Ship Engineers: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Transportation and Material Moving · SOC 53-5031 · O*NET 53-5031.00
Ship Engineers fall under the Transportation and Material Moving category in the U.S. occupational classification. Ship Engineers earn a median salary of $101,320 per year, ranking in the top 12% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +1.6% job growth through 2034, projected to grow slower than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do ship engineers earn?
The median annual wage for ship engineers is $101,320. That puts ship engineers at #100 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
Is ship engineers a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for ship engineers is +1.6%, projected to grow slower than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 8K positions in 2024 to 9K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Flat growth typically reflects a mature, stable field. Most openings will come from retirements rather than new positions, which can favor candidates with strong networks and willingness to relocate.
What education does my child need to become ship engineer?
Many ship engineers enter the field with a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, though employers increasingly favor candidates with certifications or some postsecondary coursework. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about ship engineers
What is the median salary for ship engineers?
The median annual salary for ship engineers is $101,320 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is ship engineers a growing career?
BLS projects +1.6% growth for ship engineers from 2024 through 2034, which is flat growth projected to grow slower than the US average.
What education does my child need to become ship engineer?
The typical entry path requires a high school diploma plus on-the-job training, certifications, or postsecondary credentials, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to ship engineers?
Related occupations within the Transportation and Material Moving category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.