Water Transportation Workers

How to become a Ship Engineer

Official title: Ship Engineers

Also called: Barge Engineer, Engineer, Ferry Engineer, Harbor Engineer, Port Engineer, Ship Engineer, Towboat Engineer, Tug Boat Engineer, Vessel Engineer

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

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Education and training requirements for water transportation workers vary by occupation. There are no educational requirements for entry-level sailors and marine oilers, but other water transportation workers typically complete U.S. Coast Guard-approved training programs.

Typical education to start: Postsecondary nondegree award

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Apprenticeship: Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch (Oicew).
Certificate or associate's degree: Postsecondary nondegree award. Programs such as Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $109,530 a year The middle half earn $82,130 to $135,760.
About 8,800 people work in this job now, and about 9,000 are projected by 2035. (+2.7%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Ship Engineer?

How much does a Ship Engineer earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $109,530 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $82,130 to $135,760.

Is a Ship Engineer a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 3% by 2035, from about 8,800 to about 9,000 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Ship Engineer?

Usually not. Only 19% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Postsecondary nondegree award; Officer in Charge of an Engineering Watch (Oicew).

Will AI change the work of a Ship Engineer?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.