How much does a Ship Engineers make?

The median annual wage for Ship Engineers is $109,530 ($53 per hour). Pay ranges from about $57,870 at the 10th percentile to $165,490 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Ship Engineers?

The average (mean) annual salary is $111,790, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Ship Engineerss the most?

New York has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $133,640.

Is Ship Engineers a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 8.4K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Ship Engineers do?

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..

Ship Engineers Salary

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 8.4K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$109,530

Median hourly

$53

Average annual

$111,790

Typical range

$57,870–$165,490

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$57,870

25th$82,130

Median$109,530

75th$135,760

90th$165,490

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Ship Engineers is $109,530 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $53 an hour at a full-time schedule.

Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship..

Most earn between $57,870 and $165,490 a year. There are roughly 8.4K people employed as ship engineers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Ship Engineers.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $52.66
Daily: $421
Weekly: $2,106
Bi-weekly: $4,213
Monthly: $9,128
Annual: $109,530

$109,530 a year is around the 50th percentile for Ship Engineerss. The median is $109,530.

Ship Engineers — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	$27.80	$57,870
25th percentile	$39.50	$82,130
Median	$52.70	$109,530
75th percentile	$65.30	$135,760
90th percentile	$79.60	$165,490
Average (mean)	$53.80	$111,790
Employment	8,400 people

Key skills

Critical Thinking
Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control
Equipment Maintenance
Troubleshooting
Repairing
Active Listening
Monitoring
Speaking
Complex Problem Solving

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1New York$133,640
2Hawaii$131,640
3Florida$130,480
4Texas$127,810
5Massachusetts$122,720
6Indiana$122,190
7Kentucky$120,550
8Rhode Island$119,330
9Connecticut$119,010
10New Jersey$118,310
11Illinois$115,310
12Washington$107,940

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1New Orleans-Metairie, LA$132,710
2Urban Honolulu, HI$131,640
3Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$131,260
4Jacksonville, FL$130,600
5Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$129,700
6Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$126,630
7New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$122,820
8Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$122,090
9Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$119,330
10Anchorage, AK$109,990
11Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$108,900
12San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$108,770

Related job titles

Employers advertise Ship Engineers roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Ship Engineers does

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.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Ship Engineers make?: The median annual wage for Ship Engineers is $109,530 ($53 per hour). Pay ranges from about $57,870 at the 10th percentile to $165,490 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Ship Engineers?: The average (mean) annual salary is $111,790, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Ship Engineerss the most?: New York has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $133,640.
Is Ship Engineers a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 8.4K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Ship Engineers do?: 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..