Ship Engineer salary in Washington
Ship Engineers in Washington earn a median of $107,940 a year ($51.90 an hour), based on BLS data for 730 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,340 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $109,530. Washington ranks 12th of 24 states for ship engineers pay. There are 0.20 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.8× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $111,020, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ship engineers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,530 | $29.58 |
| 25th percentile | $82,520 | $39.67 |
| Median | $107,940 | $51.90 |
| 75th percentile | $135,400 | $65.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $157,340 | $75.64 |
| Average (mean) | $111,020 | $53.37 |
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 | $8,995 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,497.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,151.54 |
| Weekly | $2,075.77 |
| Hourly | $51.90 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $108,900 | 580 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $88,800 | 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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $66,700 | $32.07 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $103,730 | $49.87 |
| Motorboat Operator | $63,650 | $30.60 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,760 | $31.13 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $74,250 | $35.70 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $63,370 | $30.47 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $40,070 | $19.26 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $72,280 | $34.75 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $41,570 | $19.98 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for ship engineers in Washington is $107,940 a year, or $51.90 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $157,340 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Washington?
The top 10% of ship engineers in Washington earn at least $157,340 a year. The top 25% earn $135,400 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,530 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $82,520 or less.
How many ship engineers work in Washington?
About 730 ship engineers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.