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River pilot (motorboat operator): pay, job outlook and how to enter

Updated October 28, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$47,520median pay per year, or $22.85 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $34,510lowest 10% earn less
  2. $42,76025th percentile
  3. $47,520median
  4. $69,01075th percentile
  5. $84,530top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[3]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[4]

Motorboat operators had a median pay of $47,520 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035[2].

Job growth, 2025–35
+4.9%[2]
Openings per year
300[5]
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award[6]

How much do river pilots make?

The BLS category is Motorboat Operators. Its median pay was $47,520 a year, or $22.85 an hour[1]. The median for all occupations was $50,980[4]. The average was $56,270 a year, or $27.05 an hour[7].

Point in the range Annual wage Fact
Lowest-paid 10% earned less than[3] $34,510
Lowest-paid 25% earned less than[3] $42,760
Median[1] $47,520
Highest-paid 25% earned more than[3] $69,010
Highest-paid 10% earned more than[3] $84,530

BLS publishes percentiles, not a starting salary[8]. These wages cover wage and salary workers only, without bonuses or benefits[9]. About 2,480 people held such jobs in May 2025[10].

Pay by state and city

Pay differs a lot by place. Among 13 states with published data, Hawaii had the highest median at $76,250, followed by Illinois at $68,380 and Washington at $63,650[11]. California was lowest at $34,570[11].

The states with the most jobs were Hawaii (330), Texas (270), California (190), Florida (170) and Louisiana (160)[12].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Urban Honolulu, HI had a median of $81,440 and San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR had $26,630[13]. Both had 140 jobs[14].

Show median pay in 13 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Hawaii[11]$76,250330
Illinois$68,38040
Washington$63,65080
New York$62,000n/a
Texas$50,270270
Michigan$46,760n/a
Florida$46,620170
Connecticut$45,970n/a
Louisiana$45,800160
Massachusetts$45,160n/a
New Jersey$44,15040
Tennessee$42,36060
California$34,570190

How to become a river pilot

BLS lists these entry points for motorboat operators[6]:

The training details in the BLS handbook come from a profile covering a wider group of water transportation jobs[15]. For that wider group, other workers typically complete Coast Guard approved training, and most jobs need a federal security credential and a Merchant Mariner Credential[16]. Some jobs, such as maritime pilots, may also need a state license[17]. The data does not say which of these apply to every motorboat operator.

In an ONET survey of 15 workers, 40% said a high school diploma was required, 35% said less than a high school diploma, 14% said a bachelor's degree and 9% said some college courses[18]. ONET groups the job in Job Zone 1-2, which means little to some preparation[19].

What motorboat operators do

O*NET describes the job as running small motor-driven boats[20]. Tasks include[21]:

Workers report titles such as Harbor Pilot, Launch Operator and River Pilot[22].

Where they work

This part comes from the wider water transportation profile[15]. Inland water transportation was the largest employer group at 24%[23]. Some crews spend weeks or months away from home, while motorboat operators may have day shifts and return home each night[24]. Some work is seasonal, and ferry and motorboat operators serving vacation destinations may work only in summer[25]. Workers may face all kinds of weather[26].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 2,800 to 2,900 jobs[2]. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%[27]. About 300 openings a year are projected, including jobs left by people who retire or change occupations[5]. Each year, 3.6% of workers leave the labor force and 5.1% move to a different occupation[28]. In 2025, 7.5% were self-employed[29].

Is it a good fit?

The national median is slightly below the all-occupations median, but state medians range from $34,570 to $76,250[1][4][11]. Growth is projected above the all-occupations rate, though the field is small[2][27][10]. The handbook text covers a wider group of water transportation jobs, and the data does not say which credentials apply to every motorboat operator[15][17].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[30].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a river pilot make an hour?
For motorboat operators, the median was $22.85 an hour in May 2025[1].
What is the highest paying state for motorboat operators?
Hawaii, with a median of $76,250 a year[11].
Is motorboat operating in demand?
BLS projects 4.9% growth from 2025 to 2035 and about 300 openings a year[2][5].
What education do you need to be a motorboat operator?
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry education[6].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Motorboat Operators in the US was $47,520 per year and $22.85 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Motorboat Operators is projected to grow 4.9% from 2025 to 2035, from about 2,800 to 2,900 jobs (a change of +100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Motorboat Operators: 10th percentile $34,510, 25th percentile $42,760, 75th percentile $69,010, 90th percentile $84,530. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: about 300 openings for Motorboat Operators are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Motorboat Operators: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: Less than 5 years; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Motorboat Operators was $56,270 per year and $27.05 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,480 people were employed as Motorboat Operators in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. Median annual wage for Motorboat Operators in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Motorboat Operators jobs: Hawaii 330; Texas 270; California 190; Florida 170; Louisiana 160. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Motorboat Operators (areas with at least 100 jobs): Urban Honolulu, HI $81,440; San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR $26,630. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Motorboat Operators jobs: San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR 140 (median $26,630); Urban Honolulu, HI 140 (median $81,440); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 80 (median $34,510); Kahului-Wailuku, HI 70 (median $83,390); New Orleans-Metairie, LA 70 (median $49,230); Barnstable Town, MA 60 (median $45,160). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Water Transportation Workers" covers Motorboat Operators together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. O*NET 53-5022.00 survey of workers (15 respondents), education level they say is required: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) 40%, Less than a High School Diploma 35%, Bachelor's Degree 14%, Some College Courses 9% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  19. O*NET 53-5022.00: Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed. Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training. O*NET OnLine
  20. O*NET description of Motorboat Operators. O*NET OnLine
  21. O*NET task list for Motorboat Operators. O*NET OnLine
  22. O*NET 53-5022.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Boat Operator, Crew Boat Operator, Harbor Pilot, Launch Operator, Launchman, Motorboat Operator, River Pilot, Shoreboat Driver. O*NET OnLine
  23. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of water transportation workers in 2025: Inland water transportation 24%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  28. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Motorboat Operators: 3.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 5.1% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  29. BLS Employment Projections: 7.5% of Motorboat Operators were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  30. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

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. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.