Career comparison
Deckhand vs. Ship Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Ship engineers earn more at the median ($109,530 vs. $51,520), while deckhands usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks of training). Deckhands work aboard tugboats, barges, ferries and ships handling lines, cargo and maintenance. Ship engineers run and repair the engines and systems that power ships.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Deckhand | Ship Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $51,520 ($24.77/hr) | $109,530 ($52.66/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $34,560 – $83,620 | $57,870 – $165,490 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +3.2% (about as fast as average) | +2.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 3,600 | 900 |
| Typical entry education | No formal educational credential | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 1–4 weeks | Years of sea time and credentials |
| Key credential | Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) | USCG engineer license |
| Work setting | Deckhands work on vessels in all weather, on slippery decks, around heavy lines and machinery and far from shore. | Engineers work in hot, loud engine rooms aboard vessels.. |
What each job does
Deckhand
- Handle mooring lines and tie up vessels
- Build and break barge tows
- Stand lookout and security watches
- Load, secure and check cargo
- Clean, chip and paint the vessel
Ship Engineer
- Operate main engines
- Maintain generators
- Repair pumps and boilers
- Stand engine watches
- Troubleshoot breakdowns
How they’re similar
Both careers involve teamwork, travel, and hands-on work. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose deckhand if…
- I love being on the water
- I can be away for weeks at a time
- I like hard physical work
Choose ship engineer if…
- I love engines
- I solve problems
- I can be away for weeks
Still torn? Take the Deckhand fit quiz and the Ship Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, deckhand or ship engineer?
Ship Engineers earn more at the median: $109,530 versus $51,520 for deckhands, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Deckhands typically train faster (1–4 weeks) than ship engineers (Years of sea time and credentials).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects deckhands to grow +3.2% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for ship engineers.