How much does a ship engineer make?
The median ship engineer in the United States earns $101,320 per year, about $48.71 an hour. That is the midpoint of the profession: half of all ship engineers earn more, and half earn less.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2024. SOC code 53-5031.
Ship engineer salary range
Pay for ship engineers spans a wide band. The lowest paid 10 percent earn under $56,620 a year, while the highest paid 10 percent take home more than $162,370. The average (mean) wage of $105,600 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $56,620 | $27.22 | Lowest paid |
| 25th percentile | $71,720 | $34.48 | |
| Median (50th) | $101,320 | $48.71 | Midpoint |
| 75th percentile | $130,380 | $62.69 | |
| 90th percentile | $162,370 | $78.06 | Highest paid |
Figures are national wage estimates for ship engineers (SOC 53-5031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2024.
Ship engineer salary by state
Where you work changes the paycheck. Ship engineers earn the most in Maryland at $170,630 a year, and the least in North Carolina at $61,050. The table below lists every state with published data, ranked by median annual salary.
| State | Median annual | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $170,630 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $136,260 | 90 |
| California | $134,660 | 430 |
| New York | $131,650 | 600 |
| Rhode Island | $123,700 | 40 |
| Texas | $122,150 | 870 |
| New Jersey | $117,090 | 170 |
| Illinois | $111,800 | 130 |
| Florida | $110,730 | 910 |
| Hawaii | $110,240 | 60 |
| Kentucky | $101,700 | 240 |
| Tennessee | $101,230 | 180 |
| Indiana | $100,000 | 180 |
| South Carolina | $99,670 | 60 |
| Washington | $96,390 | 910 |
| Louisiana | $94,580 | 800 |
| Mississippi | $92,150 | 100 |
| Oregon | $87,230 | 110 |
| Virginia | $81,970 | 1,370 |
| Alaska | $80,180 | 320 |
| Alabama | $79,240 | 100 |
| Michigan | $71,250 | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,290 | 370 |
| North Carolina | $61,050 | 80 |
State median wages for ship engineers (SOC 53-5031), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS state files, May 2024. States where the BLS does not publish a median are not shown.
Job outlook for ship engineers
The BLS projects employment of ship engineers to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035. That is about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. That works out to roughly 8,800 jobs in 2025 moving toward 9,000 by 2035.
Across the decade, the BLS expects about 900 openings a year for ship engineers. Most come from the need to replace workers who move to other jobs or leave the workforce, on top of any new positions from growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program, 2025-35 (Table 1.2, Occupational projections and worker characteristics).
How to become a ship engineer
The typical entry-level education for ship engineers is a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, according to the BLS. Most roles also expect less than 5 years of work experience in a related occupation.
A four-year college degree is usually not required to start, which makes this one of the jobs you can enter without a bachelor's degree. See more high paying jobs without a degree .
Education, training, and experience data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program.
What affects how much a ship engineer earns
Route type, employer, endorsements, and hours behind the wheel drive pay. Long-haul, specialized freight, and union employers tend to sit at the top of the range, while local and entry-level roles start lower.
Location is one of the clearest factors. The gap between the top paying state (Maryland, $170,630) and the lowest (North Carolina, $61,050) shows how much geography alone can move the number, before experience or specialization.
About 8,580 people work as ship engineers in the United States. At $101,320 a year, the job pays above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs.
Ship engineer salary FAQ
How much does a ship engineer make an hour?
The median hourly wage for a ship engineer is $48.71. The middle half of ship engineers earn between $34.48 and $62.69 per hour.
What is the highest ship engineer salary?
The highest paid 10 percent of ship engineers earn more than $162,370 per year. Top earners usually have the most experience and work in the best paying regions and industries.
How much does a ship engineer make a year?
The median annual salary for a ship engineer is $101,320. The average (mean) wage of $105,600 runs a bit higher than the median, which is normal for jobs where a group of top earners pulls the average up.
Is being a ship engineer a well paid job?
At $101,320 a year, a ship engineer earns above the $49,500 median for all U.S. jobs. About 8,580 people work as ship engineers in the United States.
Which state pays ship engineers the most?
Maryland has the highest median salary for ship engineers at $170,630 a year. Massachusetts ($136,260) and California ($134,660) follow. State medians come from the BLS OEWS state files, May 2024.
Is being a ship engineer a good career?
Employment of ship engineers is projected to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, about as fast as the 3.5% average for all occupations. The BLS projects about 900 openings each year, from growth and from workers leaving the occupation.
Do you need a degree to become a ship engineer?
No. The BLS lists the typical entry-level education for ship engineers as a postsecondary nondegree award, such as a certificate, so a four-year degree is usually not required to start.
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