Navigational Services to Shipping Revenue Benchmarks
The average navigational services to shipping business in the United States generates $3.9M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 883 navigational services to shipping businesses in the U.S., employing 14,157 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $105K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Navigational to Shipping Business Actually Do?
Marine pilotage and tugboat services in ports — mandatory pilotage for commercial vessels entering harbors.
Who buys: Commercial shipping lines, cruise ships, ship owners.
Average Revenue
$3.9M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$243K
per year
Total Businesses
883
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$195K
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$105K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.3
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Navigational Services to Shipping Charge?
Marine pilotage, tugboat, and ship assist services in ports.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Tugboat assist (per hour) | $500–2,500/hour |
Ship pilot service | $1,500–8,000 per pilotage |
Container ship harbor assist | $3,000–15,000 per event |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete navigational to shipping business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a navigational services to shipping business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the navigational services to shipping industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Fuel & vehicle costs | $30 | $1.2M | Fuel is often the single biggest line — plus tires, maintenance, tolls. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $1.4M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $234K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $117K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $21 | $819K | Insurance (very high), truck payments, dispatching software, driver benefits. |
Net profit | $5 | $195K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
7.95%
openings/year
Closure Rate
6.43%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-0.61%
annual
Businesses Closed
120
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Navigational to Shipping Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
9 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a navigational services to shipping business do?
- Marine pilotage and tugboat services in ports — mandatory pilotage for commercial vessels entering harbors. Commercial shipping lines, cruise ships, ship owners.
- How much do navigational services to shipping charge?
- Marine pilotage, tugboat, and ship assist services in ports. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average navigational services to shipping make per year?
- The average navigational services to shipping business generates $3.9M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $195K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many navigational services to shipping businesses are there in the US?
- There are 883 navigational services to shipping businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 14,157 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a navigational services to shipping business?
- Startup costs for a navigational services to shipping business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the navigational services to shipping industry?
- The average employee in the navigational services to shipping industry earns $105K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The navigational services to shipping industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of -0.6%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 7.9% and 6.4% respectively.
Approximately 72% of navigational services to shipping businesses survive their first 5 years. This is above the national average (~50%), making it a relatively safe industry to enter. In 2023, 120 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the navigational services to shipping industry earns $104,822/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 910 establishments employing 16,666 people, the typical business has about 18 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The navigational services to shipping industry has grown 6% since 2000 (from 1,719 to 1,814 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Navigational Services to Shipping revenue with other industries: