Motorboat Operators Salary
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 2.5K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$47,520
Median hourly
$23
Average annual
$56,270
Typical range
$34,510–$84,530
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Motorboat Operators is $47,520 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $23 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Operate small motor-driven boats. May assist in navigational activities..
Most earn between $34,510 and $84,530 a year. There are roughly 2.5K people employed as motorboat operators in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Motorboat Operators.
- Hourly
- $22.85
- Daily
- $183
- Weekly
- $914
- Bi-weekly
- $1,828
- Monthly
- $3,960
- Annual
- $47,520
$47,520 a year is around the 50th percentile for Motorboat Operatorss. The median is $47,520.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Hawaii$76,250
- 2Illinois$68,380
- 3Washington$63,650
- 4New York$62,000
- 5Texas$50,270
- 6Michigan$46,760
- 7Florida$46,620
- 8Connecticut$45,970
- 9Louisiana$45,800
- 10Massachusetts$45,160
- 11New Jersey$44,150
- 12Tennessee$42,360
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1Kahului-Wailuku, HI$83,390
- 2Urban Honolulu, HI$81,440
- 3New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$62,000
- 4Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX$60,920
- 5Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$59,970
- 6Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$50,270
- 7New Orleans-Metairie, LA$49,230
- 8Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL$47,260
- 9Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$45,970
- 10Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$45,760
- 11Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$45,760
- 12Barnstable Town, MA$45,160
Related job titles
Employers advertise Motorboat Operators roles under these titles.
Related occupations
What a Motorboat Operators does
- Operate engine throttles and steering mechanisms to guide boats on desired courses.
- Direct safety operations in emergency situations.
- 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.
- Maintain equipment such as range markers, fire extinguishers, boat fenders, lines, pumps, and fittings.
- Report any observed navigational hazards to authorities.
- Oversee operation of vessels used for carrying passengers, motor vehicles, or goods across rivers, harbors, lakes, and coastal waters.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Motorboat Operators make?
- The median annual wage for Motorboat Operators is $47,520 ($23 per hour). Pay ranges from about $34,510 at the 10th percentile to $84,530 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Motorboat Operators?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $56,270, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Motorboat Operatorss the most?
- Hawaii has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $76,250.
- Is Motorboat Operators a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 2.5K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Motorboat Operators do?
- Operate engine throttles and steering mechanisms to guide boats on desired courses.; Direct safety operations in emergency situations.; Maintain desired courses, using compasses or electronic navigational aids..