Ship Engineers: Career Overview
Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
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What Tasks Do Ship Engineers Perform?
The core tasks performed by ship engineers span:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful ship engineers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
These are the skills most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Ship Engineers Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Barge Engineer
- Deck Engineer
- Engineer
- Engineering Watch Officer
- Equipment Maintenance Marine Engineer
- Equipment Operating Engineer
- Ferry Engineer
- Fire Boat Engineer
How Many Ship Engineers Are There?
The U.S. employs around 981,150 ship engineers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to decline by -3.5% over the projection horizon.
Salary for Ship Engineers
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $67,019 |
| Hourly median | $32.22 |
| 10th percentile | $48,541 |
| 25th percentile | $57,780 |
| 75th percentile | $76,259 |
| 90th percentile | $85,498 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Ship Engineers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $170,630 |
| Massachusetts | $136,260 |
| California | $134,660 |
| New York | $131,650 |
| Rhode Island | $123,700 |
| Texas | $122,150 |
| New Jersey | $117,090 |
| Illinois | $111,800 |
| Florida | $110,730 |
| Hawaii | $110,240 |
| Kentucky | $101,700 |
| Tennessee | $101,230 |
| Indiana | $100,000 |
| South Carolina | $99,670 |
| Washington | $96,390 |
| Louisiana | $94,580 |
| Mississippi | $92,150 |
| Oregon | $87,230 |
| Virginia | $81,970 |
| Alaska | $80,180 |
| Alabama | $79,240 |
| Michigan | $71,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $64,290 |
| North Carolina | $61,050 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Pay for ship engineers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $132,395 | 1.6% | 0.78 |
| Southwest | $122,150 | 10.4% | 1.12 |
| Middle Atlantic | $112,698 | 14.8% | 1.02 |
| Far Western US | $102,451 | 21.9% | 5.67 |
| Great Lakes | $93,959 | 5.5% | 0.71 |
| Southeast | $93,583 | 45.9% | 4.37 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $147,760 | 60 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $143,600 | 130 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | NY | $131,650 | 680 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $130,180 | 690 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | MD | $123,840 | 50 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $121,970 | 40 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | RI | $116,790 | 50 |
| Jacksonville, FL | FL | $114,750 | 410 |
Which Industries Hire Ship Engineers
Most ship engineers are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 5,680 | $104,560 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction | 250 | $130,380 |
| Construction | 190 | $88,510 |
| Manufacturing | 120 | $80,520 |
| Educational Services | 70 | $98,720 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 40 | $74,140 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Operating system software: Apple macOS (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Oracle Database (hot technology)
- Customer relationship management CRM software: Salesforce software (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of ship engineers reflects the following characteristics:
- Health and Safety of Other Workers
- Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
- Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
Education and Training
Most ship engineers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Medium Preparation Needed (Job Zone 3), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Related Careers
Similar Occupations
- Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (Primary-Short)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators (Supplemental)
- Avionics Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment (Supplemental)
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (Primary-Long)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (Supplemental)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Students preparing for ship engineers typically earn programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-5031.00 (Ship Engineers).
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