Ship Engineer salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Ship Engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $82,370 a year ($39.60 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,420 workers.
Pay ranges from $47,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,170 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $109,530. Pay here is about the same as the Virginia statewide median of $82,370. There are 1.9 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 34.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $91,010, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ship engineers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $47,420 | $22.80 |
| 25th percentile | $56,700 | $27.26 |
| Median | $82,370 | $39.60 |
| 75th percentile | $116,040 | $55.79 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,170 | $71.71 |
| Average (mean) | $91,010 | $43.76 |
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 | $6,864.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,432.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,168.08 |
| Weekly | $1,584.04 |
| Hourly | $39.60 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Ship Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $122,090 | 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 |
See Ship Engineer pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $48,210 | $23.18 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $86,940 | $41.80 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,120 | $16.88 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $50,460 | $24.26 |
| Light Truck Driver | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,040 | $22.62 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,140 | $29.39 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $34,880 | $16.77 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $50,190 | $24.13 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,190 | $15.96 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $32,700 | $15.72 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $36,340 | $17.47 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $46,810 | $22.50 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for ship engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $82,370 a year, or $39.60 an hour. Pay ranges from $47,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of ship engineers in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $149,170 a year. The top 25% earn $116,040 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $47,420 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $56,700 or less.
How many ship engineers work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 1,420 ship engineers are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.