Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Career, Salary and Skills
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians have a BLS-reported national median annual wage of $57,550 based on the 2025 OEWS dataset, with reported national employment of 23,220. Wage data is published for 150 locations.
Occupation description
Repair and adjust electrical and mechanical equipment of inboard or inboard-outboard boat engines.
O*NET code
49-3051.00
Job zone
3
Typical education
Post-Secondary Certificate
Experience
Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
National salary and employment
Median annual
$57,550
Hourly median
$27.67
Employment
23,220
Data year
2025
National salary distribution
$36,950
10th
$46,750
25th
$57,550
Median
$66,620
75th
$79,330
90th
Top skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Repairing | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.88 | 3.50 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.75 | 3.75 |
| Operation and Control | 3.62 | 3.38 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.50 | 3.38 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.38 | 3.12 |
| Equipment Selection | 3.12 | 2.62 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.12 | 2.88 |
| Active Listening | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.12 | 3.00 |
Typical tasks
- Start motors and monitor performance for signs of malfunctioning, such as smoke, excessive vibration, or misfiring.
- Document inspection and test results and work performed or to be performed.
- Mount motors to boats, and operate boats at various speeds on waterways to conduct operational tests.
- Repair engine mechanical equipment, such as power tilts, bilge pumps, or power take-offs.
- Perform routine engine maintenance on motorboats, such as changing oil and filters.
- Replace parts, such as gears, magneto points, piston rings, or spark plugs, and reassemble engines.
- Idle motors and observe thermometers to determine the effectiveness of cooling systems.
- Inspect and repair or adjust propellers or propeller shafts.
Technology
- CDI Electronics M.E.D.S.
- Engine diagnostic scanners
- Inventory tracking software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Outboard engine diagnostic software
- Rinda Technologies DIACOM Marine
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians salary by location
Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in FLMedian $55,680 · Employment 4,810
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in Miami, FLMedian $59,490 · Employment 1,670
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in MIMedian $47,900 · Employment 1,480
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in NYMedian $58,940 · Employment 1,470
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in CAMedian $62,330 · Employment 1,230
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in TXMedian $53,290 · Employment 1,010
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in New York, NYMedian $62,070 · Employment 940
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in NCMedian $51,430 · Employment 930
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in MAMedian $74,160 · Employment 890
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in WAMedian $63,020 · Employment 750
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in WIMedian $56,920 · Employment 690
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians Salary in SCMedian $49,080 · Employment 620
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- Recreational Vehicle Service TechniciansNational median $52,000
- Industrial Machinery MechanicsNational median $64,520
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- Rail Car RepairersNational median $67,530
Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0 (onetcenter.org). Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 (bls.gov/oes). Figures are published survey estimates, not real-time market data.