Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship. Excludes “Engineers” (17-2000).
National median · BLS
$109,530
▲ +8.1%YoY
H-1B sponsor median
—
Too few H-1B filings
Average salary · BLS
$111,790
Mean annual wage
U.S. employment
8,400
Jobs (BLS)
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Pay range for Ship Engineers
Annual base pay at each percentile. BLS covers all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Percentile
All U.S. workers (BLS)
10th — entry pay
$57,870
25th
$82,130
Median (50th)
$109,530
75th
$135,760
90th — top pay
$165,490
Hourly ⇄ annual pay
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Monthly—
Every 2 weeks—
Weekly—
Daily—
Based on
hrs/week ×
weeks/year
= 2,080 hrs
Projections 2025–2035
Job outlook for Ship Engineers
BLS projects employment of ship engineers to grow 2.7% from 2025 to 2035, slower than the 3.5% average for all occupations.
About 900 openings are projected each year, on average, from new jobs and from replacing workers who retire or move to other occupations.
Jobs 2025 → 2035
8,800 → 9,000
+200 jobs
Projected change
+2.7%
All occupations: +3.5%
Openings per year
900
Average, 2025–2035
Typical entry education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Plus less than 5 years experience
Preparation needed (O*NET Job Zone 3)
Medium Preparation Needed. Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
BLS state medians, plus the same figure adjusted for local prices (BEA Regional Price Parities). Tap a state for its full range and H-1B pay.
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Median
Jobs
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Ship Engineers salaries by metro area
Search by city, ZIP code or metro name. Tap a metro for its full range.
Metro area
Median
Jobs
Cost-adjusted
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Skills & tools
Skills needed for Ship Engineers
How important each skill and knowledge area is for this job, rated by O*NET on a 1–5 scale from surveys of workers and occupational analysts.
Top skills
Critical Thinking3.9
Operation and Control3.9
Operations Monitoring3.9
Equipment Maintenance3.8
Repairing3.8
Troubleshooting3.8
Active Listening3.6
Monitoring3.6
Speaking3.5
Complex Problem Solving3.4
Top knowledge areas
Mechanical4.5
English Language3.5
Engineering and Technology3.5
Public Safety and Security3.5
Transportation3.3
Mathematics3.3
Computers and Electronics3.2
Building and Construction3.0
Software and technology used
Apple macOSMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft WordOracle DatabaseSalesforce softwareSAP softwareComputer aided dispatch softwareComputerized maintenance management system CMMSDamen DAMOSElectronic data interchange EDI softwareKongsberg Maritime K-LOG Electronic LogbooksMarine Software Marine Planned MaintenanceMarine Software Marine Safety Manager
Highlighted = in demand: frequently listed in employer job postings for this occupation (O*NET).
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
About the job
What ship engineers do
Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway, and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.
Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.
Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.
Start engines to propel ships, and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.
Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.
Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks.
Maintain or repair engines, electric motors, pumps, winches, or other mechanical or electrical equipment, or assist other crew members with maintenance or repair duties.
Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.
Source: O*NET 31.0 (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0). These are general job titles, not H-1B filings; for titles employers actually filed, see “Job titles” above.
Similar jobs and how they pay
Occupations O*NET lists as closely related to Ship Engineers, with BLS national medians compared with this occupation's $109,530.
