Ship Engineer salary in Louisiana
Ship Engineers in Louisiana earn a median of $103,430 a year ($49.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 610 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $244,020 for the top 10%. That is 6% lower than the national median of $109,530. Louisiana ranks 13th of 24 states for ship engineers pay. There are 0.32 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $132,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ship engineers in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,100 | $28.41 |
| 25th percentile | $78,120 | $37.56 |
| Median | $103,430 | $49.73 |
| 75th percentile | $190,890 | $91.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $244,020 | $117.32 |
| Average (mean) | $132,290 | $63.60 |
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 | $8,619.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,309.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,978.08 |
| Weekly | $1,989.04 |
| Hourly | $49.73 |
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 Louisiana
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $132,710 | 230 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | $100,260 | 150 |
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 Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $46,610 | $22.41 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $117,160 | $56.33 |
| Motorboat Operator | $45,800 | $22.02 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $35,340 | $16.99 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,490 | $16.58 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $49,320 | $23.71 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,440 | $18.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,260 | $28.97 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $48,950 | $23.54 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $29,450 | $14.16 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $27,600 | $13.27 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,290 | $17.45 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $27,710 | $13.32 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $38,810 | $18.66 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Louisiana
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 Louisiana?
The median salary for ship engineers in Louisiana is $103,430 a year, or $49.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $59,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $244,020 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of ship engineers in Louisiana earn at least $244,020 a year. The top 25% earn $190,890 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,100 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $78,120 or less.
How many ship engineers work in Louisiana?
About 610 ship engineers are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.