Ship Engineers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$109,530
United States, 2025
Employment
8,400
United States, 2025
Typical education
High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED)
Job Zone 3
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
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.
- O*NET code
- 53-5031.00
- Job zone
- 3
- Experience required
- Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
Typical tasks
- 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$57,870
25th percentile
$82,130
75th percentile
$135,760
90th percentile
$165,490
Most important skills
- Critical Thinking3.9
- Operations Monitoring3.9
- Operation and Control3.9
- Equipment Maintenance3.8
- Troubleshooting3.8
- Repairing3.8
- Monitoring3.6
- Active Listening3.6
- Speaking3.5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Systems Analysis3.3
- Judgment and Decision Making3.3
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 19 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
19
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Thinking | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Operations Monitoring | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Operation and Control | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Repairing | 3.8 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Equipment Maintenance | 3.8 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Monitoring | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Active Listening | 3.6 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Speaking | 3.5 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.3 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Time Management | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Writing | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Equipment Selection | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
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Compare with Ship EngineersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| NY | $133,640 | 550 | 2025 |
| New Orleans, LA | $132,710 | 230 | 2025 |
| HI | $131,640 | 70 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $131,640 | 60 | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | $131,260 | 520 | 2025 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $130,600 | 450 | 2025 |
| FL | $130,480 | 1,260 | 2025 |
| Miami, FL | $129,700 | 640 | 2025 |
| TX | $127,810 | 660 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $126,630 | 90 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $122,820 | 650 | 2025 |
| MA | $122,720 | 150 | 2025 |
| IN | $122,190 | 210 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | $122,090 | 50 | 2025 |
| KY | $120,550 | — | 2025 |
| RI | $119,330 | 50 | 2025 |
| Providence, RI | $119,330 | 50 | 2025 |
| CT | $119,010 | 50 | 2025 |
| NJ | $118,310 | 170 | 2025 |
| IL | $115,310 | 110 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Ship Engineers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.