# Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

> Repair and adjust electrical and mechanical equipment of inboard or inboard-outboard boat engines.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/motorboat-mechanics-and-service-technicians
- SOC code: 49-3051.00
- Career family: Installation and repair
- Median annual pay: $57,550 (10th percentile $36,950, 90th percentile $79,330)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +4.9%
- Openings a year: 2,600
- Typical entry education: High school diploma
- Bright outlook: yes
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 31 |
| Artistic (A) | 0 |
| Social (S) | 0 |
| Enterprising (E) | 10 |
| Conventional (C) | 48 |

## What you'd do

- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 78/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 78/100)
- Getting Information (importance 76/100)
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment (importance 75/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 75/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 73/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 72/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 71/100)
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 68/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 67/100)

## Skills

Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Equipment Selection, Judgment and Decision Making

## Knowledge

Mechanical, Customer and Personal Service, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology, Transportation, Administration and Management, Physics, Education and Training

## Also called

Boat Mechanic, Boat Motor Mechanic, Boat Outboard Engine Mechanic, Boat Rigger, Boat Tester, Certified Marine Mechanic, Experimental Outboard Motors Mechanic, Marine Diesel Mechanic, Marine Machinery Mechanic, Marine Mechanic

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4706) (CIP 4706, 713 colleges)
- [Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/1508) (CIP 1508, 319 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [California State University Maritime Academy](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-university-maritime-academy-363) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $97,197 | $126,209 | $26,935 |
| [University of Massachusetts-Lowell](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-massachusetts-lowell-2953) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | not reported | $120,219 | not reported |
| [Metropolitan State University of Denver](https://www.collegesref.com/college/metropolitan-state-university-of-denver-1667) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $73,430 | $98,267 | $23,407 |
| [Wayne State University-Michigan](https://www.collegesref.com/college/wayne-state-university-michigan-3181) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $70,466 | $97,257 | not reported |
| [Farmingdale State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/farmingdale-state-college-941) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $62,701 | $91,941 | $15,000 |
| [University of Maine Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-maine-main-campus-2938) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $71,830 | $91,879 | $22,000 |
| [California State Polytechnic University-Pomona](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona-362) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $72,141 | $91,230 | $16,815 |
| [Central Connecticut State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/central-connecticut-state-university-461) | Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | $77,570 | $90,472 | $25,500 |

## Related careers

- [Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/bus-and-truck-mechanics-and-diesel-engine-specialists): $61,770 median pay
- [Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/electric-motor-power-tool-and-related-repairers): $56,210 median pay
- [Motorcycle Mechanics](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/motorcycle-mechanics): $48,580 median pay
- [Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/outdoor-power-equipment-and-other-small-engine-mechanics): $47,880 median pay
- [Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/automotive-service-technicians-and-mechanics): $50,620 median pay
- [Engine and Other Machine Assemblers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/engine-and-other-machine-assemblers): $53,710 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

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. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.