Motorboat Operators: Salary Overview
Motorboat operators operate small motorboats and may also be involved in other navigational activities.
The national average salary for this profession was $49,030 in May 2019, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The same report shows that the median annual wage for motorboat operators was $48,260 as of May 2019, which means that half of all workers in this profession earned less than this amount while half earned more.
Salaries vary depending on the region of employment, the employer, the industry, and the motorboat operator’s experience level.
The report published by BLS shows that the bottom 10 percent of all workers in this occupation reportedly made less than $25,250 while the top 10 percent made more than $74,180 per year.
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The 25th percentile for this profession was $32,830 as of May 2019 which means that 75 percent of all workers in this occupation made more than this amount.
Motorboat Operator Salary By Industry
The industry with the highest level of employment for motorboat operators was the field of other amusement and recreation industries, where the average annual wage for this profession was $35,800.
This is lower than the median for this profession across all industries.
Higher-than-average salaries were reported by motorboat operators who worked for companies that provide support activities for water transportation.
In this sector, workers in this occupation reportedly earned $58,190 per year, on average.
Motorboat operators who worked for scenic and sightseeing water transportation reportedly made $45,040 per year as of May 2019 while those who worked for the federal executive branch made $62,680.
Motorboat operators who worked in the field of other heavy and civil engineering construction reportedly earned $69,280 per year on average.
The highest-paying field for this occupation was other heavy and civil engineering construction, where the average annual wage reported by motorboat operators was $69,280.
Salaries for motorboat operators also vary depending on the region and the state of employment.
According to BLS, the top-paying state for motorboat operators in 2019 was Lousiana with a reported average annual wage of $69,010.
A close second is the state of New York where motorboat operators were reportedly remunerated with $68,550 per year, on average.
Other top-paying states are Oregon, Washington, and Texas, where the average salaries for this profession were $62,410, $62,090, and $55,900, respectively.
Lower-than-average salaries were reported by motorboat operators in Wisconsin and Massachusetts- where the wages reported by motorboat operators averaged at $28,670 and $38,270, respectively.
The same report shows that Florida is the state with the highest employment level for this occupation.
Motorboat operators who worked here earned $45,820 per year on average, less than the national average for this occupation.
How much you will make as a motorboat operator also depends on your compensation structure.
Some motorboat operators earn a fixed salary while others are paid an hourly rate- and in this case, their total remuneration will vary depending on the number of hours they work.
The report published by BLS shows that the average hourly rate for this profession in 2019 was $23.57 with the median calculated at $23.20.
Rates also vary between less than $12 per hour and more than $35 per hour, depending on skill level, experience, and the industry of employment.
In some sectors and in some regions wages may also fluctuate season by season and year by year.
Motorboat operators who work in other amusement and recreation industries, for example, should expect higher earnings during warm months when people are more likely to participate in sightseeing tours but they may earn less (or even face periods of unemployment) during cold months.
* Based on information from the May 2023 salary report from the BLS. The figures represent accumulated data for all states of employment for Motorboat Operators. BLS data represents averages and medians for workers at all levels of education and experience. This data doesn't represent starting salaries.
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.