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.
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.
Top skills:Operations MonitoringOperation and ControlCritical ThinkingTroubleshootingRepairingEquipment Maintenance
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Ship Engineer pay by experience level
Entry level$60,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$85,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$113,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$140,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$171,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+1.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,100
projected openings per year
Growing slower than average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Ship Engineer salary by industry
Water Transportation
3,700 workers
$130,500
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation
2,270 workers
$135,000
Support Activities for Transportation
1,760 workers
$108,000
Support Activities for Water Transportation
1,760 workers
$108,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
1,700 workers
$96,000
Inland Water Transportation
1,430 workers
$124,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
1,170 workers
$90,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
400 workers
$105,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
260 workers
$142,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
260 workers
$142,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
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 $69,000 across 53 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.
Need Ship Engineer pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
