Ship Engineer Salary
Ship Engineers earn a median $109,530 a year nationally. Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
U.S. median
$109,530
$52.66 per hour
Range
$57,870 – $165,490
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
8,400
across the U.S.
Ship Engineer take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$85,884
per year · effective tax rate 21.6%
$7,157Monthly
$3,579Twice a month
$3,303Every 2 weeks
$41.29Hourly
- Federal income tax$15,267
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,791
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,588
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$85,884
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,870 | $27.82 | $48,679 |
| 25th percentile | $82,130 | $39.49 | $66,608 |
| Median (50th) | $109,530 | $52.66 | $85,884 |
| 75th percentile | $135,760 | $65.27 | $104,058 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,490 | $79.56 | $124,378 |
Best cities for ship engineers (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $131,260 | $100,982 | $102,386 | 520 |
| 2 | Jacksonville, FL | $130,600 | $100,531 | $101,053 | 450 |
| 3 | Miami, FL | $129,700 | $99,916 | $87,527 | 640 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $122,820 | $89,007 | $79,073 | 650 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $108,900 | $85,441 | $76,882 | 580 |
| 6 | Virginia Beach, VA | $82,370 | $62,855 | $64,177 | 1,420 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Houston, TX — $131,260
- Jacksonville, FL — $130,600
- Miami, FL — $129,700
- New York, NY — $122,820
- Seattle, WA — $108,900
- Virginia Beach, VA — $82,370
Ship Engineer salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $133,640 | $95,764 | $65,040 – $174,260 | 550 |
| Hawaii | $131,640 | $92,764 | $93,650 – $194,880 | 70 |
| Florida | $130,480 | $100,449 | $77,970 – $149,920 | 1,260 |
| Texas | $127,810 | $98,624 | $93,560 – $150,460 | 660 |
| Massachusetts | $122,720 | $89,229 | $81,580 – $150,830 | 150 |
| Indiana | $122,190 | $91,208 | $50,040 – $165,440 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $120,550 | $89,535 | $81,040 – $121,880 | — |
| Rhode Island | $119,330 | $88,712 | $76,120 – $159,990 | 50 |
| Connecticut | $119,010 | $87,563 | $53,690 – $140,320 | 50 |
| New Jersey | $118,310 | $86,715 | $87,310 – $150,600 | 170 |
| Illinois | $115,310 | $84,388 | $52,870 – $136,310 | 110 |
| Washington | $107,940 | $84,766 | $61,530 – $157,340 | 730 |
| Louisiana | $103,430 | $78,876 | $59,100 – $239,200+ | 610 |
| Mississippi | $98,380 | $74,837 | $75,730 – $129,880 | 140 |
| South Carolina | $97,890 | $72,979 | $61,610 – $114,860 | 80 |
| California | $97,660 | $71,411 | $80,820 – $169,280 | 610 |
| Alabama | $96,030 | $71,851 | $91,410 – $114,490 | 50 |
| Oregon | $88,800 | $64,360 | $57,180 – $168,360 | 80 |
| Alaska | $88,190 | $70,872 | $40,240 – $145,930 | 420 |
| Virginia | $82,370 | $62,855 | $47,420 – $150,300 | 1,450 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,210 | $62,795 | $63,990 – $126,510 | 90 |
| Michigan | $79,170 | $61,412 | $34,050 – $116,790 | 100 |
| Maine | $77,160 | $59,085 | $60,280 – $101,790 | 30 |
| North Carolina | $65,010 | $52,330 | $62,360 – $96,940 | 90 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ship engineer make?
The national median salary for ship engineers is $109,530 a year ($52.66 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $57,870 and the top 10% earn over $165,490. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays ship engineers the most?
New York has the highest median pay at $133,640. After taxes and local prices, Houston, TX offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many ship engineers are there in the U.S.?
About 8,400 people work as ship engineers nationwide.