CCollegeMatcher

Motorboat Operators

US occupation · SOC 53-5022

Job titles people report: Boat Operator, Crew Boat Operator, Harbor Pilot, Launch Operator, Launchman, Motorboat Operator, River Pilot, Shoreboat Driver, Water Taxi Business Operator, Water Taxi Operator

Pay and outlook

Median annual wage, May 2025
$47,520
Half earn more, half earn less
Middle half earn
$42,760 – $69,010
25th to 75th percentile
People employed, May 2025
2,480
Wage and salary jobs (OEWS)
Projected change, 2025–35
+4.9%
At or above the all-jobs rate (3.5% to under 7%)
Openings a year (projected)
300
New jobs plus replacing people who leave
Typical education to enter
Postsecondary nondegree award
BLS
  • All figures are for the United States as a whole. Pay varies a lot by state and city.
  • Wages are for everyone working in the occupation in May 2025, at every career stage. They are not starting salaries or figures for new graduates.
  • Growth and openings are BLS projections for 2025–35. They are estimates, not promises. Openings include jobs that open up when people retire or change occupation, not just new jobs.

What the work involves

Operate small motor-driven boats. May assist in navigational activities.

Main tasks

  • 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.
  • 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.

Description and tasks from the O*NET® 31.0 Database.

Getting in

Typical education to enter (BLS)
Postsecondary nondegree award
Work experience in a related job: less than 5 years
O*NET Job Zone 1–2
Little to some preparation
Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Interests it suits

The strongest of the six O*NET interest types for this occupation, highest first. The short glosses are ours.

  • Realistic: hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
  • Conventional: organising information, records and procedures
  • Enterprising: leading, persuading and making business decisions

Fields of study that lead here

From the federal CIP–SOC crosswalk, which links 2 programmes to this occupation. A link means the programme prepares people for this kind of work. It doesn't mean the programme is required, or that it's the only route.

Fields

Our college matcher doesn't offer this field as a major, so we can't suggest colleges for it here.

Transportation and Materials Moving

  • Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer
  • Marine Transportation, Other

Related careers

Related occupations from the O*NET database, in its order.

← All careers

Sources

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CollegeMatcher has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET 31.0 Database · CC BY 4.0

Changes: we show the core tasks in the O*NET database with the highest importance ratings (up to eight, in that order), the top three O*NET interest types by score, and shortened Job Zone names. Titles, descriptions and task text are unchanged.

Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Projections, typical entry education and training: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Fields of study: NCES and BLS CIP 2020–SOC 2018 Crosswalk. All public domain. OEWS · Employment Projections · CIP–SOC crosswalk