Ship Engineer salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Ship Engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $85,310 a year ($41.02 an hour), based on BLS data for 70 workers.
Pay ranges from $73,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,530 for the top 10%. That is 22% lower than the national median of $109,530. Pay here is 13% lower than the California statewide median of $97,660. There are 0.05 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $90,770, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ship engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,940 | $35.55 |
| 25th percentile | $80,820 | $38.86 |
| Median | $85,310 | $41.02 |
| 75th percentile | $101,180 | $48.64 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $109,530 | $52.66 |
| Average (mean) | $90,770 | $43.64 |
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 | $7,109.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,554.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,281.15 |
| Weekly | $1,640.58 |
| Hourly | $41.02 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $85,310 salary, see how much house you can afford in California 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 |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $108,770 | 140 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $84,630 | n/a |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $76,490 | $36.77 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $48,290 | $23.22 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,320 | $20.83 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $39,160 | $18.83 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| Light Truck Driver | $45,670 | $21.96 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,890 | $17.74 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,590 | $29.13 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,120 | $17.85 |
| Parking Attendant | $37,960 | $18.25 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $43,670 | $21.00 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $46,800 | $22.50 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $61,290 | $29.47 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for ship engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $85,310 a year, or $41.02 an hour. Pay ranges from $73,940 for the lowest-paid 10% to $109,530 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of ship engineers in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $109,530 a year. The top 25% earn $101,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $73,940 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $80,820 or less.
How many ship engineers work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 70 ship engineers are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.