Jobs Similar to Motorboat Operators
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to motorboat operators, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels, Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers and Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers.
Motorboat Operators: $47,520 median pay · usual preparation: High school.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Motorboat Operators) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsSame group | 80% | $92,460+95% | Training or associate |
| 2 | Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers | 79% | $60,600+28% | High school |
| 3 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 79% | $58,640+23% | High school |
| 4 | Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners | 78% | $49,880+5% | High school |
| 5 | Subway and Streetcar Operators | 78% | $86,380+82% | High school |
| 6 | Sailors and Marine OilersSame group | 77% | $51,520+8% | High school |
| 7 | Light Truck Drivers | 77% | $44,860−6% | High school |
| 8 | Aircraft Service Attendants | 77% | $40,450−15% | High school |
| 9 | Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | 77% | $49,690+5% | High school |
| 10 | Tree Trimmers and Pruners | 76% | $50,960+7% | High school |
| 11 | Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | 76% | $59,850+26% | High school |
| 12 | Hoist and Winch Operators | 76% | $56,450+19% | High school |
| 13 | Recycling and Reclamation Workers | 75% | $40,240Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 14 | Forest and Conservation Workers | 75% | $43,680−8% | High school |
| 15 | Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | 75% | $68,840+45% | High school |
| 16 | Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders | 74% | $58,870+24% | High school |
| 17 | Commercial Pilots | 74% | $123,220+159% | Training or associate |
| 18 | Locomotive Engineers | 74% | $81,410+71% | High school |
| 19 | Helpers--Extraction Workers | 74% | $47,7300% | High school |
| 20 | Gas Plant Operators | 74% | $87,820+85% | High school |
- 1Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
80% similar · $92,460 (+95%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 2Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers
79% similar · $60,600 (+28%) · High school
- 3Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
79% similar · $58,640 (+23%) · High school
- 4Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
78% similar · $49,880 (+5%) · High school
- 5Subway and Streetcar Operators
78% similar · $86,380 (+82%) · High school
- 6Sailors and Marine Oilers
77% similar · $51,520 (+8%) · High school · Same group
- 7Light Truck Drivers
77% similar · $44,860 (−6%) · High school
- 8Aircraft Service Attendants
77% similar · $40,450 (−15%) · High school
- 9Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors
77% similar · $49,690 (+5%) · High school
- 10Tree Trimmers and Pruners
76% similar · $50,960 (+7%) · High school
- 11Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
76% similar · $59,850 (+26%) · High school
- 12Hoist and Winch Operators
76% similar · $56,450 (+19%) · High school
- 13Recycling and Reclamation Workers
75% similar · $40,240 (broader group) · High school
- 14Forest and Conservation Workers
75% similar · $43,680 (−8%) · High school
- 15Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
75% similar · $68,840 (+45%) · High school
- 16Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders
74% similar · $58,870 (+24%) · High school
- 17Commercial Pilots
74% similar · $123,220 (+159%) · Training or associate
- 18Locomotive Engineers
74% similar · $81,410 (+71%) · High school
- 19Helpers--Extraction Workers
74% similar · $47,730 (0%) · High school
- 20Gas Plant Operators
74% similar · $87,820 (+85%) · High school
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than motorboat operators.
- Gas Plant Operators74% similar · $87,820 (+85%)
- Subway and Streetcar Operators78% similar · $86,380 (+82%)
- Locomotive Engineers74% similar · $81,410 (+71%)
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers75% similar · $68,840 (+45%)
- Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers79% similar · $60,600 (+28%)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators76% similar · $59,850 (+26%)
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for motorboat operators also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where motorboat operators is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Bridge and Lock Tenders (78)
- Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (78)
- Aircraft Service Attendants (77)
- Light Truck Drivers (77)
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors (77)
- Tree Trimmers and Pruners (76)
- Forest and Conservation Workers (75)
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (74)
- Highway Maintenance Workers (73)
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs (73)
Questions about jobs like motorboat operators
What jobs are most similar to motorboat operators?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (80% similar), Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers (79% similar), Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers (79% similar), Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners (78% similar) and Subway and Streetcar Operators (78% similar).
Which jobs like motorboat operators pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Commercial Pilots ($123,220, +159%; usually training or an associate degree), Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels ($92,460, +95%; usually training or an associate degree) and Gas Plant Operators ($87,820, +85%; usually a high school diploma) have the highest BLS median pay compared with motorboat operators ($47,520). Without more preparation than motorboat operators usually need: Gas Plant Operators, Subway and Streetcar Operators and Locomotive Engineers.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.