Skilled Trades
Ship Engineers
Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
Median salary
$101,320
Typical range
$57k – $162k
Job outlook
+2% (about average)
AI exposure
Plan a path to Ship Engineers
Education
Typical entry: No degree (trade/license)
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Junior Ship Engineers
Entry / Junior
$56,620
~2 yrs to advance
Ship Engineers
Established
$101,320
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Ship Engineers
Senior
$131,845
Key skills
A typical day
- •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.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Skilled Trades
Explore all- Purdue University50% admit · $78,000 grad pay
- Ohio State University53% admit · $68,000 grad pay
- Pennsylvania State University55% admit · $70,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.