SOC 53-5022.00Bright outlook

    Motorboat Operators

    Operate small motor-driven boats.

    Median pay
    $47,520
    Growth
    +4.9%
    As fast as average
    Openings a year
    300
    Typical education
    Postsecondary certificate

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $34,510
    Median
    $47,520
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $84,530
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    2,480 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Motorboat operators run small, motor-driven vessels and assist with navigation. The career offers a median annual pay of $47,520, with opportunities for hands-on outdoor work on the water.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What motorboat operators do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

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

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    Motorboat operators, also known as boat drivers or launch operators, spend their days operating and controlling small motorized vessels. This is a highly realistic occupation that requires hands-on physical activity. Daily tasks include inspecting equipment, monitoring surroundings, and identifying potential hazards on the water. Operators must make quick decisions, solve complex problems, and communicate clearly with passengers, supervisors, and peers.

    To succeed in this role, individuals need a strong understanding of transportation, public safety, security, and geography. Mechanical knowledge is also important, as operators frequently maintain and repair their boats. Key skills include operations monitoring, active listening, and critical thinking. Because they often interact with the public, operators must have strong customer service skills. This job demands high levels of dependability, cautiousness, attention to detail, and stress tolerance to ensure safe travel.

    How to get there

    To enter this career, individuals typically need a postsecondary certificate. While some preparation, such as a high school diploma and on-the-job training, is common, completing a formal program in marine transportation is a typical pathway.

    Aspiring operators can also pursue professional credentials to build their skills and improve their employment prospects. For example, candidates can earn the Coastal Navigation Certification from J World. This training helps build the foundational navigation and safety knowledge required to operate vessels in coastal waters.

    Pay and outlook explained

    The median annual pay for motorboat operators is $47,520. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and location, with the lowest 10 percent earning less than $34,510 and the highest 10 percent earning more than $84,530.

    There are currently 2,480 people employed in this field. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 4.9 percent, which is as fast as the average for all occupations. This growth is expected to result in approximately 300 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    92 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    20 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    2 / 100
    Social (S)
    17 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    37 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    44 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCE. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    90
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    83
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    78
    Controlling Machines and Processes
    75
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    75
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    73
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    71
    Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
    68
    Documenting/Recording Information
    67
    Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People
    64
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Operation and Control
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Equipment Maintenance
    • Monitoring
    • Speaking
    • Judgment and Decision Making
    • Active Listening
    • Critical Thinking
    • Complex Problem Solving
    • Coordination

    Knowledge

    • Customer and Personal Service
    • English Language
    • Education and Training
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Transportation
    • Mechanical
    • Geography
    • Personnel and Human Resources
    • Administration and Management
    • Telecommunications

    Abilities

    • Control Precision
    • Spatial Orientation
    • Far Vision
    • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Perceptual Speed
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Auditory Attention
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Oral Expression

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Cautiousness
    • Integrity
    • Attention to Detail
    • Self-Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Cooperation
    • Leadership Orientation
    • Self-Confidence
    • Perseverance

    Also called

    Boat Driver · Boat Launch Operator · Boat Operator · Boat Person · Boatman · Crew Boat Operator · Harbor Pilot · Launch Operator · Launch Steward · Launchman

    Career pathway

    From your interests to motorboat operators

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Motorboat Operators$47,520 median pay

    3. Majors

      • Marine Transportation21 colleges

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Northwestern Michigan College

      Traverse City, MI · Marine Transportation · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $119,546
      4 yrs after
      $136,748
      Median debt
      $24,880
    2. 2Texas A & M University-College Station logo
      Texas A & M University-College Station

      College Station, TX · Marine Transportation · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $112,927
      4 yrs after
      $124,645
      Median debt
      $13,500
    3. 3Massachusetts Maritime Academy logo
      Massachusetts Maritime Academy

      Buzzards Bay, MA · Marine Transportation · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $105,742
      4 yrs after
      $119,916
      Median debt
      $24,715
    4. 4California State University Maritime Academy logo
      California State University Maritime Academy

      Vallejo, CA · Marine Transportation · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $101,735
      4 yrs after
      $117,176
      Median debt
      $24,000
    5. 5SUNY Maritime College logo
      SUNY Maritime College

      Throggs Neck, NY · Marine Transportation · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $111,266
      4 yrs after
      $115,831
      Median debt
      $25,000
    6. 6
      United States Merchant Marine Academy

      Kings Point, NY · Marine Transportation · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $65,371
      4 yrs after
      $107,654
      Median debt
      $5,500
    7. 7Maine Maritime Academy logo
      Maine Maritime Academy

      Castine, ME · Marine Transportation · Bachelor's

      1 yr after
      $109,483
      4 yrs after
      $103,417
      Median debt
      $27,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What motorboat operators may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer
    • Marine Transportation, Other

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about motorboat operators

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What are some alternative job titles for motorboat operators?

    People in this profession are known by several names depending on their specific duties. Common titles include boat driver, boat launch operator, harbor pilot, launch steward, and crew boat operator.

    What kind of education do I need to become a motorboat operator?

    Most operators enter the field with a postsecondary certificate. Many also have a high school diploma combined with some on-the-job training or previous experience.

    How many job openings are expected in this field?

    The field is projected to have 300 openings each year between 2025 and 2035. This growth is considered as fast as average for all occupations.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    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.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 6, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.