Ship Engineer salary in South Carolina
Ship Engineers in South Carolina earn a median of $97,890 a year ($47.06 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,860 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $109,530. South Carolina ranks 15th of 24 states for ship engineers pay. There are 0.03 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.62). The average (mean) salary is $95,810, close to the median.
Pay range for ship engineers in South Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| 25th percentile | $80,700 | $38.80 |
| Median | $97,890 | $47.06 |
| 75th percentile | $105,590 | $50.76 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $114,860 | $55.22 |
| Average (mean) | $95,810 | $46.06 |
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 | $8,157.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,078.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,765 |
| Weekly | $1,882.50 |
| Hourly | $47.06 |
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 South Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $98,450 | 70 |
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 South Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $57,660 | $27.72 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,530 | $18.04 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,020 | $17.32 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,130 | $24.58 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Light Truck Driver | $37,680 | $18.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $63,470 | $30.51 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $32,180 | $15.47 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $22,240 | $10.69 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $39,900 | $19.18 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,230 | $16.46 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $30,490 | $14.66 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $34,880 | $16.77 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in South 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 South Carolina?
The median salary for ship engineers in South Carolina is $97,890 a year, or $47.06 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $114,860 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in South Carolina?
The top 10% of ship engineers in South Carolina earn at least $114,860 a year. The top 25% earn $105,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in South Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,610 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $80,700 or less.
How many ship engineers work in South Carolina?
About 80 ship engineers are employed in South Carolina, not counting the self-employed.