Ship Engineer salary in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
Ship Engineers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn a median of $98,450 a year ($47.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $122,190 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $109,530. Pay here is 1% higher than the South Carolina statewide median of $97,890. There are 0.18 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $96,430, close to the median.
Pay range for ship engineers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,050 | $30.79 |
| 25th percentile | $80,720 | $38.81 |
| Median | $98,450 | $47.33 |
| 75th percentile | $103,580 | $49.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $122,190 | $58.74 |
| Average (mean) | $96,430 | $46.36 |
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 | $8,204.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,102.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,786.54 |
| Weekly | $1,893.27 |
| Hourly | $47.33 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 |
See Ship Engineer pay in every state or the South Carolina statewide figures.
Related jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $91,000 | $43.75 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $59,100 | $28.41 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,090 | $18.31 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,150 | $26.52 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,620 | $17.60 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,890 | $22.54 |
| Light Truck Driver | $38,300 | $18.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $63,440 | $30.50 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,310 | $16.98 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $46,460 | $22.34 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $29,200 | $14.04 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,650 | $17.62 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $36,510 | $17.55 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $80,880 | $38.89 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Charleston-North Charleston, SC
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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The median salary for ship engineers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $98,450 a year, or $47.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $122,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
The top 10% of ship engineers in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area earn at least $122,190 a year. The top 25% earn $103,580 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,050 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $80,720 or less.
How many ship engineers work in Charleston-North Charleston, SC?
About 70 ship engineers are employed in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area, not counting the self-employed.