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Occupation · SOC 53-5031

Ship Engineers

There are 8,400 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $109,530 a year. The most jobs are in Virginia Beach–Chesapeake–Norfolk, VA–NC.

TransportationTypical education: Postsecondary nondegree award
8,400
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$109,530
Median pay a year
Middle half: $82,130–$135,760
900
Annual openings
10-year change: +2.7%
0
LCA filings, last 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 22 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Virginia Beach–Chesapeake–Norfolk, VA–NCMedian pay $82,370 · LCA filings 01,420$82,3700
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $122,820 · LCA filings 0650$122,8200
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLMedian pay $129,700 · LCA filings 0640$129,7000
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $108,900 · LCA filings 0580$108,9000
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $131,260 · LCA filings 0520$131,2600
Jacksonville, FLMedian pay $130,600 · LCA filings 0450$130,6000
New Orleans–Metairie, LAMedian pay $132,710 · LCA filings 0230$132,7100
Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux, LAMedian pay $100,260 · LCA filings 0150$100,2600
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $108,770 · LCA filings 0140$108,7700
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay n/a · LCA filings 0100n/a0

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
New Orleans–Metairie, LAEmployment 230 · LCA filings 0$132,7102300
Urban Honolulu, HIEmployment 60 · LCA filings 0$131,640600
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXEmployment 520 · LCA filings 0$131,2605200
Jacksonville, FLEmployment 450 · LCA filings 0$130,6004500
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLEmployment 640 · LCA filings 0$129,7006400

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Virginia Beach–Chesapeake–Norfolk, VA–NCLevel II $70,283 · Level III $90,813 · Level IV $111,322$49,774$70,283$90,813$111,322
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $108,368 · Level III $126,214 · Level IV $144,061$90,522$108,368$126,214$144,061
Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FLLevel II $103,917 · Level III $121,597 · Level IV $139,298$86,216$103,917$121,597$139,298
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $91,166 · Level III $111,384 · Level IV $131,581$70,970$91,166$111,384$131,581
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $114,982 · Level III $126,942 · Level IV $138,923$103,002$114,982$126,942$138,923
Jacksonville, FLLevel II $109,637 · Level III $124,072 · Level IV $138,507$95,202$109,637$124,072$138,507
New Orleans–Metairie, LALevel II $108,930 · Level III $151,528 · Level IV $194,147$66,310$108,930$151,528$194,147
Houma–Bayou Cane–Thibodaux, LALevel II $92,290 · Level III $112,882 · Level IV $133,474$71,698$92,290$112,882$133,474
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $111,342 · Level III $130,374 · Level IV $149,427$92,290$111,342$130,374$149,427
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $107,515 · Level III $127,774 · Level IV $148,034$87,256$107,515$127,774$148,034

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Marine TransportationCIP 49.03OPT · up to 12 months13OPT · up to 12 months
Naval Architecture and Marine EngineeringCIP 14.22STEM OPT · up to 36 months10STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Ship Engineers in every metro area

All 22 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology