Ship Engineer salary in the U.S.
Ship Engineers in the U.S. earn a median of $109,530 a year ($52.66 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,400 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,490 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $111,790, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ship engineers in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,870 | $27.82 |
| 25th percentile | $82,130 | $39.49 |
| Median | $109,530 | $52.66 |
| 75th percentile | $135,760 | $65.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,490 | $79.56 |
| Average (mean) | $111,790 | $53.75 |
Half of ship engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,127.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,563.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,212.69 |
| Weekly | $2,106.35 |
| Hourly | $52.66 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Ship Engineer salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | $133,640 | 550 |
| Hawaii | $131,640 | 70 |
| Florida | $130,480 | 1,260 |
| Texas | $127,810 | 660 |
| Massachusetts | $122,720 | 150 |
| Indiana | $122,190 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $120,550 | n/a |
| Rhode Island | $119,330 | 50 |
| Connecticut | $119,010 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $118,310 | 170 |
| Illinois | $115,310 | 110 |
| Washington | $107,940 | 730 |
| Louisiana | $103,430 | 610 |
| Mississippi | $98,380 | 140 |
| South Carolina | $97,890 | 80 |
| California | $97,660 | 610 |
| Alabama | $96,030 | 50 |
| Oregon | $88,800 | 80 |
| Alaska | $88,190 | 420 |
| Virginia | $82,370 | 1,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,210 | 90 |
| Michigan | $79,170 | 100 |
| Maine | $77,160 | 30 |
| North Carolina | $65,010 | 90 |
| Puerto Rico | $40,080 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for ship engineers
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $132,710 | 230 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $131,640 | 60 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $131,260 | 520 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $130,600 | 450 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $129,700 | 640 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $126,630 | 90 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $122,820 | 650 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $122,090 | 50 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $119,330 | 50 |
| Anchorage, AK | $109,990 | 50 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $108,900 | 580 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,770 | 140 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $108,530 | 30 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $100,260 | 150 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $98,450 | 70 |
Metro areas with the most ship engineers
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 90 | $126,630 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | 70 | $98,450 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 70 | $85,310 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 60 | $131,640 |
| Anchorage, AK | 50 | $109,990 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 50 | $77,770 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $92,460 | $44.45 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $51,520 | $24.77 |
| Motorboat Operator | $47,520 | $22.85 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,240 | $19.35 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,640 | $28.19 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,860 | $21.57 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,420 | $22.32 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $62,890 | $30.23 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,280 | $17.44 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,770 | $18.64 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,830 | $17.23 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $37,290 | $17.93 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-5031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ship engineer make in the U.S.?
The median salary for ship engineers in the U.S. is $109,530 a year, or $52.66 an hour. Pay ranges from $57,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,490 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of ship engineers in the U.S. earn at least $165,490 a year. The top 25% earn $135,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,870 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $82,130 or less.
How many ship engineers work in the U.S.?
About 8,400 ship engineers are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.