Ship Engineers
Ship Engineers (SOC 53-5031) earn a median $109,530 a year ($52.66 an hour) in the United States, with 8,400 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is New York.
What ship engineers do
Ship engineers supervise the crew that runs a vessel's propulsion plant and machinery. Aboard ship they are responsible for the main engines and boilers as well as deck machinery and the electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration systems. When a ship is underway they watch engine and equipment indicators, report anything abnormal to the bridge, start engines and set speed to match the captain's orders or bridge computer commands, and test equipment to find the cause of a malfunction. They also keep track of lifesaving equipment and pollution prevention gear so that the ship meets international rules, and they take part in emergency drills. General maintenance and repair, from fixing leaks to refueling, falls to them and their crew, along with work on electric motors, pumps, and winches. They keep complete records of the engineering department's activities. The title is not the same as the professional engineer whose work is classed under engineering occupations.
Typical entry: O*NET reports that most workers in this occupation have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Also called: Barge Engineer, Deck Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Watch Officer, Equipment Maintenance Marine Engineer.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $27.82 | $39.49 | $52.66 | $65.27 | $79.56 | $53.75 | 8,400 |
| Annual | $57,870 | $82,130 | $109,530 | $135,760 | $165,490 | $111,790 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where ship engineers earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $31.27 | $51.28 | $64.25 | $72.71 | $83.78 | $60.72 | 550 | 0.06 | 1.05 |
| Annual | $65,040 | $106,660 | $133,640 | $151,240 | $174,260 | $126,300 | ||||
| Hawaii | Hourly | $45.03 | $50.80 | $63.29 | $79.45 | $93.69 | $67.17 | 70 | 0.11 | 2.01 |
| Annual | $93,650 | $105,660 | $131,640 | $165,260 | $194,880 | $139,700 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $37.49 | $49.56 | $62.73 | $70.78 | $72.08 | $58.88 | 1,260 | 0.13 | 2.34 |
| Annual | $77,970 | $103,090 | $130,480 | $147,220 | $149,920 | $122,470 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $44.98 | $49.97 | $61.45 | $63.82 | $72.34 | $59.26 | 660 | 0.05 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $93,560 | $103,930 | $127,810 | $132,740 | $150,460 | $123,260 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $39.22 | $49.05 | $59.00 | $72.50 | $72.52 | $58.03 | 150 | 0.04 | 0.74 |
| Annual | $81,580 | $102,020 | $122,720 | $150,800 | $150,830 | $120,690 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $22.80 | $27.26 | $39.60 | $56.32 | $72.26 | $44.14 | 1,450 | 0.35 | 6.53 |
| Annual | $47,420 | $56,700 | $82,370 | $117,140 | $150,300 | $91,810 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $37.49 | $49.56 | $62.73 | $70.78 | $72.08 | $58.88 | 1,260 | 0.13 | 2.34 |
| Annual | $77,970 | $103,090 | $130,480 | $147,220 | $149,920 | $122,470 | ||||
| Washington | Hourly | $29.58 | $39.67 | $51.90 | $65.10 | $75.64 | $53.37 | 730 | 0.20 | 3.78 |
| Annual | $61,530 | $82,520 | $107,940 | $135,400 | $157,340 | $111,020 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $44.98 | $49.97 | $61.45 | $63.82 | $72.34 | $59.26 | 660 | 0.05 | 0.87 |
| Annual | $93,560 | $103,930 | $127,810 | $132,740 | $150,460 | $123,260 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $38.86 | $40.68 | $46.95 | $75.52 | $81.38 | $56.51 | 610 | 0.03 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $80,820 | $84,620 | $97,660 | $157,070 | $169,280 | $117,530 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Hourly | $26.35 | $37.80 | $63.80 | $111.58 | $132.74 | $73.06 | 230 | 0.51 | 9.44 |
| Annual | $54,800 | $78,630 | $132,710 | $232,090 | $276,090 | $151,960 | ||||
| Urban Honolulu, HI | Hourly | $38.12 | $50.80 | $63.29 | $79.45 | $92.88 | $65.09 | 60 | 0.14 | 2.58 |
| Annual | $79,300 | $105,660 | $131,640 | $165,260 | $193,180 | $135,380 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $45.77 | $55.94 | $63.11 | $67.34 | $72.47 | $61.09 | 520 | 0.16 | 2.94 |
| Annual | $95,210 | $116,350 | $131,260 | $140,070 | $150,730 | $127,070 | ||||
| Jacksonville, FL | Hourly | $44.25 | $53.10 | $62.79 | $72.02 | $72.02 | $59.72 | 450 | 0.59 | 10.90 |
| Annual | $92,030 | $110,440 | $130,600 | $149,810 | $149,810 | $124,210 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $30.39 | $49.51 | $62.36 | $67.21 | $72.91 | $58.55 | 640 | 0.23 | 4.19 |
| Annual | $63,200 | $102,980 | $129,700 | $139,810 | $151,650 | $121,780 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | Hourly | $22.80 | $27.26 | $39.60 | $55.79 | $71.71 | $43.76 | 1,420 | 1.86 | 34.36 |
| Annual | $47,420 | $56,700 | $82,370 | $116,040 | $149,170 | $91,010 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $40.66 | $52.28 | $59.05 | $72.71 | $82.53 | $60.77 | 650 | 0.07 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $84,580 | $108,750 | $122,820 | $151,240 | $171,660 | $126,400 | ||||
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | Hourly | $30.39 | $49.51 | $62.36 | $67.21 | $72.91 | $58.55 | 640 | 0.23 | 4.19 |
| Annual | $63,200 | $102,980 | $129,700 | $139,810 | $151,650 | $121,780 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $29.58 | $39.67 | $52.35 | $67.55 | $81.57 | $53.65 | 580 | 0.28 | 5.17 |
| Annual | $61,530 | $82,510 | $108,900 | $140,490 | $169,670 | $111,580 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $45.77 | $55.94 | $63.11 | $67.34 | $72.47 | $61.09 | 520 | 0.16 | 2.94 |
| Annual | $95,210 | $116,350 | $131,260 | $140,070 | $150,730 | $127,070 | ||||
Top industries employing ship engineers
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation employ 27.0% of ship engineers nationally (2,270 jobs) at a median $130,790 a year ($62.88 an hour), followed by Support Activities for Water Transportation (21.0%) and Inland Water Transportation (17.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation NAICS 483100 | 2,270 | 27.0% | $130,790 | $62.88 |
| Support Activities for Water Transportation NAICS 488300 | 1,760 | 21.0% | $102,800 | $49.43 |
| Inland Water Transportation NAICS 483200 | 1,430 | 17.0% | $120,550 | $57.96 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 1,170 | 13.9% | $73,610 | $35.39 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 400 | 4.8% | $100,610 | $48.37 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (8,400). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $82,410 for ship engineers in May 2021 and $109,530 in May 2025, with employment of 7,650 and 8,400.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $82,410 | $39.62 | 7,650 |
| May 2022 | $87,300 | $41.97 | 8,650 |
| May 2023 | $94,270 | $45.32 | 8,860 |
| May 2024 | $101,320 | $48.71 | 8,580 |
| May 2025 | $109,530 | $52.66 | 8,400 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
24 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York profile | $64.25 | $133,640 | $65,040 | $174,260 | 550 | 0.06 | 1.05 |
| 2 | Hawaii profile | $63.29 | $131,640 | $93,650 | $194,880 | 70 | 0.11 | 2.01 |
| 3 | Florida profile | $62.73 | $130,480 | $77,970 | $149,920 | 1,260 | 0.13 | 2.34 |
| 4 | Texas profile | $61.45 | $127,810 | $93,560 | $150,460 | 660 | 0.05 | 0.87 |
| 5 | Massachusetts profile | $59.00 | $122,720 | $81,580 | $150,830 | 150 | 0.04 | 0.74 |
| 6 | Indiana profile | $58.75 | $122,190 | $50,040 | $165,440 | 210 | 0.07 | 1.22 |
| 7 | Kentucky profile | $57.96 | $120,550 | $81,040 | $121,880 | ** | ** | ** |
| 8 | Rhode Island profile | $57.37 | $119,330 | $76,120 | $159,990 | 50 | 0.10 | 1.78 |
| 9 | Connecticut profile | $57.22 | $119,010 | $53,690 | $140,320 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.55 |
| 10 | New Jersey profile | $56.88 | $118,310 | $87,310 | $150,600 | 170 | 0.04 | 0.74 |
| 11 | Illinois profile | $55.44 | $115,310 | $52,870 | $136,310 | 110 | 0.02 | 0.33 |
| 12 | Washington profile | $51.90 | $107,940 | $61,530 | $157,340 | 730 | 0.20 | 3.78 |
| 13 | Louisiana profile | $49.73 | $103,430 | $59,100 | $244,020 | 610 | 0.32 | 5.84 |
| 14 | Mississippi profile | $47.30 | $98,380 | $75,730 | $129,880 | 140 | 0.12 | 2.16 |
| 15 | South Carolina profile | $47.06 | $97,890 | $61,610 | $114,860 | 80 | 0.03 | 0.62 |
| 16 | California profile | $46.95 | $97,660 | $80,820 | $169,280 | 610 | 0.03 | 0.62 |
| 17 | Alabama profile | $46.17 | $96,030 | $91,410 | $114,490 | 50 | 0.02 | 0.40 |
| 18 | Oregon profile | $42.69 | $88,800 | $57,180 | $168,360 | 80 | 0.04 | 0.74 |
| 19 | Alaska profile | $42.40 | $88,190 | $40,240 | $145,930 | 420 | 1.29 | 23.80 |
| 20 | Virginia profile | $39.60 | $82,370 | $47,420 | $150,300 | 1,450 | 0.35 | 6.53 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania profile | $38.56 | $80,210 | $63,990 | $126,510 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.28 |
| 22 | Michigan profile | $38.06 | $79,170 | $34,050 | $116,790 | 100 | 0.02 | 0.40 |
| 23 | Maine profile | $37.10 | $77,160 | $60,280 | $101,790 | 30 | 0.05 | 0.96 |
| 24 | North Carolina profile | $31.26 | $65,010 | $62,360 | $96,940 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.35 |
Part of Transportation and Material Moving Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 53-5031 Ship Engineers.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 53-5031, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 53-5031.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.