Ship Engineer salary in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Ship Engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn a median of $131,260 a year ($63.11 an hour), based on BLS data for 520 workers.
Pay ranges from $95,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,730 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $109,530. Pay here is 3% higher than the Texas statewide median of $127,810. There are 0.16 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $127,070, close to the median.
Pay range for ship engineers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $95,210 | $45.77 |
| 25th percentile | $116,350 | $55.94 |
| Median | $131,260 | $63.11 |
| 75th percentile | $140,070 | $67.34 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,730 | $72.47 |
| Average (mean) | $127,070 | $61.09 |
Half of ship engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,938.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,469.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,048.46 |
| Weekly | $2,524.23 |
| Hourly | $63.11 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $131,260 salary, see how much house you can afford in Texas at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Ship Engineer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TX | $108,530 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for ship engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $133,640 |
| Hawaii | $131,640 |
| Florida | $130,480 |
| Texas | $127,810 |
| Massachusetts | $122,720 |
| Indiana | $122,190 |
| Kentucky | $120,550 |
| Rhode Island | $119,330 |
| Connecticut | $119,010 |
| New Jersey | $118,310 |
See Ship Engineer pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $55,610 | $26.74 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $118,830 | $57.13 |
| Motorboat Operator | $50,270 | $24.17 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,890 | $17.74 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,000 | $18.27 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,840 | $27.33 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,990 | $22.11 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,920 | $21.12 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,760 | $29.21 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $28,880 | $13.88 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $43,570 | $20.95 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,650 | $14.26 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $30,690 | $14.76 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $307,690 | — |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-5031. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a ship engineer make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The median salary for ship engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $131,260 a year, or $63.11 an hour. Pay ranges from $95,210 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,730 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
The top 10% of ship engineers in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area earn at least $150,730 a year. The top 25% earn $140,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $95,210 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $116,350 or less.
How many ship engineers work in Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX?
About 520 ship engineers are employed in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.