Motorboat Operators Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for motorboat operatorss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- Hawaii$73,980
- Illinois$70,700
- Washington$67,020
- New York$63,030
- New Jersey$59,580
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Connecticut$43,690
- Tennessee$45,610
- Louisiana$49,740
- Florida$50,090
- Michigan$50,360
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hawaii | $73,980 | $76,250 | $36 | +31.5% | 330 |
| 2 | Illinois | $70,700 | $68,380 | $34 | +25.6% | 40 |
| 3 | Washington | $67,020 | $63,650 | $32 | +19.1% | 80 |
| 4 | New York | $63,030 | $62,000 | $30 | +12% | — |
| 5 | New Jersey | $59,580 | $44,150 | $29 | +5.9% | 40 |
| 6 | Texas | $53,870 | $50,270 | $26 | -4.3% | 270 |
| 7 | California | $53,260 | $34,570 | $26 | -5.3% | 190 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $51,740 | $45,160 | $25 | -8.1% | — |
| 9 | Michigan | $50,360 | $46,760 | $24 | -10.5% | — |
| 10 | Florida | $50,090 | $46,620 | $24 | -11% | 170 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $49,740 | $45,800 | $24 | -11.6% | 160 |
| 12 | Tennessee | $45,610 | $42,360 | $22 | -18.9% | 60 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $43,690 | $45,970 | $21 | -22.4% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 16 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului-Wailuku, HI | $83,390 | $84,060 | 70 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $81,440 | $72,740 | 140 |
| 3 | Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | $67,780 | $69,710 | 120 |
| 4 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $62,000 | $61,460 | — |
| 5 | Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | $60,920 | $57,110 | 50 |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $59,970 | $58,230 | 50 |
| 7 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $50,270 | $56,400 | — |
| 8 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $49,230 | $52,410 | 70 |
| 9 | Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | $47,260 | $50,960 | — |
| 10 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $45,970 | $50,340 | — |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing motorboat operatorss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation | $86,150 | $81,310 | 110 |
| 2 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $80,640 | $79,830 | 230 |
| 3 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $80,640 | $79,830 | 230 |
| 4 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $76,020 | $72,130 | 350 |
| 5 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $76,020 | $72,130 | 350 |
| 6 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $75,250 | $72,070 | 360 |
| 7 | Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water | $63,540 | $65,630 | 180 |
| 8 | Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation | $63,170 | $62,120 | 200 |
| 9 | Administrative and Support Services | $62,000 | $57,770 | — |
| 10 | Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | $62,000 | $57,770 | — |
| 11 | Educational Services | $60,010 | $62,650 | 40 |
| 12 | Educational Services, Privately Owned | $60,010 | $60,710 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do motorboat operators make in the U.S.?
The median motorboat operators salary in the United States is $47,520 per year (mean $56,270), and about 80% earn between $34,510 and $84,530.
How much do motorboat operators make per hour?
Roughly $27 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $56,270 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays motorboat operators the most?
Hawaii has the highest average pay for motorboat operators at $73,980 per year (median $76,250).
What is the job outlook for motorboat operators?
Employment is projected to change +1.4% from 2024 to 2034 (Slower than average), with about 300 openings per year.