California Median
$97,660
per year
Hourly Rate
$46.95
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-11% vs US median
US median $109,530
State Rank
#16 of 24
610 employed here
How much does a Ship Engineer make in California?
A Ship Engineer working in California earns a median salary of $97,660 per year, or about $46.95 per hour. That is 11% below the national median of $109,530 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $80,820 while the top 10% make $169,280 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $84,620 and $157,070 a year.
Ship Engineer salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,820 | $38.86 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $84,620 | $40.68 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $97,660 | $46.95 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $157,070 | $75.51 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $169,280 | $81.38 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 16th out of 24 states and territories for Ship Engineer pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Ship Engineer salary in other states
New York $133,640Hawaii $131,640Florida $130,480Texas $127,810Massachusetts $122,720Indiana $122,190Kentucky $120,550Rhode Island $119,330Connecticut $119,010New Jersey $118,310Illinois $115,310Washington $107,940Louisiana $103,430Mississippi $98,380South Carolina $97,890Alabama $96,030Oregon $88,800Alaska $88,190Virginia $82,370Pennsylvania $80,210Michigan $79,170Maine $77,160North Carolina $65,010
Working as a Ship Engineer in California
Nationally, about 8,000 people work as Ship Engineers in the United States. A high school diploma is typically enough, with most skills learned on the job.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($97,660) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Ship Engineer make in California?
The median Ship Engineer salary in California is $97,660 per year, or about $46.95 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $80,820 at the entry level to $169,280 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Ship Engineers about 11% less than the national median of $109,530. California ranks 16th out of 24 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Ship Engineers?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $97,660 a year. About 610 Ship Engineers are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Ship Engineer salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.