Ship Engineers

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 53-5031.00United States

Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning

Median annual earnings: $109,381
Projected change: +2.3%
Typical education: High school diploma or less
Employment: 14.71K jobs

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

Showing United States

State

County

Loading available locations…

Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

The work

What ship engineers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

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.
Operate or maintain off-loading liquid pumps or valves.
Maintain electrical power, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, or sewerage systems.
Install engine controls, propeller shafts, or propellers.
Clean engine parts and keep engine rooms clean.
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.
Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts, maintain inventories, and record usage of supplies.
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.
Supervise marine engine technicians engaged in the maintenance or repair of mechanical or electrical marine vessels, and inspect their work to ensure that it is performed properly.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile: $57,680
25th percentile: $81,887
50th percentile: $109,381
75th percentile: $135,726
90th percentile: $166,163

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $109,381 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+2.3%average or slower

202514,705 jobs

2035 projected15,041 jobs

336 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less: 51%
Certificate: 23.9%
Bachelor's degree: 19%
Some college: 6.2%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

Marine Engineering
Technical Issues
Project Management
Technical Documentation
AutoCAD
Engineering Management
Machinery
Systems Engineering
Auditing
Mechanical Engineering
Control Systems
Electrical Engineering
Structural Engineering
Naval Architecture
Aerospace Engineering
Oil and Gas
Design Specifications
MATLAB
Mechanical Design
Control Engineering

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Repairing: Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Equipment Selection: Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Management of Personnel Resources: Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

01Control Systems Engineers16 postings
02Structural Engineers13 postings
03Self Defense Instructors9 postings
04Engineers7 postings
05Checkers5 postings
06First Assistant Engineers5 postings
07Third Assistant Engineers5 postings
08Chief Engineers4 postings
09Network Engineers4 postings
10Relief Managers4 postings
11Build Engineers3 postings
12Engineering Assistants3 postings
13Field Engineers3 postings
14IP Engineers3 postings
15Survivability Engineers3 postings
16Systems Test Engineers3 postings
17Waterfront Directors3 postings
18Communications Systems Engineers2 postings
19Design Assurance Engineers2 postings
20Design Engineering Advisors2 postings

Top employers

01Serco23 postings
02CACI International16 postings
03California State University-Chancellors Office9 postings
04General Dynamics6 postings
05R&P Technologies5 postings
06United States Department of Transportation5 postings
07Q.E.D. Systems4 postings
08State Of Maine4 postings
09Connection3 postings
10Delaware River And Bay Authority3 postings
11Huntington Ingalls Industries3 postings
12Orbis Corporation3 postings
13Columbia Shipmanagement2 postings
14Hologic2 postings
15ManTech2 postings
16RTX2 postings
17SUNY Maritime College2 postings
18Sayres And Associates, Corp2 postings
19SpaceX2 postings
20Target2 postings

Keep looking

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

Median pay: $82,771
Employment outlook: +11.6%

Air Traffic Controllers

Median pay: $148,075
Employment outlook: +4.8%

Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors

Median pay: $58,076
Employment outlook: +8.4%

Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Median pay: $79,397
Employment outlook: +5.9%