Motorboat Operators Salary
The median pay for a motorboat operators in Illinois is $68,380/year ($32.88/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.85), which stretches that salary to about $72,861 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,407/month, about 31.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Illinois. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $68K get you in Illinois?
About motorboat operators
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Illinois
Illinois sits well above the national pay line for motorboat operators, local pay runs about 44% higher than the U.S. median of $48K. Rent runs $1,407/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.85 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Illinois
Entry-level motorboat operators (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $49K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track motorboat operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Illinois numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a motorboat operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Illinois?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 31.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,407/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for motorboat operators in Illinois?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new motorboat operators typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,738/month. At HUD’s $1,407/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is motorboat operator a high-paying job in Illinois?
Local pay is 44% above the national median — $68K here vs. $48K nationally.
How does Illinois compare to the national average for motorboat operators?
Illinois pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s +44%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.85), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do motorboat operators make in Illinois?
The median is $68,380 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,640, and experienced motorboat operators can clear $94,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in Illinois?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,425/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,407/month, which eats 31.8% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a motorboat operators salary go in Illinois?
Illinois has a Regional Price Parity of 93.85 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median motorboat operators salary is worth about $72,861 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do motorboat operators get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.