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Ship Engineers in Illinois

Thinking about a career as a Ship Engineers in Illinois? Here’s what you need to know. Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship. Excludes “Engineers” (17-2000).

What do Ship Engineers Make in Illinois?

For a ship engineers working in Illinois, the median annual wage is $111,800 per year (or roughly $53.75/hour).Earnings range from $49,490 at the 10th percentile to $132,060 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$49,490	$23.79
25th percentile	$68,060	$32.72
Median (50th)	$111,800	$53.75
75th percentile	$119,990	$57.69
90th percentile	$132,060	$63.49

Location quotient — how concentrated this career is in Illinois nationwide is 0.40, indicating fewer ship engineers per worker than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, ship engineers earn a median of $67,019 per year ($32.22/hour), above the Illinois median.

Employment Outlook

There are roughly 981,150 ship engineers across the United States. In Illinois alone, approximately 130 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 180 ship engineers.

Top Illinois Metros for Ship Engineers

These are the Illinois metros with the most ship engineers in Illinois.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	60	$81,820

Top States for Ship Engineers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most ship engineers work.

State	Number Employed
Virginia	1,370
Washington	910
Florida	910
Texas	870
Louisiana	800
New York	600
California	430
Pennsylvania	370
Alaska	320
Kentucky	240
Indiana	180
Tennessee	180
New Jersey	170
Michigan	150
Illinois	130
Oregon	110
Maryland	100
Alabama	100
Mississippi	100
Massachusetts	90

Highest-Paying States for Ship Engineers

The highest-paying states for ship engineers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Maryland	$170,630
Massachusetts	$136,260
California	$134,660
New York	$131,650
Rhode Island	$123,700
Texas	$122,150
New Jersey	$117,090
Illinois	$111,800
Florida	$110,730
Hawaii	$110,240

Skills

Top ship engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

The abilities that matter most for ship engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Ship Engineers typically:

• 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.
• Operate or maintain off-loading liquid pumps or valves.
• Maintain electrical power, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, or sewerage systems.
• Install engine controls, propeller shafts, or propellers.
• Clean engine parts and keep engine rooms clean.

Work Activities

• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Getting Information
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
• Processing Information

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: Apple macOS, Microsoft Access

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Related college programs include:

• Marine Transportation

Related Careers

Related occupations to ship engineers include:

• Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
• Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
• Avionics Technicians
• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

Also Known As

Barge Engineer, Deck Engineer, Engineer, Engineering Watch Officer, Equipment Maintenance Marine Engineer, Equipment Operating Engineer, Ferry Engineer, Fire Boat Engineer, Fire Department Marine Engineer, Harbor Engineer, Licensed Marine Engineer, Marine Engine Mechanic, Marine Mechanic, Maritime Engineer, Officer in Charge of Engineering Watch (OICEW).

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-5031.00