000
Location Quotient:	1.27

Best states for a fishing vessel deckhand

10 best states for fishing vessel deckhands in 2025

1. New York

2. New Jersey

3. Delaware

4. Illinois

5. Maryland

6. Massachusetts

7. Alaska

8. Connecticut

9. Pennsylvania

10. Rhode Island