Ship Engineer salary in Kentucky
Ship Engineers in Kentucky earn a median of $120,550 a year ($57.96 an hour), based on BLS data for this job.
Pay ranges from $81,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,880 for the top 10%. That is 10% higher than the national median of $109,530. Kentucky ranks 7th of 24 states for ship engineers pay. The average (mean) salary is $114,730, close to the median.
Pay range for ship engineers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,040 | $38.96 |
| 25th percentile | $116,330 | $55.93 |
| Median | $120,550 | $57.96 |
| 75th percentile | $121,270 | $58.30 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $121,880 | $58.60 |
| Average (mean) | $114,730 | $55.16 |
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 | $10,045.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,022.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,636.54 |
| Weekly | $2,318.27 |
| Hourly | $57.96 |
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 |
Related jobs in Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $47,460 | $22.82 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $350,950 | — |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $33,580 | $16.14 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $54,550 | $26.22 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for ship engineers in Kentucky is $120,550 a year, or $57.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,040 for the lowest-paid 10% to $121,880 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of ship engineers in Kentucky earn at least $121,880 a year. The top 25% earn $121,270 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,040 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $116,330 or less.