Ship Engineers
Also called Engineer, Ferry Engineer, Port Engineer, or Tug Boat Engineer
Updated · Source: O*NET 31.0
What Ship Engineers do
You keep a ship's engines, pumps, and power running while it's miles from shore, with no repair shop to call.
Ship engineers run the machinery that makes a vessel work. That means the main engines that push the ship forward, plus boilers, deck winches (the powered drums that haul ropes, anchors, and cargo), electrical power, heating and cooling, refrigeration, fresh water, and sewage systems. You watch gauges and readouts while the ship is moving, test equipment to catch problems early, and fix what breaks. You also check that lifesaving gear and pollution controls meet international rules, and you keep written records of what the engineering department does.
You supervise and coordinate the crew doing this work, so you are both a hands-on repairer and someone giving direction. The job titles vary: ferry engineer, tug boat engineer, port engineer. Engine spaces are loud, hot, and often without climate control, and deck work happens in whatever weather shows up.
A day in the life
You start by walking the engine room, checking readings and listening for anything off. When the captain calls for it, or when the signal comes from the bridge, the control room where the ship is steered from, you start the engines and adjust power to control the ship's speed. A pump starts running rough, so you trace the fault, pull it apart, and repair it with your hands and tools, in safety gear, in heat and noise. You check that lifeboat gear and pollution equipment are in order. There is an emergency drill with the crew. You talk face to face with the people you supervise all day, then work alone on a stubborn motor. Before your shift (called a watch on a ship) ends, you write up machine operations in the engineering log.
This could fit you if you…
- ✓Like fixing real machines rather than reading about them
- ✓Stay calm when something breaks and nobody else can fix it
- ✓Enjoy directing a small crew and keeping them on schedule
- ✓Are comfortable with careful record-keeping and safety rules
- ✓Want work that moves between engine rooms, decks, and open water
You might not like it if you…
- –Need quiet, cool, predictable indoor surroundings
- –Dislike being around hazardous equipment or wearing safety gear all shift
- –Want to be home every night, since many jobs mean long stretches aboard a vessel
- –Would rather not be responsible for other people's work and safety
How people get in
- 1Build a mechanical base in high school or after: shop classes, small engine repair, electrical work, or any hands-on job with pumps and motors.
- 2Earn a certificate from a training program after high school, not a full college degree, which is the usual way in. Maritime academies and training schools offer programs such as Marine Science / Merchant Marine Officer.
- 3Complete the licensing and the required hours of on-the-water work experience, known as sea time, that your program calls for, since work on commercial vessels is regulated.
- 4Take an entry-level shipboard or engine room job and learn under experienced engineers. Most people build up less than five years of related experience before taking on the engineer role.
- 5Get comfortable with the paperwork side: logs, safety inspections, and international rules on lifesaving and pollution equipment.
- 6Know the numbers before you commit. Jobs are projected to grow +2.7% from 2025 to 2035, a bit slower than +3.5% for all jobs, with about 900 openings a year.
Who tends to enjoy it
Hands-on
People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.
Organizing
People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.
Leading
People who like persuading, selling, starting things, and taking charge.
Official task list
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. (O*NET)
- 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.
A typical day involves
Skills that matter most
- Critical Thinking
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Equipment Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Repairing
What you'll need to know
- Mechanical
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Public Safety and Security
- Transportation
How much Ship Engineers make
The median pay for Ship Engineers in the U.S. is $109,530 a year ($52.66 an hour). Most earn between $57,870 and $165,490. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025)
Pay depends a lot on where you live: the median is highest in New York ($133,640) and lowest in Puerto Rico ($40,080).
Pay by state and territory
| State | Median pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $96,030 | 50 |
| Alaska | $88,190 | 420 |
| California | $97,660 | 610 |
| Connecticut | $119,010 | 50 |
| Florida | $130,480 | 1,260 |
| Hawaii | $131,640 | 70 |
| Illinois | $115,310 | 110 |
| Indiana | $122,190 | 210 |
| Kentucky | $120,550 | — |
| Louisiana | $103,430 | 610 |
| Maine | $77,160 | 30 |
| Massachusetts | $122,720 | 150 |
| Michigan | $79,170 | 100 |
| Mississippi | $98,380 | 140 |
| New Jersey | $118,310 | 170 |
| New York | $133,640 | 550 |
| North Carolina | $65,010 | 90 |
| Oregon | $88,800 | 80 |
| Pennsylvania | $80,210 | 90 |
| Puerto Rico | $40,080 | — |
| Rhode Island | $119,330 | 50 |
| South Carolina | $97,890 | 80 |
| Texas | $127,810 | 660 |
| Virginia | $82,370 | 1,450 |
| Washington | $107,940 | 730 |
Where to study for this
College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.
- Marine Science / Merchant Marine Officer 11 colleges
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Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 53-5031.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), SOC 53-5031. Outlook and entry education: BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.