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.
Postsecondary nondegree award
Less than 5 years
None
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 operators work in a small, specialized occupation with national employment of about 3,000 people. The role typically requires a postsecondary nondegree award, which can make it accessible to those who do not plan to pursue a full college degree. A wide range of abilities matter here, including mechanical aptitude, problem solving and decision making, fine motor skills, and strong customer service capabilities. Physical strength and stamina are also important, alongside leadership, interpersonal, speaking, and listening skills. Nationally, the median annual salary is $51,880, but pay and opportunity vary significantly by location, with some states and metro areas offering higher wages than others. Projected employment growth of 1.4% suggests modest expansion, and the very small size of the occupation can make openings limited in certain regions. People interested in hands-on work, close interaction with others, and a skill-based pathway into a specialized transportation role may find this career worth considering alongside similar options such as riggers or transportation workers, all other.
Motorboat operators earn a national median annual salary of $51,880, but pay differs considerably across states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, Hawaii shows the highest median salary at $76,250, followed by Washington at $63,650 and Texas at $50,270. California and New Jersey report lower median wages of $34,570 and $44,150, respectively. At the metro level, Urban Honolulu, HI stands out with a median salary of $81,440, and Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA offers $59,970. Other highlighted metros include Barnstable Town, MA at $45,160, Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN at $42,360, and Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA at $34,510. These differences mean that location choices can have a substantial impact on earnings. Job seekers can use these regional salary patterns, together with opportunity scores, to prioritize areas that best match their income goals and lifestyle preferences.
Motorboat operators represent a relatively small workforce, with national employment of about 3,000. Projected employment growth is 1.4%, indicating modest expansion over the projection period. Annual openings are listed as 0, which suggests that this is a very limited occupation in terms of new positions becoming available nationally, even as overall employment edges up. Because the occupation is small, even minor shifts in hiring, retirements, or regional demand can affect the number of opportunities available in a given area. Growth of 1.4% is also reflected consistently in the top states and metro areas by opportunity score, where each listed region shows the same projected rate. For career planners, this means that while the field is not projected to decline, competition for roles may be driven more by the occupation’s small size than by large-scale expansion, making it important to consider geographic flexibility and related occupations such as riggers or recreational vehicle service technicians.
Location plays a major role in the career experience of motorboat operators. Among states with the highest opportunity scores, California leads by score (67.38) with 190 employed and a median salary of $34,570, while Hawaii combines a strong opportunity score (46.92) with the highest listed state-level median salary of $76,250 and the largest reported employment at 330. Washington offers 80 jobs and a median salary of $63,650, with an opportunity score of 56.29. Texas has 270 employed and a median wage of $50,270, and New Jersey has 40 employed at $44,150. At the metro level, Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CA has the highest opportunity score (62.99) but the lowest median pay among top metros at $34,510. Urban Honolulu, HI offers the highest metro salary at $81,440 with 140 employed. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA sits in between with $59,970 and 50 employed. These variations show that high opportunity scores can align with different combinations of wages and job counts, depending on the region.
The typical education requirement for motorboat operators is a postsecondary nondegree award. This means that while some formal, career-focused training is usually needed, it does not generally require completing a full associate or bachelor’s degree. Within this educational path, a blend of technical and people-oriented skills is important. Mechanical skills support understanding and working with equipment, while problem solving and decision making help address issues that can arise on the job. Fine motor skills and physical strength and stamina are also key, reflecting the hands-on and physically demanding aspects of the work. Customer service, interpersonal abilities, and strong speaking and listening skills support clear interactions with others. Being detail oriented further contributes to accuracy and safety. Science knowledge is also listed among the top skills, indicating that some foundational technical or scientific understanding can be part of effective preparation. People who enjoy combining physical, technical, and customer-facing skills may find this education and skill mix appealing.
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