Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
Repair and adjust electrical and mechanical equipment of inboard or inboard-outboard boat engines.
Also called: Boat Mechanic · Boat Motor Mechanic · Boat Rigger · Marine Mechanic · Marine Propulsion Technician · Marine Technician
Median pay (national)
$54,950
$35,950–$78,820 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
24,250
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+6%
~2,600 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for motorboat mechanics and service technicians shows a broad range: the top 10% earn $78,820 versus $35,950 at the bottom 10% — 2.2x. The median of $54,950 leaves roughly 43% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +6% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 2,600 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 48 states with released data, Alaska pays the most for this role (median $77,310, +41% vs the national median), while New Mexico sits lowest at $34,280 — a 126% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Science
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Perform routine engine maintenance on motorboats, such as changing oil and filters.
- Idle motors and observe thermometers to determine the effectiveness of cooling systems.
- Disassemble and inspect motors to locate defective parts, using mechanic's hand tools and gauges.
- Start motors and monitor performance for signs of malfunctioning, such as smoke, excessive vibration, or misfiring.
- 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.
- Inspect and repair or adjust propellers or propeller shafts.
- Adjust carburetor mixtures, electrical point settings, or timing while motors are running in water-filled test tanks.
- Set starter locks and align and repair steering or throttle controls, using gauges, screwdrivers, or wrenches.
- Repair or rework parts, using machine tools such as lathes, mills, drills, or grinders.
Tools & technology
- CDI Electronics M.E.D.S.
- Engine diagnostic scanners
- Inventory tracking software
- Outboard engine diagnostic software
- Rinda Technologies DIACOM Marine
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
Knowledge areas
- Mechanical
- Customer and Personal Service
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Engineering and Technology
- Transportation
- Administration and Management