Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels vs Motorboat Operators: $92K vs $48K Median Pay

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels vs Motorboat Operators: what changes?

Consider Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels if you want to command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Consider Motorboat Operators if you would rather operate small motor-driven boats. Both list postsecondary nondegree award; compare training and prior experience separately. Prior experience in a related occupation is typically needed for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (less than 5 years) and Motorboat Operators (less than 5 years).

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels and Motorboat Operators. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

National median pay (2025): $92,460
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Direct courses and speeds of ships, based on specialized knowledge of local winds, weather, water depths, tides, currents, and hazards.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 3,800

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels brief

Motorboat Operators

National median pay (2025): $47,520
Route into the job: Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
Prior related experience: Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Operate engine throttles and steering mechanisms to guide boats on desired courses.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 300

Know before you choose

BLS lists less than 5 years of related experience. This is normally reached through feeder roles, not directly from school.

See the full Motorboat Operators brief

How the national numbers differ

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels has the edge on median pay

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels is at $92,460, compared with $47,520 for Motorboat Operators.

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels has the edge on annual openings

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels is at 3,800 annual openings, compared with 300 annual openings for Motorboat Operators.

Typical preparation differs.

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels: Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Motorboat Operators: Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years Preparation categories do not establish admission difficulty, calendar time, tuition, time without earnings, or licensing difficulty.

Motorboat Operators has the edge on projected growth

Motorboat Operators is at 4.9% projected growth, compared with 4% projected growth for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels.

60.2/ 100

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

38.3/ 100

Motorboat Operators

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels vs Motorboat Operators

Dimension	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	Motorboat Operators
Median pay (2025)	$92,460	$47,520
Pay percentile	77.8 percentile	24.7 percentile
Projected growth (2025–2035)	4%	4.9%
Annual openings (2025–2035)	3,800	300
2025 employment	41,300	2,800
How you qualify	Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years	Postsecondary nondegree award; Prior related experience: less than 5 years
O*NET preparation group	Job Zone 3	Job Zone 2
Related work experience	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.	Prior related experience: less than 5 years.
On-the-job training	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.	BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.

The table reports national benchmarks and reviewed work descriptions. It does not rate personal suitability, job security, or physical safety.

Read Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels brief Read Motorboat Operators brief

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels vs Motorboat Operators: what changes?

The facts most likely to affect your decision

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

Motorboat Operators

How the national numbers differ

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels has the edge on median pay

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels has the edge on annual openings

Typical preparation differs.

Motorboat Operators has the edge on projected growth

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels vs Motorboat Operators

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