Career
Motorboat mechanics and service technicians
Repair boat engines.
$57,550
Median pay
+4.9%
Job growth, 2025–35
2,600
Openings a year
High school diploma or equivalent
Typical education
None required
Typical time after high school
Here's what you actually need to know.
The work
What people in this job do
- 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.
The outlook
How the forecast changed this year
The deeper question
What kind of person does this path ask you to become?
What this work centers on
O*NET interest profile, scored 1–7.
The work
Do you want most of your days spent on objects & tools, then information & systems?
Responsibility
Are you willing to be the one responsible for this?
“Start motors and monitor performance for signs of malfunctioning, such as smoke, excessive vibration, or misfiring.”
Development
What would you need to build over the next 5–10 years?
Repairing, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Operation and Control.
Trade-offs
What does it ask of you in exchange?
No degree beyond high school, though long-term on-the-job training is typical, for a median of $57,550 a year and 2,600 openings nationally each year.
Paths in
Degrees that lead here
- Marine Engineering Technology/TechnicianCIP 15.0806
- Small Engine Mechanics and Repair Technology/TechnicianCIP 47.0606
- Marine Maintenance/Fitter and Ship Repair Technology/TechnicianCIP 47.0616
Paths across
Careers that use similar skills
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,770 · +3.6%
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers$56,210 · +4.4%
- Motorcycle Mechanics$48,580 · +2.1%
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$47,880 · +2.3%
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$50,620 · +5.0%
Ask anything about this career.
“Would this make sense if I don't want to sit at a desk all day?” Answers will come from the sources on this page, with citations. Coming soon.
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Sources
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- BLS Employment Projections, 2024–34 (archived), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026), National Center for O*NET Development / U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved 2026-10-01.
- CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk, NCES and BLS. Retrieved 2026-10-01.