What Do Ship Engineer Do?
Example of Ship Engineer Job Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
What Do Ship Engineers Do On a Daily Basis?
- Start engines to propel ships and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.
- Record orders for changes in ship speed or direction and note gauge readings or test data, such as revolutions per minute or voltage output, in engineering logs or bellbooks.
- Clean engine parts and keep engine rooms clean.
- Act as a liaison between a ship’s captain and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained and that the ship is operated safely and efficiently.
- Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks.
- Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.
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What Every Ship Engineer Should Know
These are the skills Ship Engineers say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Other Ship Engineer Job Titles
- Barge Engineer
- Tug Boat Engineer
- Harbor Engineer
- Vessel Engineer
- Fire Department Marine Engineer
Are There Job Opportunities for Ship Engineers?
There were about 10,100 jobs for Ship Engineer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 6.9% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 700 new jobs for Ship Engineer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 1,300 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Ship Engineer are Maine, Texas, and South Carolina. Watch out if you plan on working in Missouri, Indiana, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Ship Engineer
The typical yearly salary for Ship Engineers is somewhere between $40,330 and $123,670.

Ship Engineers who work in New York, Missouri, or Washington, make the highest salaries.
How much do Ship Engineers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alaska | $63,620 |
California | $66,870 |
Florida | $67,650 |
Georgia | $66,440 |
Kentucky | $88,710 |
Louisiana | $76,010 |
Massachusetts | $84,810 |
Minnesota | $73,450 |
Mississippi | $77,260 |
Missouri | $86,470 |
New Jersey | $73,790 |
New York | $100,430 |
North Carolina | $49,370 |
Oregon | $78,820 |
Pennsylvania | $81,900 |
South Carolina | $79,350 |
Tennessee | $75,750 |
Texas | $74,100 |
Virginia | $72,970 |
Washington | $84,960 |
What Tools & Technology do Ship Engineers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Ship Engineers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Word processing software
- Microsoft Project
- Oracle software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Apple macOS
- SAP software
- Computerized maintenance management system CMMS
- Customer relationship management CRM software
- Salesforce
- Computer aided dispatch software
- Electronic data interchange EDI software
- Wonderware software
How to Become a Ship Engineer
Individuals working as a Ship Engineer have obtained the following education levels:

What work experience do I need to become a Ship Engineer?

Where do Ship Engineers Work?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Similar Careers
Those who work as a Ship Engineer sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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