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Ship Engineers Salary
Ship Engineers earn a median $109,530 a year in the U.S., with 8,400 jobs (May 2025).
- Median wage
- $109,530 a year
- Employment
- 8,400
- Excludes self-employed
- Projected growth
- +2.7%
- 2025 to 2035
- Openings per year
- 900
- Average, including replacements
Pay range nationally
The middle half of workers earn between the 25th and 75th percentile (shaded)
- Median (50%)
- $109,530 · $52.66 an hour
- Mean (average)
- $111,790 · $53.75 an hour (estimate error ±1.2%)
- 10th percentile
- $57,870 · $27.82 an hour
- 25th percentile
- $82,130 · $39.49 an hour
- 75th percentile
- $135,760 · $65.27 an hour
- 90th percentile
- $165,490 · $79.56 an hour
- Employment
- 8,400 (estimate error ±4.4%)
What they do
Standard Occupational Classification definition
Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship. Excludes “Engineers” (17-2000).
Job outlook
BLS Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035
- Jobs in 2025
- 8,800
- Projected for 2035
- 9,000
- Change
- +200 (+2.7%)
- Openings each year
- 900
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- Not reported
Occupational Outlook Handbook (duties, how to become one, work environment)
Highest paying states
Median wage for this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | State | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $133,640 | 550 |
| 2 | Hawaii | $131,640 | 70 |
| 3 | Florida | $130,480 | 1,260 |
| 4 | Texas | $127,810 | 660 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $122,720 | 150 |
| 6 | Indiana | $122,190 | 210 |
| 7 | Kentucky | $120,550 | Not reported |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $119,330 | 50 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $119,010 | 50 |
| 10 | New Jersey | $118,310 | 170 |
States with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| State | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 1,450 | $82,370 |
| Florida | 1,260 | $130,480 |
| Washington | 730 | $107,940 |
| Texas | 660 | $127,810 |
| California | 610 | $97,660 |
| Louisiana | 610 | $103,430 |
| New York | 550 | $133,640 |
| Alaska | 420 | $88,190 |
| Indiana | 210 | $122,190 |
| New Jersey | 170 | $118,310 |
Highest paying metro areas
Metro areas with at least 100 jobs in this occupation
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| # | Metro area | Median wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $132,710 | 230 |
| 2 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $131,260 | 520 |
| 3 | Jacksonville, FL | $130,600 | 450 |
| 4 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $129,700 | 640 |
| 5 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $122,820 | 650 |
| 6 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $108,900 | 580 |
| 7 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,770 | 140 |
| 8 | Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $100,260 | 150 |
| 9 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $82,370 | 1,420 |
Metro areas with the most jobs
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| Metro area | Employment | Median wage |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 1,420 | $82,370 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 650 | $122,820 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 640 | $129,700 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 580 | $108,900 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 520 | $131,260 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 450 | $130,600 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 230 | $132,710 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 150 | $100,260 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 140 | $108,770 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 100 | Not reported |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 90 | $126,630 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 70 | $98,450 |
Visa filings for this occupation
Wages employers offered on Department of Labor filings
- PERM green card (FY 2026 through Q3)0 certified filingsMedian offered wage Not reported
Ship Engineers pay by state
Related occupations
Frequently asked questions
- How much do ship engineers make?
- The median wage for ship engineers in the U.S. is $109,530 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $82,130 and $135,760.
- Which state pays ship engineers the most?
- New York has the highest median wage for this occupation at $133,640 a year.
- What is the job outlook for ship engineers?
- BLS projects employment to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, with about 900 openings each year on average.
- What education do ship engineers need?
- The typical entry-level education is: postsecondary nondegree award.