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Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Repair and adjust electrical and mechanical equipment of inboard or inboard-outboard boat engines.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $57,550 Median per year · $27.67/hr Most earn $36,950–$79,330

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Start motors and monitor performance for signs of malfunctioning, such as smoke, excessive vibration, or misfiring.
  • Idle motors and observe thermometers to determine the effectiveness of cooling systems.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 2,600 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Other motor vehicle dealers31.6%
  • Personal and household goods repair and maintenance22.2%
  • Self-employed (their own business)7.3%
  • Ship and boat building5.8%
  • Support activities for water transportation4.5%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Certificate or apprenticeshipExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Motorboat mechanics usually aren't hired straight out of school. Most people finish a certificate or apprenticeship program and then spend about 1 to 2 years doing related repair work before they're ready for this job.

  1. Marine or small engine certificate program

    1-2 years

    After high school, you learn engine basics, electrical systems, and diagnostic skills in a certificate program or an apprenticeship, which gives you the foundation employers look for.

  2. Small Engine Mechanic

    1-2 years

    You work on small engines and equipment, building hands-on repair experience and learning to troubleshoot under real service conditions, which prepares you for boat engines.

  3. Motorboat Mechanic

    You repair and adjust the electrical and mechanical systems of inboard and inboard-outboard boat engines, working on your own jobs with customers.

Where it can lead

  1. Lead Marine Mechanic

    3-5 years of experience first

    You take on harder jobs, train newer technicians, and check their work, which requires strong diagnostic skills and reliable communication.

  2. Marine Service Manager

    5+ years of experience first

    You oversee the service department, schedule work, manage parts and staff, and deal with customers, so you need both technical knowledge and business skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take auto shop or small engine repair classesBasic mechanical and electrical skills transfer directly to marine engine work.
  • Take physics or electronics classesUnderstanding electricity and how engines work helps with the diagnostic side of the job.
  • Join a career and technical student organizationGroups like SkillsUSA-style clubs, if your school has one, offer hands-on competitions and connections to local trades.
  • Look for a summer job at a marina, boatyard, or small engine shopEven sweeping floors or helping with washing and prep gives you a feel for the work and a reference for later.
  • Take a boating safety courseKnowing how boats operate and what safety rules apply gives you useful background for working on them.

In college

  • Enroll in a marine technology or diesel/engine programA formal certificate covering marine engines and electrical systems is the most common route into this career.
  • Work part-time at a marina, boatyard, or engine repair shopPaid, hands-on time builds the 1-2 years of experience employers usually expect.
  • Take courses in electrical systems and basic electronicsModern boats rely heavily on wiring, batteries, and diagnostic electronics, so these skills set you apart.
  • Pursue an apprenticeship with a boat service shopApprenticeships combine paid work with structured training, a common way to enter the trade.
  • Look into industry-recognized marine engine certificationsCertifications show employers you have verified knowledge of marine systems and safety standards.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask a local marina or boat dealer whether they take summer or part-time helpers. Hands-on time around real boats is the fastest way to see if this work suits you.
  • Get comfortable with basic tools and small engines now, and keep a simple log of repairs you've helped with. Employers look for practical experience and good habits.
  • Look at the career page on this app to see typical pay near you and nationally, since pay varies by region and experience.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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