Motorboat Operators earn a median of $47,520 per year ($22.85/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 4.9% through 2035, with about 300 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Postsecondary nondegree award.
- SOC 53-5022
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Motorboat Operator in four numbers
- Median pay
- $47,520a year, or $22.85/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $35KTop 10% $85K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +4.9%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+4.9%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +4.9% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 3002,800 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20252.8K
- Projected 20352.9K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 2.8K Projected 2035 2.9K - Typical education
- Certificateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Less than high school34.6%
- High school39.7%
- Certificate2.2%
- Some college8.6%
- Bachelor's14%
- Post-doctoral training0.9%
Highest education held by motorboat operators Segment Value Less than high school 34.6% High school 39.7% Certificate 2.2% Some college 8.6% Bachelor's 14% Post-doctoral training 0.9%
Also advertised as: Boat Operator, Crew Boat Operator, Harbor Pilot, Launch Operator, Launchman, Motorboat Operator.
Pay
How much do Motorboat Operators make?
Every motorboat operator in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$47,520
Middle half earn $42,760 to $69,010
- 10th
- $34,510
- 25th
- $42,760
- 75th
- $69,010
- 90th
- $84,530
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $34,510 |
| 25th | $42,760 |
| Median | $47,520 |
| 75th | $69,010 |
| 90th | $84,530 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $47,520
- Median hourly wage
- $22.85/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $56,270
- People employed
- 2,480
Versus all US occupations
At $47,520, Motorboat Operators earn 7% below the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $3,460 a year.
Versus transportation and material moving occupations
Inside the Transportation and Material Moving group, where the middle occupation pays $62,840, this is 24% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $84,530 or more while the bottom 10% earn $34,510, a gap of 2.4×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 17% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Hawaii pays the most at $76,250, and still leads at $69,349 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Motorboat Operators the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Hawaii | $76,250 | $69,349 | 330 |
| 2Illinois | $68,380 | $68,409 | 40 |
| 3Washington | $63,650 | $59,479 | 80 |
| 4New York | $62,000 | $57,449 | N/A |
| 5Texas | $50,270 | $51,794 | 270 |
| 6Michigan | $46,760 | $48,598 | N/A |
| 7Florida | $46,620 | $45,081 | 170 |
| 8Connecticut | $45,970 | $44,368 | N/A |
| 9Louisiana | $45,800 | $51,923 | 160 |
| 10Massachusetts | $45,160 | $42,702 | N/A |
Job outlook
Is Motorboat Operator a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +4.9% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Motorboat Operators | +4.9% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Motorboat Operators to change 4.9% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 300 openings are projected each year, 10.7% of the 2,800 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of water transportation workers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Fluctuations in the demand for bulk commodities, such as iron ore and grain, is a key factor influencing employment of water transportation workers. When demand for these commodities is high, the need for these workers increases; when demand slows, so does the need for workers.
Getting in
How to become a Motorboat Operator
Education and training requirements for water transportation workers vary by occupation. There are no educational requirements for entry-level sailors and marine oilers, but other water transportation workers typically complete U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)-approved training programs. Most water transportation jobs require the Transportation Worker Identification Credential from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and a Merchant Mariner Credential, plus related endorsements, from the Coast Guard.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Postsecondary nondegree award
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
Less than 5 years
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Little or no preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as motorboat operators.
- High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)39.7%
- Less than a High School Diploma34.6%
- Bachelor's Degree14%
- Some College Courses8.6%
- Post-Secondary Certificate2.2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) | 39.7% |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 34.6% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 14% |
| Some College Courses | 8.6% |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 2.2% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Motorboat Operator do?
Operate small motor-driven boats. May assist in navigational activities.
Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. The vessels travel to and from foreign ports across the ocean and to domestic ports along the coasts, across the Great Lakes, and along the country’s many inland waterways.
Day-to-day tasks
- Follow safety procedures to ensure the protection of passengers, cargo, and vessels.
- Operate engine throttles and steering mechanisms to guide boats on desired courses.
- Report any observed navigational hazards to authorities.
- Secure boats to docks with mooring lines, and cast off lines to enable departure.
- Organize and direct the activities of crew members.
- Oversee operation of vessels used for carrying passengers, motor vehicles, or goods across rivers, harbors, lakes, and coastal waters.
- Maintain desired courses, using compasses or electronic navigational aids.
- Arrange repairs, fuel, and supplies for vessels.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most water transportation workers are full time, and many work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules vary, depending on the job. Some crews, such as those on barges or deep-sea ships, may spend weeks or months away from home and work on board for long periods 7 days a week. Other workers, such as motorboat operators, may have day shifts from which they return home each night.
Some water transportation work is seasonal. For example, crews who work on the Great Lakes often do not work in the winter, when the lakes freeze. Ferry and motorboat operators who service ships for vacation destinations may work only in the summer.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayRarely works in a climate-controlled indoor space.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather at least weekly.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeStanding
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely importantDealing with customers or the public is very important.
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayMeeting strict deadlines at least weekly.
Conflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Speaking3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Active Listening3.1
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Reading Comprehension2.9
- Active Learning2.8
- Writing2.5
- Learning Strategies2.4
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 2.9 |
| Active Learning | 2.8 |
| Writing | 2.5 |
| Learning Strategies | 2.4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Operation and Control3.9
- Operations Monitoring3.8
- Equipment Maintenance3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Social Perceptiveness3.0
- Coordination3.0
- Service Orientation3.0
- Complex Problem Solving3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.8 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Expert system software
- Internet browser software
- Map creation software
- Mobile location based services software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Motorboat Operator?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Motorboat Operator |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 7 |
| Investigative | 2 |
| Artistic | 1 |
| Social | 2 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Realistic6.5
- Conventional3.7
- Enterprising3.2
- Investigative2.2
- Social2.0
- Artistic1.1
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Motorboat Operator
O*NET related occupations
- Transportation and Material Moving
Captain, Mate, and Pilot of Water Vessels
$92,460median a year
Most earn $47K to $171K
+4.0%Certificate - Transportation and Material Moving
- Transportation and Material Moving
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Transportation and Material Moving
More transportation and material moving careers
Median annual pay, with motorboat operators highlighted
- Airline Pilot$232,140
- Commercial Pilot$123,220
- Locomotive Engineer$81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster$78,000
- Crane and Tower Operator$68,080
- Flight Attendant$63,580
- Truck Driver$58,640
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$49,690
- Motorboat Operator$47,520
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilot | $232,140 |
| Commercial Pilot | $123,220 |
| Locomotive Engineer | $81,410 |
| Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster | $78,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $68,080 |
| Flight Attendant | $63,580 |
| Truck Driver | $58,640 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $49,690 |
| Motorboat Operator | $47,520 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Motorboat Operator appears on
Questions
Motorboat Operator: frequently asked questions
How much do Motorboat Operators make?
Motorboat Operators earn a median of $47,520 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 7% below the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $22.85/hr. The middle half earn between $42,760 and $69,010. The top 10% earn $84,530 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Motorboat Operator?
Not a degree, but you do need credentialed training: BLS lists a postsecondary non-degree award (a certificate or license program) as the typical entry route for Motorboat Operators. Employers typically expect less than 5 years of related work experience first. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 39.7% hold high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged).
Is Motorboat Operator a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4.9% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 300 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Motorboat Operator do?
Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. A core O*NET task: follow safety procedures to ensure the protection of passengers, cargo, and vessels.
Which states pay Motorboat Operators the most?
The highest state medians for Motorboat Operators are Hawaii ($76,250), Illinois ($68,380), Washington ($63,650) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Motorboat Operator?
O*NET scores Motorboat Operators highest on the Realistic, Conventional and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping that lines up most closely with ISTJ personalities. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.