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Shipping & Container Lines
Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd
Ship Engineers
Ship engineers keep a vessel's engines and support systems running while it is at sea or in port. The work is different from most maintenance jobs because every repair has to fit a moving, enclosed machine with no easy backup, and the job constantly balances safety, schedule pressure, and operating costs.
Also known as Marine EngineerVessel EngineerShipboard EngineerEngineering OfficerSecond Engineer
Median Salary
$101,320
Mean $105,600
U.S. Workforce
~9K
1.1K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+1.6%
8.8K to 9K
Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Ship Engineers sits in the Trades category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~9K workers, with a median annual pay of $101,320 and roughly 1.1K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 8.8 K in 2024 to 9K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Engine Room Assistant and can progress toward Fleet Engineering Manager. High-value skills usually include Engine Controls, PLCs & Alarm Panels, Engine Room Watchstanding & Operations Monitoring, and Marine Equipment Maintenance, paired with soft skills such as Critical thinking, Active listening, and Clear communication.
Core Responsibilities
- Coordinate with the captain and shore staff so the ship stays on schedule, stays within budget, and meets safety rules.
- Watch engines and other machinery during a shift, and report anything unusual before it turns into a breakdown.
- Repair or replace worn parts in engines, pumps, motors, winches, and other onboard equipment.
- Keep the ship's power, heating, cooling, water, and sewage systems working properly.
Keep exploring: more Trades careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Coordinate with the captain and shore staff so the ship stays on schedule, stays within budget, and meets safety rules.
02 Watch engines and other machinery during a shift, and report anything unusual before it turns into a breakdown.
03 Repair or replace worn parts in engines, pumps, motors, winches, and other onboard equipment.
04 Keep the ship's power, heating, cooling, water, and sewage systems working properly.
05 Help install major propulsion parts such as controls, shafts, and propellers.
06 Clean engine-room parts and keep detailed logs of maintenance, tests, and repairs.
Industries That Hire
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Cruise Lines
Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line
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Offshore Support & Energy
Transocean, Tidewater, Subsea 7
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Ferries & Passenger Transport
BC Ferries, Washington State Ferries, Staten Island Ferry
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Defense & Government Vessels
Military Sealift Command, U.S. Navy, NOAA
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong, with a mean annual wage of $105,600 and a median of $101,320, especially considering that many workers enter without a bachelor's degree.
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The work is hands-on and concrete: you spend your day keeping engines, pumps, propulsion gear, and ship utilities working.
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There is a clear practical path into the job, and a high school diploma is the most common background at 47.95%.
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About 1.1K annual openings point to steady replacement hiring even though the field is small.
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The skills you build diagnosing problems, repairing equipment, and monitoring systems can lead to shore-side maintenance or port engineering jobs later.
Challenges
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The labor market is tiny, with only 8,580 jobs now, so openings can be limited by geography and by which ports or fleets are nearby.
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Growth is slow, with employment projected to rise only 1.6% from 8.8K to 9.0K by 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field.
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The work is physically rough: engine rooms are noisy, hot, cramped, and dirty, and repairs often involve grease, vibration, and heavy parts.
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Remote work is basically not an option, and ship schedules can mean nights, weekends, and long stretches away from home.
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The career ceiling can be narrow because ships have small crews, and automation, fleet cuts, or route changes can reduce the number of engineering slots.
Career Progression
Engine Room Assistant
0-2 years
$45K-$60K
Supports routine cleaning, checks, and basic maintenance while learning the layout of ship systems.
Junior Marine Engineer
2-5 years
$61K-$84K
Handles supervised repairs, watches equipment, and helps keep generators, pumps, and utilities running.
Ship Engineer THIS ROLE
5-10 years
$85K-$115K
Takes responsibility for the vessel's mechanical and electrical systems, and the pay band includes the typical median salary of $101,320.
Chief Engineer
10-15 years
$116K-$150K
Leads the engineering department, plans maintenance, and makes decisions on major repairs and system reliability.
Fleet Engineering Manager
15+ years
$151K-$190K
Oversees maintenance across multiple vessels, sets standards, and coordinates with operations and shore-side management.
Education Paths
High school diploma
This is the most common background, held by 47.95% of workers in the field, usually followed by shipboard experience and technical training.
Post-secondary certificate in marine engineering or marine mechanics
A post-secondary certificate is held by 23.85% of workers and can shorten the path into engine-room work.
Postsecondary nondegree award from a maritime school or engine-room program
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical entry point, and many workers use this route to get hands-on training before shipping out.
Merchant Mariner Credential with Coast Guard-approved training
A credential plus sea time is a realistic alternative for people who want to enter the field through regulated maritime training instead of a longer academic program.
Key Skills
Technical
Engine Controls, PLCs & Alarm Panels 78%
Engine Room Watchstanding & Operations Monitoring 78%
Marine Equipment Maintenance 75%
Mechanical & Electrical Repair 75%
Troubleshooting Pumps, Winches & Propulsion Systems 75%
Multimeters, Gauges & CMMS Maintenance Logs 72%
Soft Skills
Critical thinkingActive listeningClear communicationAttention to detailTeamworkCalm under pressure Job Outlook and Trends
+1.6%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
1.1K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 8.8K to 9 K over the next decade, representing 1.6% growth. Around 1.1 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.