Motorboat Operators — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$47,520
United States, 2025
Employment
2,480
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 2
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
Operate small motor-driven boats. May assist in navigational activities.
- O*NET code
- 53-5022.00
- Job zone
- 2
- Experience required
- None
Typical tasks
- Take depth soundings in turning basins.
- Perform general labor duties such as repairing booms.
- Tow, push, or guide other boats, barges, logs, or rafts.
- Operate engine throttles and steering mechanisms to guide boats on desired courses.
- Direct safety operations in emergency situations.
- Secure boats to docks with mooring lines, and cast off lines to enable departure.
- Maintain desired courses, using compasses or electronic navigational aids.
- Organize and direct the activities of crew members.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$34,510
25th percentile
$42,760
75th percentile
$69,010
90th percentile
$84,530
Most important skills
- Operation and Control3.9
- Operations Monitoring3.8
- Equipment Maintenance3.4
- Speaking3.4
- Monitoring3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
- Critical Thinking3.1
- Active Listening3.1
- Time Management3.0
- Coordination3.0
- Troubleshooting3.0
- Service Orientation3.0
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 14 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
14
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 3.9 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.8 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Monitoring | 3.4 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.4 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.4 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
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National median not published
Compare with Motorboat OperatorsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HI | $83,390 | 70 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $81,440 | 140 | 2025 |
| HI | $76,250 | 330 | 2025 |
| IL | $68,380 | 40 | 2025 |
| WA | $63,650 | 80 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $62,000 | — | 2025 |
| NY | $62,000 | — | 2025 |
| Beaumont, TX | $60,920 | 50 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $59,970 | 50 | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | $50,270 | — | 2025 |
| TX | $50,270 | 270 | 2025 |
| New Orleans, LA | $49,230 | 70 | 2025 |
| Cape Coral, FL | $47,260 | — | 2025 |
| MI | $46,760 | — | 2025 |
| FL | $46,620 | 170 | 2025 |
| Detroit, MI | $45,970 | — | 2025 |
| CT | $45,970 | — | 2025 |
| LA | $45,800 | 160 | 2025 |
| Providence, RI | $45,760 | — | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $45,760 | — | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Motorboat Operators to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.