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Small Craft Operator - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Small Craft Operator"
How much does a Small Craft Operator in the federal government get paid? $65,231.56* *Based on the 2021 average.Small Craft Operator was the 403rd most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 61 employed. The most common payscale was the nonsupervisory pay schedules - federal wage system payscale.
In 2021, the Maritime Administration hired the most employees titled Small Craft Operating, with an average salary of $61,990.
Government Small Craft Operating jobs are classified under the Federal Wage Schedule, Wage Grade (FWS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Small Craft Operating job is FWS-4, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is FWS-12. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This standard covers nonsupervisory work involved in the operation of small oar, sail or mechanically propelled craft, generally under 55 meters (180 feet) in length, to transport personnel and supplies, control harbor pollution, remove aquatic plants, conduct hydrographic surveys of rivers and harbors, or carry out similar functions. The operations are characterized by regular daily tours of duty followed by employees' physical departure from the boat rather than watch and watch, which is characteristic of maritime industry practices. This work requires the ability to steer and navigate the small craft, operate the engines and, in some assignments, to make operating repairs to the engines and the boat itself.
Agencies that have hired a Small Craft Operator
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Maritime Administration | 17 | $61,990.18 |
| National Park Service | 16 | $61,341.81 |
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | 16 | $63,748.88 |
| Bureau of Reclamation | 7 | $80,757.86 |
| St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation | 4 | $74,764.00 |
| Forest Service | 1 | $59,480.00 |
Small Craft Operator Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Small Craft Operator is $65,231.56. The highest paid Small Craft Operator made $89,971 in 2021.
Common Small Craft Operator Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Small Craft Operating Employees |
|---|---|
| WG - Nonsupervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 53 |
| BB - Nonsupervisory - Negotiated Pay Employees | 6 |
| BL - Leader - Negotiated Pay Employees | 1 |
| WS - Supervisory Pay Schedules - Federal Wage System | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $8.78 to $21.06 / hour at paygrade FWS-4 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $12.53 to $36.66 / hour at paygrade FWS-12 |
| Occupation Family: | TRANSPORTATION/MOBILE EQUIPMENT OPERATION FAMILY |
Other Jobs at the FWS-4 Paygrade
FWS-4 is the starting paygrade for Small Craft Operating jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the FWS-4 paygrade.
| Occupation | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Equipment Servicing | FWS-1 | FWS-6 |
| Cemetery Caretaking | FWS-2 | FWS-6 |
| Laboring | FWS-1 | FWS-4 |
| Motor Vehicle Operating | FWS-4 | FWS-8 |
| Gardening | FWS-4 | FWS-8 |
Average Small Craft Operating Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Small Craft Operator was $45,177. Since then, the average pay has increased to $65,232 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 5786.