Ship Engineer salary in California
Ship Engineers in California earn a median of $97,660 a year ($46.95 an hour), based on BLS data for 610 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,280 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $109,530. California ranks 16th of 24 states for ship engineers pay. There are 0.03 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $117,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ship engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,820 | $38.86 |
| 25th percentile | $84,620 | $40.68 |
| Median | $97,660 | $46.95 |
| 75th percentile | $157,070 | $75.52 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,280 | $81.38 |
| Average (mean) | $117,530 | $56.51 |
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 | $8,138.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,069.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,756.15 |
| Weekly | $1,878.08 |
| Hourly | $46.95 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Ship Engineer salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,770 | 140 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $85,310 | 70 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $84,630 | n/a |
Highest-paying states for ship engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $133,640 |
| Hawaii | $131,640 |
| Florida | $130,480 |
| Texas | $127,810 |
| Massachusetts | $122,720 |
| Indiana | $122,190 |
| Kentucky | $120,550 |
| Rhode Island | $119,330 |
| Connecticut | $119,010 |
| New Jersey | $118,310 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $110,090 | $52.93 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $55,180 | $26.53 |
| Motorboat Operator | $34,570 | $16.62 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,550 | $31.51 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $44,730 | $21.50 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $67,130 | $32.27 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for ship engineers in California is $97,660 a year, or $46.95 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $169,280 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in California?
The top 10% of ship engineers in California earn at least $169,280 a year. The top 25% earn $157,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,820 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $84,620 or less.
How many ship engineers work in California?
About 610 ship engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.