Ship Engineer salary in Massachusetts
Ship Engineers in Massachusetts earn a median of $122,720 a year ($59.00 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,830 for the top 10%. That is 12% higher than the national median of $109,530. Massachusetts ranks 5th of 24 states for ship engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.04 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.74). The average (mean) salary is $120,690, close to the median.
Pay range for ship engineers in Massachusetts
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,580 | $39.22 |
| 25th percentile | $102,020 | $49.05 |
| Median | $122,720 | $59.00 |
| 75th percentile | $150,800 | $72.50 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,830 | $72.52 |
| Average (mean) | $120,690 | $58.03 |
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 | $10,226.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,113.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,720 |
| Weekly | $2,360 |
| Hourly | $59.00 |
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 Massachusetts
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $126,630 | 90 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $119,330 | 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 Massachusetts
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $77,950 | $37.47 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $44,070 | $21.19 |
| Motorboat Operator | $45,160 | $21.71 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,920 | $21.60 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $63,030 | $30.30 |
| Light Truck Driver | $48,110 | $23.13 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,200 | $16.44 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $43,590 | $20.96 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,570 | $31.52 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $65,170 | $31.33 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,850 | $22.52 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $38,630 | $18.57 |
| Flight Attendant | $61,510 | — |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Massachusetts
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 Massachusetts?
The median salary for ship engineers in Massachusetts is $122,720 a year, or $59.00 an hour. Pay ranges from $81,580 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Massachusetts?
The top 10% of ship engineers in Massachusetts earn at least $150,830 a year. The top 25% earn $150,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Massachusetts?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,580 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $102,020 or less.
How many ship engineers work in Massachusetts?
About 150 ship engineers are employed in Massachusetts, not counting the self-employed.