Ship Engineer salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Ship Engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $108,770 a year ($52.29 an hour), based on BLS data for 140 workers.
Pay ranges from $93,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $205,780 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $109,530. Pay here is 11% higher than the California statewide median of $97,660. There are 0.06 ship engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $130,570, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for ship engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,100 | $44.76 |
| 25th percentile | $95,390 | $45.86 |
| Median | $108,770 | $52.29 |
| 75th percentile | $161,750 | $77.77 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $205,780 | $98.94 |
| Average (mean) | $130,570 | $62.77 |
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 | $9,064.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,532.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,183.46 |
| Weekly | $2,091.73 |
| Hourly | $52.29 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $108,770 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 Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $85,310 | 70 |
| 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $124,610 | $59.91 |
| Sailors and Marine Oilers | $68,780 | $33.07 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $48,400 | $23.27 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $45,130 | $21.70 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $66,450 | $31.95 |
| Light Truck Driver | $50,820 | $24.43 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $59,240 | $28.48 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $73,950 | $35.56 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $41,610 | $20.01 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $78,900 | $37.93 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $43,680 | $21.00 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $44,350 | $21.32 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $48,370 | $23.26 |
| Flight Attendant | $89,430 | — |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, 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 Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for ship engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $108,770 a year, or $52.29 an hour. Pay ranges from $93,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $205,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid ship engineers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of ship engineers in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $205,780 a year. The top 25% earn $161,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for ship engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $93,100 a year, and a quarter of ship engineers earn $95,390 or less.
How many ship engineers work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 140 ship engineers are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.