Occupation salary profile

Motorboat Operators

SOC 53-5022 BLS OEWS May 2025

Operate small motor-driven boats. May assist in navigational activities.

National median · BLS
$47,520
▼ -8.4% YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$56,270
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
2,480
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Motorboat Operators

Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.

Percentile All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay$34,510
25th$42,760
Median (50th)$47,520
75th$69,010
90th — top pay$84,530

Hourly ⇄ annual pay

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Based on hrs/week × weeks/year = 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035

Job outlook for Motorboat Operators

BLS projects employment of motorboat operators to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations. About 300 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.

Jobs 2025 → 2035
2,800 → 2,900
+100 jobs
Projected change
+4.9%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
300
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Plus less than 5 years experience
Self-employed
7.5% of workers (2025)
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 2)
Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Fastest-growing jobs → Best-paying jobs that need a postsecondary certificate (nondegree award) →

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035 · BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook →

Skills & tools

Skills needed for Motorboat Operators

How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.

Top skills
  • Operation and Control3.9
  • Operations Monitoring3.8
  • Equipment Maintenance3.4
  • Monitoring3.4
  • Speaking3.4
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.3
  • Active Listening3.1
  • Critical Thinking3.1
  • Complex Problem Solving3.0
  • Coordination3.0
Top knowledge areas
  • Customer and Personal Service4.4
  • English Language4.1
  • Education and Training3.9
  • Public Safety and Security3.8
  • Transportation3.8
  • Mechanical3.5
  • Geography3.0
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.9
Software and technology used
Autopilot softwareCartography softwareEcho sounder softwareGlobal positioning system GPS softwareRadar softwareRoam Devices Roam Marine Monitor HubSEA.AI Offshore ONEWeb browser software

Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.

About the job

What motorboat operators do

  • Operate engine throttles and steering mechanisms to guide boats on desired courses.
  • Direct safety operations in emergency situations.
  • Secure boats to docks with mooring lines, and cast off lines to enable departure.
  • Maintain desired courses, using compasses or electronic navigational aids.
  • Organize and direct the activities of crew members.
  • Follow safety procedures to ensure the protection of passengers, cargo, and vessels.
  • Maintain equipment such as range markers, fire extinguishers, boat fenders, lines, pumps, and fittings.
  • Report any observed navigational hazards to authorities.
Also called
Boat OperatorLaunch OperatorRiver PilotWater Taxi Business OperatorCrew Boat OperatorHarbor PilotLaunchmanMotorboat OperatorShoreboat DriverWater Taxi Operator
More job titles for this occupation (15)
Boat DriverBoat Launch OperatorBoat PersonBoatmanLaunch StewardMooring MasterOutboard Motorboat OperatorRiver and Lakes BoatmanRivers and Lakes BoatmanRivers and Lakes LevermanSpeedboat DriverSpeedboat OperatorTowboat OperatorWater Taxi Boat MateWater Taxi Ferry Operator

Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.