What is the typical salary range for a Ship Engineer?

Pay typically falls between $85,000 and $140,500 per year depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

Ship Engineer Salary: $115,500 Average

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Average base salary

$115,500 / year

≈ $9,650 per month · $55.53 per hour

LocationOr metro area

25th percentile
$85,000Average
$115,50075th percentile
$140,500

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.

Ship Engineer salary by state

Alabama$102,500

Alaska$95,500

California$121,500

Connecticut$107,000

Florida$127,000

Hawaii$144,500

Illinois$107,000

Indiana$122,500

Kentucky$118,500

Louisiana$137,000

Maine$80,000

Massachusetts$125,000

Michigan$75,500

Mississippi$100,500

New Jersey$118,500

New York$130,500

North Carolina$77,500

Oregon$103,500

Pennsylvania$91,000

Rhode Island$125,500

South Carolina$99,000

Texas$127,500

Virginia$95,000

Washington$115,000

About this role

Ship Engineer is a professional role in the Transportation and Material Moving job family, focused on Ship Engineer work. Pay for this title reflects both its level and its scope; see our Title Level and Organization Responsibility guides for how WePayFairly defines them.

How this role compares

Ship Engineer pays 69% above the average across 50 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $68,500).

Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving

Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$107,500

Transportation Inspector$91,500

Locomotive Engineer$89,000

Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters$82,000

Commercial Pilot$151,000

Flight Attendant$80,000

Air Traffic Controller$151,500

Gas Compressor and Gas Pumping Station Operators$77,000

Crane and Tower Operators$74,500

Wellhead Pumper$73,000

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Ship Engineer make?

The average base salary for a Ship Engineer in the United States is $115,500 per year, or about $55.53 per hour.

What is the typical salary range?

Pay typically falls between $85,000 and $140,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.

How does this compare with other Transportation and Material Moving roles?

The Transportation and Material Moving job family averages $68,500 across 50 roles tracked by WePayFairly.

Need a defensible market price for this role?
WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.

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