Ship Engineers Salary

The median ship engineers salary in the United States is $109,530 per year ($52.66/hour). Salaries range from $57,870 at the entry level to $165,490+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 8,400 ship engineers jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 1.6% through 2034.

Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Median Salary
$109,530
per year
Hourly Rate
$52.66
per hour
Employment
8,400
jobs in the U.S.

Salary Distribution

10th percentile
$57,870
25th percentile
$82,130
Median
$109,530
75th percentile
$135,760
90th percentile
$165,490

Job Growth (2024-2034)

+1.6%
Slower than average

Annual Openings

1,100
jobs/year (growth + replacements)

Education Required

Postsecondary nondegree award
+ Less than 5 years experience

Ship Engineers Salary by State

Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →

Salary Map — Click a state for details

$65K
$134K■ No data
StateMedianvs. National
New York$133,640+22.0%
Hawaii$131,640+20.2%
Florida$130,480+19.1%
Texas$127,810+16.7%
Massachusetts$122,720+12.0%
Indiana$122,190+11.6%
Kentucky$120,550+10.1%
Rhode Island$119,330+8.9%
Connecticut$119,010+8.7%
New Jersey$118,310+8.0%
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Ship Engineers Salary by Metro Area

Metro AreaMedianvs. National
New Orleans-Metairie, LA$132,710+21.2%
Urban Honolulu, HI$131,640+20.2%
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$131,260+19.8%
Jacksonville, FL$130,600+19.2%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$129,700+18.4%
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$126,630+15.6%
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$122,820+12.1%
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$122,090+11.5%
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$119,330+8.9%
Anchorage, AK$109,990+0.4%
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Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A ship engineers earning $109,530/year would need 544 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 584 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
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📈 See how ship engineers salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Ship Engineers salary trend (2011–2024) →