Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Postsecondary nondegree award
Less than 5 years
None
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Ship engineers work in a specialized, well‑defined field with solid earning potential and a relatively small national workforce. With national employment around 9,000 and projected employment growth of 1.6%, this is a niche career with a steady outlook rather than a rapidly expanding one. The national median annual salary of $101,320 positions ship engineering as a financially attractive option for people who combine mechanical abilities, science knowledge, and strong problem‑solving skills. The role draws on mechanical aptitude, fine motor skills, attention to detail, and physical strength and stamina, supported by critical and analytical thinking and mathematics. Leadership and project management also play a role, reflecting the need to coordinate technical work and decisions. For people exploring related paths, similar occupations include captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels, as well as several mechanical and repair careers. Overall, ship engineering offers a focused career path with specialized skills and compensation that can reward long‑term commitment and technical proficiency.
Ship engineers benefit from a national median annual salary of $101,320, indicating strong overall earning power in this field. Pay can vary significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, New York reports a median salary of $133,640 and Massachusetts $122,720, both noticeably higher than California at $97,660 and Virginia at $82,370. Washington sits in the middle at $107,940. At the metro level, the New York–Newark–Jersey City area offers a median salary of $122,820, while Boston–Cambridge–Newton reaches $126,630. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont and Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue show median salaries just above $108,000, and the Washington–Arlington–Alexandria metro comes in at $122,090. These differences suggest that ship engineers who are flexible about location may find higher pay in certain states and metros, especially parts of New York and Massachusetts, while still maintaining strong national earning potential overall.
Ship engineers work in a relatively small occupation, with national employment of about 9,000. Projected employment growth of 1.6% indicates modest expansion rather than major contraction or rapid growth. With approximately 1,000 annual openings, there is a consistent flow of opportunities relative to the total size of the field. Taken together, these numbers point to a career that is stable but not rapidly changing in scale. People entering the field can expect a market where positions exist across the country, but competition and availability will be influenced by the small overall workforce. The combination of steady projected growth and ongoing annual openings suggests that both new entrants and experienced professionals may find opportunities over time, particularly if they are open to relocating to regions with higher employment or stronger opportunity scores for ship engineers.
Location makes a meaningful difference for ship engineers in terms of both earnings and concentration of jobs. Among states with high opportunity scores, Virginia has the largest employment at 1,450 ship engineers, followed by Washington with 730, California with 610, and New York with 550. Massachusetts has a smaller workforce at 150 but a high median salary. Salary levels vary notably: New York leads at $133,640, followed by Massachusetts at $122,720 and Washington at $107,940, while California and Virginia report $97,660 and $82,370 respectively. At the metro level, the New York–Newark–Jersey City area stands out with an opportunity score of 77.27, a median salary of $122,820, and employment of 650. Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue has 580 jobs and a median salary of $108,900, while San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, Boston–Cambridge–Newton, and Washington–Arlington–Alexandria each offer smaller employment counts but strong salaries and solid opportunity scores.
The typical education for ship engineers is a postsecondary nondegree award, indicating that formal training beyond high school is important, but a traditional four‑year degree is not the standard requirement. This education foundation supports a broad set of technical and cognitive skills associated with the role. Mechanical skills, fine motor abilities, and physical strength and stamina reflect the hands‑on and physically demanding aspects of the work. At the same time, mathematics, science, and critical and analytical thinking play an important role in understanding and solving technical problems. Being detail oriented helps ensure accuracy, while problem solving and decision making are central to handling complex situations. Leadership and project management skills indicate an expectation to coordinate tasks, manage resources, or guide others. Together, this mix of education and skills makes ship engineering suitable for individuals who are comfortable combining practical, physical work with analytical and organizational responsibilities.
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