Ship Engineer salary in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
Ship Engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median of $77,770 a year ($37.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $38,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $159,720 for the top 10%. That is 29% lower than the national median of $109,530. Pay here is 33% lower than the Illinois statewide median of $115,310. There are 0.01 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.20). The average (mean) salary is $91,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ship engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,780 | $18.64 |
| 25th percentile | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| Median | $77,770 | $37.39 |
| 75th percentile | $126,160 | $60.65 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $159,720 | $76.79 |
| Average (mean) | $91,020 | $43.76 |
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 | $6,480.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,240.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,991.15 |
| Weekly | $1,495.58 |
| Hourly | $37.39 |
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 Illinois statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $76,530 | $36.80 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $48,560 | $23.34 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $38,450 | $18.48 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,300 | $29.95 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,950 | $23.05 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $68,330 | $32.85 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,180 | $17.40 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $49,180 | $23.64 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,580 | $17.59 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $40,490 | $19.46 |
| Flight Attendant | $62,120 | — |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $65,200 | $31.35 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN
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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The median salary for ship engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $77,770 a year, or $37.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $38,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $159,720 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
The top 10% of ship engineers in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn at least $159,720 a year. The top 25% earn $126,160 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $38,780 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $52,870 or less.
How many ship engineers work in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN?
About 50 ship engineers are employed in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area, not counting the self-employed.