Motorboat Operators
Motorboat Operators (SOC 53-5022) earn a median $47,520 a year ($22.85 an hour) in the United States, with 2,480 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Hawaii.
What motorboat operators do
Motorboat operators run small motor-driven boats and may assist in navigation. Alternate titles such as boat driver, launch operator, crew boat operator, and boat launch operator show the range of settings. The operator controls the throttle and steering to hold a course, using a compass, charts, or electronic navigation aids, and ties up to docks with mooring lines and casts off to depart. Safety is a large part of the role: operators follow procedures to protect passengers, cargo, and the vessel, and they direct the response if an emergency happens. Where there is a crew, the operator organizes and directs their work. Operators also maintain equipment such as range markers, fire extinguishers, boat fenders, lines, pumps, and fittings, and they report any navigational hazards they observe to authorities. The occupation differs from captains, mates, and pilots of larger vessels, who must hold a Coast Guard license for command of ships and vessels such as tugboats and ferryboats; motorboat operators run smaller craft.
Typical entry: O*NET reports that most workers in this occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Boat Driver, Boat Launch Operator, Boat Operator, Boat Person, Boatman.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $16.59 | $20.56 | $22.85 | $33.18 | $40.64 | $27.05 | 2,480 |
| Annual | $34,510 | $42,760 | $47,520 | $69,010 | $84,530 | $56,270 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where motorboat operators earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $28.85 | $30.38 | $36.66 | $39.16 | $40.58 | $35.57 | 330 | 0.52 | 32.64 |
| Annual | $60,000 | $63,190 | $76,250 | $81,450 | $84,410 | $73,980 | ||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $21.94 | $32.88 | $32.88 | $36.15 | $45.26 | $33.99 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.38 |
| Annual | $45,640 | $68,380 | $68,380 | $75,190 | $94,140 | $70,700 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $20.56 | $20.56 | $30.60 | $40.35 | $41.70 | $32.22 | 80 | 0.02 | 1.38 |
| Annual | $42,760 | $42,760 | $63,650 | $83,930 | $86,740 | $67,020 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $24.44 | $25.64 | $29.81 | $35.13 | $38.78 | $30.30 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $50,840 | $53,320 | $62,000 | $73,060 | $80,660 | $63,030 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $20.63 | $21.27 | $24.17 | $30.97 | $34.50 | $25.90 | 270 | 0.02 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $42,910 | $44,230 | $50,270 | $64,420 | $71,760 | $53,870 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $28.85 | $30.38 | $36.66 | $39.16 | $40.58 | $35.57 | 330 | 0.52 | 32.64 |
| Annual | $60,000 | $63,190 | $76,250 | $81,450 | $84,410 | $73,980 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $20.63 | $21.27 | $24.17 | $30.97 | $34.50 | $25.90 | 270 | 0.02 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $42,910 | $44,230 | $50,270 | $64,420 | $71,760 | $53,870 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $16.50 | $16.59 | $16.62 | $37.66 | $44.47 | $25.61 | 190 | 0.01 | 0.66 |
| Annual | $34,320 | $34,510 | $34,570 | $78,330 | $92,490 | $53,260 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $16.05 | $18.55 | $22.41 | $27.43 | $37.18 | $24.08 | 170 | 0.02 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $33,370 | $38,580 | $46,620 | $57,050 | $77,330 | $50,090 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $14.85 | $16.99 | $22.02 | $24.20 | $38.75 | $23.92 | 160 | 0.08 | 5.25 |
| Annual | $30,890 | $35,340 | $45,800 | $50,340 | $80,590 | $49,740 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | Hourly | $31.07 | $36.08 | $40.09 | $45.35 | $45.35 | $40.42 | 70 | 0.91 | 56.83 |
| Annual | $64,630 | $75,050 | $83,390 | $94,330 | $94,340 | $84,060 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $28.85 | $29.72 | $39.16 | $39.16 | $39.16 | $34.97 | 140 | 0.32 | 20.18 |
| Annual | $60,000 | $61,820 | $81,440 | $81,440 | $81,450 | $72,740 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $17.85 | $25.52 | $29.81 | $34.86 | $37.95 | $29.55 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $37,130 | $53,090 | $62,000 | $72,510 | $78,930 | $61,460 | ||||
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | Hourly | $21.18 | $21.18 | $29.29 | $30.17 | $35.68 | $27.46 | 50 | 0.31 | 19.46 |
| Annual | $44,060 | $44,060 | $60,920 | $62,760 | $74,210 | $57,110 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $20.56 | $20.56 | $28.83 | $30.60 | $41.70 | $28.00 | 50 | 0.03 | 1.54 |
| Annual | $42,760 | $42,760 | $59,970 | $63,650 | $86,740 | $58,230 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | Hourly | $10.57 | $12.34 | $12.80 | $21.46 | $26.74 | $17.50 | 140 | 0.20 | 12.37 |
| Annual | $21,980 | $25,660 | $26,630 | $44,640 | $55,620 | $36,400 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $28.85 | $29.72 | $39.16 | $39.16 | $39.16 | $34.97 | 140 | 0.32 | 20.18 |
| Annual | $60,000 | $61,820 | $81,440 | $81,440 | $81,450 | $72,740 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $16.59 | $16.59 | $16.59 | $42.94 | $44.47 | $25.48 | 80 | 0.01 | 0.80 |
| Annual | $34,510 | $34,510 | $34,510 | $89,310 | $92,490 | $52,990 | ||||
| Kahului-Wailuku, HI | Hourly | $31.07 | $36.08 | $40.09 | $45.35 | $45.35 | $40.42 | 70 | 0.91 | 56.83 |
| Annual | $64,630 | $75,050 | $83,390 | $94,330 | $94,340 | $84,060 | ||||
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Hourly | $13.33 | $17.30 | $23.67 | $25.53 | $52.68 | $25.20 | 70 | 0.16 | 9.96 |
| Annual | $27,730 | $35,970 | $49,230 | $53,110 | $109,570 | $52,410 | ||||
Top industries employing motorboat operators
Support Activities for Water Transportation employ 10.1% of motorboat operators nationally (250 jobs) at a median $49,230 a year ($23.67 an hour), followed by Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) (9.3%) and Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (7.3%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Support Activities for Water Transportation NAICS 488300 | 250 | 10.1% | $49,230 | $23.67 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 230 | 9.3% | $80,640 | $38.77 |
| Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water NAICS 487200 | 180 | 7.3% | $63,540 | $30.55 |
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation NAICS 483100 | 110 | 4.4% | $86,150 | $41.42 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 110 | 4.4% | $51,580 | $24.80 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (2,480). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $38,670 for motorboat operators in May 2021 and $47,520 in May 2025, with employment of 2,740 and 2,480.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $38,670 | $18.59 | 2,740 |
| May 2022 | $41,430 | $19.92 | 3,110 |
| May 2023 | $46,420 | $22.32 | 2,710 |
| May 2024 | $51,880 | $24.94 | 2,380 |
| May 2025 | $47,520 | $22.85 | 2,480 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
13 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii profile | $36.66 | $76,250 | $60,000 | $84,410 | 330 | 0.52 | 32.64 |
| 2 | Illinois profile | $32.88 | $68,380 | $45,640 | $94,140 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.38 |
| 3 | Washington profile | $30.60 | $63,650 | $42,760 | $86,740 | 80 | 0.02 | 1.38 |
| 4 | New York profile | $29.81 | $62,000 | $50,840 | $80,660 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Texas profile | $24.17 | $50,270 | $42,910 | $71,760 | 270 | 0.02 | 1.19 |
| 6 | Michigan profile | $22.48 | $46,760 | $36,190 | $63,400 | ** | ** | ** |
| 7 | Florida profile | $22.41 | $46,620 | $33,370 | $77,330 | 170 | 0.02 | 1.09 |
| 8 | Connecticut profile | $22.10 | $45,970 | $35,020 | $49,620 | ** | ** | ** |
| 9 | Louisiana profile | $22.02 | $45,800 | $30,890 | $80,590 | 160 | 0.08 | 5.25 |
| 10 | Massachusetts profile | $21.71 | $45,160 | $40,070 | $86,310 | ** | ** | ** |
| 11 | New Jersey profile | $21.23 | $44,150 | $37,130 | $104,110 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.64 |
| 12 | Tennessee profile | $20.37 | $42,360 | $29,590 | $58,520 | 60 | 0.02 | 1.20 |
| 13 | California profile | $16.62 | $34,570 | $34,320 | $92,490 | 190 | 0.01 | 0.66 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (53-5020), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-5022 Motorboat Operators.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-5022, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-5022.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.