Motorboat Operators Salary
The median pay for a motorboat operators in Tennessee is $42,360/year ($20.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $59K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $47,182 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 39.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $42K get you in Tennessee?
About motorboat operators
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for motorboat operators in Tennessee runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $48K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 40.4% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for motorboat operatorss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level motorboat operators (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $42K. Top earners bring in $59K or more, a $29K spread from bottom to top.
Motorboat Operators salary by metro in Tennessee
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $42K | +0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track motorboat operators salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a motorboat operator afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $42K, rent takes 40.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/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 Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new motorboat operators typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,775/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 Tennessee?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $42K here vs. $48K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for motorboat operators?
Tennessee pays $42K median vs. the U.S. average of $48K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do motorboat operators make in Tennessee?
The median is $42,360 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,590, and experienced motorboat operators can clear $58,520. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $42K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,006/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 40.4% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $47,182 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.