Ship engineers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $57,870 | $27.82 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $109,530 | $52.66 |
| Mean (average) | $111,790 | $53.75 |
| 90th percentile | $165,490 | $79.56 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Ship engineers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 25 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $96,030 | $91,410 | $114,490 | 50 | 0.4 |
| Alaska | $88,190 | $40,240 | $145,930 | 420 | 23.8 |
| California | $97,660 | $80,820 | $169,280 | 610 | 0.62 |
| Connecticut | $119,010 | $53,690 | $140,320 | 50 | 0.55 |
| Florida | $130,480 | $77,970 | $149,920 | 1,260 | 2.34 |
| Hawaii | $131,640 | $93,650 | $194,880 | 70 | 2.01 |
| Illinois | $115,310 | $52,870 | $136,310 | 110 | 0.33 |
| Indiana | $122,190 | $50,040 | $165,440 | 210 | 1.22 |
| Kentucky | $120,550 | $81,040 | $121,880 | ||
| Louisiana | $103,430 | $59,100 | $244,020 | 610 | 5.84 |
| Maine | $77,160 | $60,280 | $101,790 | 30 | 0.96 |
| Massachusetts | $122,720 | $81,580 | $150,830 | 150 | 0.74 |
| Michigan | $79,170 | $34,050 | $116,790 | 100 | 0.4 |
| Mississippi | $98,380 | $75,730 | $129,880 | 140 | 2.16 |
| New Jersey | $118,310 | $87,310 | $150,600 | 170 | 0.74 |
| New York | $133,640 | $65,040 | $174,260 | 550 | 1.05 |
| North Carolina | $65,010 | $62,360 | $96,940 | 90 | 0.35 |
| Oregon | $88,800 | $57,180 | $168,360 | 80 | 0.74 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,210 | $63,990 | $126,510 | 90 | 0.28 |
| Puerto Rico | $40,080 | $35,950 | $59,840 | ||
| Rhode Island | $119,330 | $76,120 | $159,990 | 50 | 1.78 |
| South Carolina | $97,890 | $61,610 | $114,860 | 80 | 0.62 |
| Texas | $127,810 | $93,560 | $150,460 | 660 | 0.87 |
| Virginia | $82,370 | $47,420 | $150,300 | 1,450 | 6.53 |
| Washington | $107,940 | $61,530 | $157,340 | 730 | 3.78 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for ship engineers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for ship engineers
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer CIP 49.0309
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway, and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.
- Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.
- Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.
- Start engines to propel ships, and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.
- Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.
- Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks.
- Maintain or repair engines, electric motors, pumps, winches, or other mechanical or electrical equipment, or assist other crew members with maintenance or repair duties.
- Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.
Technology skills
- Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Database (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Damen DAMOS
- Electronic data interchange EDI software
- Kongsberg Maritime K-LOG Electronic Logbooks
Transferable skills for career changers: Operations Monitoring, Operation and Control, Equipment Maintenance, Troubleshooting, Repairing, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Barge Engineer, Engineer, Ferry Engineer, Harbor Engineer, Port Engineer, Ship Engineer, Towboat Engineer, Tug Boat Engineer, Vessel Engineer.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do ship engineers make?
The national median annual wage for ship engineers was $109,530 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $57,870 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $165,490. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do ship engineers need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is ship engineers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of ship engineers to change +2.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay ship engineers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were New York ($133,640), Hawaii ($131,640), Florida ($130,480). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.