Motorboat Operators Salary
The median pay for a motorboat operators in Louisiana is $45,800/year ($22.02/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $52,475 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,191/month, about 38.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $46K get you in Louisiana?
About motorboat operators
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Motorboat operators pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $46K locally vs. $48K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,191/month, which is 38.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level motorboat operators (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $46K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $50K spread from bottom to top.
Motorboat Operators salary by metro in Louisiana
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie | $49K | +7% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track motorboat operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a motorboat operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $46K, rent takes 38.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for motorboat operators in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new motorboat operators typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,853/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 64% 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 Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $46K locally vs. $48K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for motorboat operators?
Louisiana pays $46K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do motorboat operators make in Louisiana?
The median is $45,800 a year, that works out to about $22 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,890, and experienced motorboat operators can clear $80,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $46K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,120/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 38.2% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $52,475 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.