Motorboat Operators
Operate small motor-driven boats. May assist in navigational activities.
What it pays
Motorboat Operators earn a median of $22.85/hr — about $47,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $16.59/hr; the top 10% earn $40.64/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Motorboat Operators earn a median of $22.85/hr — about $47,500 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $16.59/hr; the top 10% earn $40.64/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually 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.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: Post-secondary certificate. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors; time pressure is a real part of the job; it rewards working independently. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 6.5% of motorboat operators are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on, organized and detail-focused and take-charge.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
- Flight Attendants
- Crane and Tower Operators
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
- Locomotive Engineers
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
- Commercial Pilots
Quick questions
- How much does a motorboat operator make?
- The median pay is $22.85 per hour — roughly $47,500 a year, with the real range running from about $16.59/hr (10th percentile) to $40.64/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a motorboat operator?
- The typical entry-level education is: Post-secondary certificate. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
- What does a motorboat operator actually do all day?
- 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.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.