Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers

How to become a Motorboat Mechanic or Service Technician

Official title: Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians

Also called: Boat Mechanic, Boat Motor Mechanic, Boat Rigger, Marine Mechanic, Marine Propulsion Technician, Marine Technician, Mechanic, Outboard Motor Mechanic, Outboard Technician, Service Technician

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

Main tasks

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.
Replace parts, such as gears, magneto points, piston rings, or spark plugs, and reassemble engines.
Idle motors and observe thermometers to determine the effectiveness of cooling systems.
Inspect and repair or adjust propellers or propeller shafts.

How to become one

Small engine mechanics typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award and learn their trade through on-the-job training.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Motorboat Mechanic.
Apprenticeship: Outboard-Motor Mechanic.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $57,550 a year The middle half earn $46,750 to $66,620.
About 25,000 people work in this job now, and about 26,200 are projected by 2035. (+4.9%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Motorboat Mechanic or Service Technician?

Small engine mechanics typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or postsecondary nondegree award and learn their trade through on-the-job training.

How much does a Motorboat Mechanic or Service Technician earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $57,550 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $46,750 to $66,620.

Is a Motorboat Mechanic or Service Technician a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 25,000 to about 26,200 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Motorboat Mechanic or Service Technician?

Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Motorboat Mechanic.

Will AI change the work of a Motorboat Mechanic or Service Technician?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

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.