Ship Engineer salary in North Carolina
Ship Engineers in North Carolina earn a median of $65,010 a year ($31.26 an hour), based on BLS data for 90 workers.
Pay ranges from $62,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,940 for the top 10%. That is 41% lower than the national median of $109,530. North Carolina ranks 24th 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 0.35). The average (mean) salary is $75,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ship engineers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $62,360 | $29.98 |
| 25th percentile | $62,640 | $30.12 |
| Median | $65,010 | $31.26 |
| 75th percentile | $85,850 | $41.27 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $96,940 | $46.61 |
| Average (mean) | $75,020 | $36.07 |
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 | $5,417.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,708.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,500.38 |
| Weekly | $1,250.19 |
| Hourly | $31.26 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $82,370 | 1,420 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $69,170 | $33.26 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $44,770 | $21.52 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,910 | $19.19 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $44,670 | $21.48 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $31,980 | $15.38 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for ship engineers in North Carolina is $65,010 a year, or $31.26 an hour. Pay ranges from $62,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $96,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of ship engineers in North Carolina earn at least $96,940 a year. The top 25% earn $85,850 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $62,360 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $62,640 or less.
How many ship engineers work in North Carolina?
About 90 ship engineers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.