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What is a boat driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a boat driver. For example, did you know that they make an average of $14.91 an hour? That's $31,018 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 1% and produce 500 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreBoat DriverUS Average
Salary
2.4

Avg. Salary $31,018

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.3

Growth rate 1%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
8.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.08%

Asian 3.13%

Black or African American 6.75%

Hispanic or Latino 8.80%

Unknown 4.71%

White 75.53%

Gender

female 18.93%

male 81.07%

Age - 40.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40.5
Stress level
8.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.4

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.9

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a boat driver

  1. Explore boat driver education requirements

    Most common boat driver degrees

    Bachelor's

    59.8 %

    Associate

    15.9 %

    High School Diploma

    14.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific boat driver skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Boats79.28%
    Coast Guard10.51%
    Emergency Procedures8.04%
    Boat Maintenance2.18%
  3. Complete relevant boat driver training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New boat drivers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a boat driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real boat driver resumes.
  4. Research boat driver duties and responsibilities

    • Accompany CDL driver/mover to transport and deliver customer belongings.
    • Fabricate, install, and repair boat docks-Transport necessary materials, equipment, and finish docks to their destination on the lake
    • Maintain boat crew certifications/policy and procedures.
    • Provide operational and technical support to the company's fleet of tugboats.
  5. Prepare your boat driver resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your boat driver resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a boat driver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable boat driver resume templates

    Build a professional boat driver resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your boat driver resume.
    Boat Driver Resume
    Boat Driver Resume
    Boat Driver Resume
    Boat Driver Resume
    Boat Driver Resume
    Boat Driver Resume
    Boat Driver Resume
    Boat Driver Resume
    Boat Driver Resume
  6. Apply for boat driver jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a boat driver job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first boat driver job

Zippi

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Average boat driver salary

The average boat driver salary in the United States is $31,018 per year or $15 per hour. Boat driver salaries range between $20,000 and $46,000 per year.

Average boat driver salary
$31,018 Yearly
$14.91 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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