Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Long-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Motorboat mechanics and service technicians maintain and repair motorboats, keeping engines and related systems in working order. This career combines hands-on mechanical work with problem solving and customer service. Nationally, about 26,000 people work in this occupation, and it is projected to grow by 6.0%, indicating continued demand. With an estimated 3,000 annual openings, there are recurring opportunities for new entrants as well as experienced technicians seeking new positions. The national median annual salary of $54,950 reflects the earning potential for workers in this field. Success in this career draws on mechanical aptitude, fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, and attention to detail. Strong customer service, problem solving, and analytical thinking skills also play an important role. For people who enjoy practical, mechanical work and direct interaction with customers, motorboat mechanics and service technicians can offer a stable, skills-based path with room to grow experience and pay over time.
Motorboat mechanics and service technicians earn a national median annual salary of $54,950, providing a clear benchmark for typical earnings in this field. Pay varies by location, with some states and metro areas offering higher median salaries. Among the top states by opportunity score, Massachusetts has the highest listed median salary at $74,160, followed by Washington at $63,020 and California at $62,330. New York and Colorado show median salaries of $58,940 and $57,050, respectively. At the metro level, Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH stands out with a median salary of $72,790, closely followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $71,410 and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $70,600. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metros also show median pay above $60,000. These figures suggest that technicians may see higher earning potential in certain states and metro areas compared with the national median.
Motorboat mechanics and service technicians have a national employment base of 26,000 workers, indicating an established occupation with a meaningful workforce. Projected employment growth of 6.0% points to a growing field rather than a shrinking one. In addition, about 3,000 annual openings are expected, combining new positions and turnover in existing jobs. This combination of growth and openings suggests a steady flow of opportunities for people entering the occupation or moving between employers. The 6.0% growth rate appears consistently across the highlighted top states and metro areas, reinforcing the idea that expansion is not limited to a single region. For individuals planning a long-term path, the presence of both existing employment and projected growth can support career planning, whether starting out, reskilling from a related trade, or considering advancement within the field over time.
Location can be a significant factor for motorboat mechanics and service technicians, with several states and metro areas standing out. Among states, California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington have strong CareerGPS opportunity scores, combining salary, employment, and growth. Massachusetts shows the highest median salary among these at $74,160, while Washington and California also offer median pay above $62,000. New York has the largest listed state employment at 1,470, followed by California at 1,230, suggesting more established job bases there. At the metro level, the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ area has the highest opportunity score at 77.27, with 940 employed and a median salary of $62,070. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH (median $72,790) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (median $71,410) offer higher pay with smaller employment counts. These differences allow job seekers to weigh higher salaries versus larger employment concentrations when choosing where to focus a search.
The typical education requirement for motorboat mechanics and service technicians is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the career accessible to individuals who complete secondary education and want to enter a skilled trade without a longer formal schooling commitment. While the formal education requirement is modest, success in this occupation relies on a substantial skill set. Key strengths include mechanical aptitude, fine motor skills, and physical strength and stamina for hands-on tasks. Science and mathematics skills support understanding technical concepts and measurements. Being detail oriented helps ensure accurate work, while problem solving, decision making, and critical and analytical thinking are important for diagnosing issues. Customer service skills are also central, reflecting interaction with boat owners and others. Project management abilities contribute to organizing tasks and managing time and resources. Together, these skills define the professional profile beyond the basic educational requirement.
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