Prevailing Wage for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
Prevailing wage for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians (SOC 49-3051) is set by the DOL using regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. Whether your offer is for a Marine Mechanic, Boat Mechanic, or Marine Technician role, DOL assigns four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on which U.S. city the worksite is in.
See all jobs for this roleLook up your work address
Entry-level candidates with limited hands-on experience in boat engine repair, typically working under close supervision on routine maintenance tasks. Usually reflects recent vocational training or fewer than two years of practical experience in marine mechanical work.
Qualified technicians with moderate experience independently diagnosing and servicing inboard and inboard-outboard engines. Level 2 is the most common filing level for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians, reflecting the occupation's standard journeyman competency expectations.
Experienced marine mechanics who handle complex engine overhauls, electrical diagnostics, and multi-system repairs with minimal supervision. Typically reflects five or more years in the trade and the ability to mentor junior technicians on standard repair procedures.
Fully competent lead technicians or senior marine propulsion specialists responsible for the most complex diagnostics, quality oversight, or service department leadership. Reflects top-tier expertise and broad authority over technical decisions across a marine service operation.
Prevailing Wage for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
See all jobs for this role
See which U.S. employers are actively hiring for this role and sponsoring H-1B, OPT, and green card visas at or above the prevailing wage.
Search visa-sponsored jobsPrevailing Wage Guide for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
Watch for title aliasing between SOC codes
Titles like Marine Technician or Boat Rigger sometimes get filed under adjacent SOC codes covering general mechanics or small engine repair. Confirm your LCA lists SOC 49-3051 specifically, or the prevailing wage floor used may not reflect this occupation.
Prioritize coastal and Great Lakes markets
Marine mechanic wages vary sharply by boating density. Seattle, Honolulu, and the San Francisco Bay Area post wage floors well above the national median, while inland metros like Sherman, TX sit significantly lower. Worksite city on your LCA determines which floor applies.
Confirm your sponsoring employer has filed for this SOC before
Many marina operators and boat dealerships have limited H-1B filing history. Use Migrate Mate to filter for employers who have historically sponsored Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians or closely related marine trades roles, reducing outreach to sponsors unlikely to proceed.
Account for seasonal bonus exclusions in wage calculations
Marine service work often includes seasonal production bonuses tied to peak boating months. DOL prevailing wage compliance is calculated on base pay only; signing bonuses and seasonal incentives do not count toward meeting the wage floor on an LCA.
Jobs for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians are hiring across the US. Find yours.
Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 49-3051.00 alongside Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Boat Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Boat Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Boat Mechanic positions fall under SOC 49-3051.00 (Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Boat Motor Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Boat Motor Mechanic Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Boat Motor Mechanic for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3051.00 (Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Boat Rigger Prevailing Wage
Boat Rigger Prevailing Wage
Boat Rigger is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3051.00 (Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Marine Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Marine Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Marine Mechanic positions fall under SOC 49-3051.00 (Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Marine Propulsion Technician Prevailing Wage
Marine Propulsion Technician Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Marine Propulsion Technician for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3051.00 (Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Marine Technician Prevailing Wage
Marine Technician Prevailing Wage
Marine Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3051.00 (Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Mechanic positions fall under SOC 49-3051.00 (Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Outboard Motor Mechanic Prevailing Wage
Outboard Motor Mechanic Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Outboard Motor Mechanic for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 49-3051.00 (Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Outboard Technician Prevailing Wage
Outboard Technician Prevailing Wage
Outboard Technician is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 49-3051.00 (Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Service Technician Prevailing Wage
Service Technician Prevailing Wage
Service Technician positions fall under SOC 49-3051.00 (Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians?
DOL derives prevailing wages for this occupation from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, which collects employer-reported wage data by SOC code and metropolitan area. For LCA-based sponsorship, employers submit a prevailing wage request to OFLC, which returns the applicable level wage for the worksite location under SOC 49-3051.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I know which one applies to my offer?
DOL assigns Level 1 through Level 4 based on experience, supervision required, and job complexity. Level 1 covers entry-level work under close supervision, Level 2 reflects standard journeyman competency, Level 3 applies to experienced technicians working independently, and Level 4 covers senior or lead roles. Your employer selects the level that matches your actual job duties, and USCIS or DOL can challenge a mismatch during review.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same marine mechanic role differ so much by city?
DOL calculates prevailing wages from regional Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, so each metropolitan area produces its own wage floor reflecting local employer pay practices. The LCA worksite rule requires employers to use the wage for the city where you will physically work, not company headquarters. Dense boating markets like Seattle or Honolulu generate higher surveyed wages than inland or lower-demand regions, producing the city-to-city variation you see in DOL data.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot certify an LCA with DOL if the offered wage falls below the applicable prevailing wage for your level and worksite. If the offer is already below floor, the employer must either raise the salary before filing or the LCA will be denied. USCIS also reviews wage compliance during H-1B petition adjudication, and underpayment after approval can trigger DOL back-wage liability for the employer.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a specific U.S. location?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool to look up the current DOL wage by SOC code, experience level, and metropolitan area. Enter SOC 49-3051, select your worksite metro, and the tool returns all four level wages. For a broader view of which employers have sponsored this role and in which cities, Migrate Mate filters listings by visa type and shows each employer's historical sponsorship activity for marine and mechanical trades roles.
See which employers are hiring and sponsoring visas for Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians right now.
Search Jobs for this role