Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
Occupation · SOC 49-3051.00
Repair and adjust electrical and mechanical equipment of inboard or inboard-outboard boat engines.
Also called: Marine Mechanic · Marine Technician · Mechanic · Service Technician · Boat Mechanic · Boat Motor Mechanic · Boat Rigger · Marine Propulsion Technician · Outboard Motor Mechanic · Outboard Technician · Boat Outboard Engine Mechanic · Boat Tester
Job family: Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-49-3051-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- About average employment outlook (+6.0% by 2034)
- 2,600 openings/yr
- Low AI exposure
- Median pay $54,950/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
- 2013 flagged this for computerization (56th); today's AI task-overlap is comparatively low (14th)
14th-percentile task overlap — yet about 2,600 openings a year (+6% projected, BLS) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 22nd | -0.9 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Low | 11th | 0.1 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Low | 18th | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.1), with simple added tooling (β 0.1), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.1). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.7 · 56th percentile among occupations · Moderate
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | About average · +6.0% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 2,600 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 26,200 → 27,800 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians sits at the 26th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure rose from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
18% mean task exposure (2025)
26th percentile of 427 placed occupations
+3 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Mechanics and Repairers · 7231 | 18% | Not exposed |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Tasks
All 13 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Start motors and monitor performance for signs of malfunctioning, such as smoke, excessive vibration, or misfiring. Core · importance 4.3
- Document inspection and test results and work performed or to be performed. Core · importance 4.1
- Mount motors to boats, and operate boats at various speeds on waterways to conduct operational tests. Core · importance 4.1
- Perform routine engine maintenance on motorboats, such as changing oil and filters. Core · importance 4.0
- Repair engine mechanical equipment, such as power tilts, bilge pumps, or power take-offs. Core · importance 4.0
- Replace parts, such as gears, magneto points, piston rings, or spark plugs, and reassemble engines. Core · importance 4.0
- Idle motors and observe thermometers to determine the effectiveness of cooling systems. Core · importance 3.9
- Inspect and repair or adjust propellers or propeller shafts. Core · importance 3.9
- Adjust carburetor mixtures, electrical point settings, or timing while motors are running in water-filled test tanks. Core · importance 3.9
- Set starter locks and align and repair steering or throttle controls, using gauges, screwdrivers, or wrenches. Core · importance 3.9
- Disassemble and inspect motors to locate defective parts, using mechanic's hand tools and gauges. Core · importance 3.9
- Adjust generators and replace faulty wiring, using hand tools and soldering irons. Core · importance 3.8
- Repair or rework parts, using machine tools such as lathes, mills, drills, or grinders. Core · importance 3.3
Emerging tasks
Newer responsibilities O*NET has flagged as growing for this occupation.
- Explain repair procedures to customers.
- Repair or replace engine mechanical equipment, such as power tilts, water pumps, bilge pumps, or power take-offs.
Work activities
- Inspect mechanical components of vehicles to identify problems.
- Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
- Position equipment using hand tools, power tools, or heavy equipment.
- Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems.
- Document test results.
- Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
- Align equipment or machinery.
- Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.
- Adjust vehicle components according to specifications.
- Repair defective engines or engine components.
- Repair worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.
- Adjust equipment to ensure optimal performance.
- Repair electrical circuits or wiring.
- Service vehicles to maintain functionality.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Knowledge
| Mechanical | 4.8 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.9 | |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.5 | |
| English Language | 3.5 | |
| Mathematics | 3.3 | |
| Engineering and Technology | 3.3 | |
| Transportation | 3.1 | |
| Administration and Management | 3.1 | |
| Physics | 3.0 |
Transferable skills
Abilities
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.9 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.8 | |
| Inductive Reasoning | 3.8 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.8 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.8 | |
| Finger Dexterity | 3.6 | |
| Control Precision | 3.6 | |
| Near Vision | 3.5 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.3 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.3 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.3 | |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.3 | |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 3.3 | |
| Visualization | 3.1 | |
| Trunk Strength | 3.1 | |
| Extent Flexibility | 3.1 | |
| Speech Recognition | 3.1 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.0 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.0 |
Essential skills
| Critical Thinking | 3.4 | |
| Active Listening | 3.1 | |
| Speaking | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
| Example | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| Web page creation and editing software | Hot technology | |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | Hot technology |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | Hot technology |
| CDI Electronics M.E.D.S. | Analytical or scientific software | |
| Engine diagnostic scanners | Analytical or scientific software | |
| Inventory tracking software | Inventory management software | |
| Outboard engine diagnostic software | Analytical or scientific software | |
| Rinda Technologies DIACOM Marine | Analytical or scientific software |
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- Typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- Preparation level
- SVP (6.0 to < 7.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians , Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 53.7% | |
| High School Diploma | 23.6% | |
| Some College Courses | 11.5% | |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 6.6% | |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 4.5% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 7.0 | |
| Conventional | 3.9 | |
| Investigative | 2.9 | |
| Enterprising | 1.6 |
Interest areas
| Mechanics/Electronics | 6.5 | |
| Physical/Manual Labor | 5.0 | |
| Engineering | 4.8 | |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | 2.5 | |
| Nature/Outdoors | 2.1 | |
| Mathematics/Statistics | 1.5 | |
| Information Technology | 1.5 | |
| Physical Science | 1.4 |
Work styles
| Attention to Detail | 2.4 | |
| Dependability | 2.3 | |
| Cautiousness | 2.0 | |
| Perseverance | 1.6 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $35,950 |
| 25th percentile | $45,070 |
| Median (50th) | $54,950 |
| 75th percentile | $65,120 |
| 90th percentile | $78,820 |
| People employed | 24,250 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Trade · Sector | 8,730 | $51,290 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 6,250 | $51,940 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation · Sector | 4,180 | $56,700 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 1,950 | $50,420 |
| Transportation and Warehousing · Sector | 1,660 | $73,730 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing · Sector | 300 | $55,890 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 200 | $70,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 110 | $46,740 |
| Construction · Sector | 40 | $54,090 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | — | $59,080 |
| Sporting Goods Retailers · National industry | — | $57,870 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | — | $60,540 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation · Sector | 10.06× | 4,180 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 8.98× | 6,250 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 3.56× | 8,730 |
| Transportation and Warehousing · Sector | 1.43× | 1,660 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 0.97× | 1,950 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing · Sector | 0.81× | 300 |
| Educational Services · Sector | 0.09× | 200 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 0.08× | 110 |
Related occupations
Part of the Supply Chain & Transportation career cluster.
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists · 49-3031.00 Compare →
- Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers · 49-2092.00 Compare →
- Motorcycle Mechanics · 49-3052.00 Compare →
- Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics · 49-3053.00 Compare →
- Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics · 49-3023.00 Compare →
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers · 51-2031.00 Compare →
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines · 49-3042.00 Compare →
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians · 49-3011.00 Compare →
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door · 49-9012.00 Compare →
- Ship Engineers · 53-5031.00 Compare →
- Avionics Technicians · 49-2091.00 Compare →
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers · 51-2011.00 Compare →
Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- High school diploma or equivalent · typical entry level
- Job zone 3 — Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians · field of study
- Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 26th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians show 14th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 2,600 annual U.S. openings
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians rank in the 14th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 2,600 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be about average (+6%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $54,950, across about 24,250 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
Copy the whole kit
Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians show 14th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 2,600 annual U.S. openings • Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians rank in the 14th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 2,600 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be about average (+6%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $54,950, across about 24,250 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) Source: Singulariki — "Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-3051-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-3051-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-3051-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-49-3051-00,
title = {Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-49-3051-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.