Ship Engineer salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Ship Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $122,090 a year ($58.70 an hour), based on BLS data for 50 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,510 for the top 10%. That is 11% higher than the national median of $109,530. Pay here is 48% higher than the Virginia statewide median of $82,370. There are 0.01 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.27). The average (mean) salary is $113,840, close to the median.
Pay range for ship engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,990 | $35.57 |
| 25th percentile | $92,140 | $44.30 |
| Median | $122,090 | $58.70 |
| 75th percentile | $122,090 | $58.70 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $136,510 | $65.63 |
| Average (mean) | $113,840 | $54.73 |
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 | $10,174.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,087.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,695.77 |
| Weekly | $2,347.88 |
| Hourly | $58.70 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $122,090 salary, see how much house you can afford in Virginia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Ship Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| 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 |
See Ship Engineer pay in every state or the Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $94,150 | $45.26 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $52,110 | $25.05 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,870 | $18.21 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,590 | $20.47 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,820 | $28.76 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,360 | $22.29 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,790 | $18.65 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $57,610 | $27.70 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $67,960 | $32.67 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,710 | $23.90 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,730 | $17.66 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $209,750 | — |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $45,640 | $21.94 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $65,220 | $31.35 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for ship engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $122,090 a year, or $58.70 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $136,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of ship engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $136,510 a year. The top 25% earn $122,090 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,990 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $92,140 or less.
How many ship engineers work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 50 ship engineers are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.