Ship Engineer salary in Illinois
Ship Engineers in Illinois earn a median of $115,310 a year ($55.44 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,310 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $109,530. Illinois ranks 11th of 24 states for ship engineers pay. There are 0.02 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.33). The average (mean) salary is $103,420, close to the median.
Pay range for ship engineers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,870 | $25.42 |
| 25th percentile | $77,770 | $37.39 |
| Median | $115,310 | $55.44 |
| 75th percentile | $123,300 | $59.28 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,310 | $65.53 |
| Average (mean) | $103,420 | $49.72 |
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 | $9,609.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,804.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,435 |
| Weekly | $2,217.50 |
| Hourly | $55.44 |
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 Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $77,770 | 50 |
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 Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $69,600 | $33.46 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| Motorboat Operator | $68,380 | $32.88 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,680 | $18.11 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,420 | $31.45 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,090 | $17.35 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,930 | $17.27 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Flight Attendant | $62,120 | — |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
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 Illinois?
The median salary for ship engineers in Illinois is $115,310 a year, or $55.44 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,310 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of ship engineers in Illinois earn at least $136,310 a year. The top 25% earn $123,300 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,870 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $77,770 or less.
How many ship engineers work in Illinois?
About 110 ship engineers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.