Career comparison
Marine Engineer vs. Ship Captain
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Marine engineers earn more at the median ($112,230 vs. $92,460), while marine engineers usually get to work faster (4-year engineering degree of training). Marine engineers design ships, submarines and offshore structures. Ship captains command and navigate ships, tugs and ferries on oceans, rivers and lakes.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Marine Engineer | Ship Captain | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $112,230 ($53.96/hr) | $92,460 ($44.45/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $83,010 – $173,330 | $47,420 – $170,640 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.7% (faster than average) | +4.0% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 500 | 3,800 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | 4-year engineering degree | Years of sea time and credentials |
| Key credential | PE license | USCG Master or Mate license |
| Work setting | Marine engineers work in offices, shipyards and at sea.. | Captains work on vessels for weeks or months at a time.. |
What each job does
Marine Engineer
- Design hulls
- Calculate stability
- Design propulsion systems
- Design onboard systems
- Oversee construction
Ship Captain
- Navigate vessels
- Stand watch
- Supervise crew
- Plan voyages
- Oversee cargo
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, travel, and teamwork. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and transportation & logistics, but share transferable skills such as problem-solving and leadership.
Which should you choose?
Choose marine engineer if…
- I love ships
- I like physics and math
- I like big projects
Choose ship captain if…
- I love the water
- I can lead a crew
- I can be away for weeks
Still torn? Take the Marine Engineer fit quiz and the Ship Captain fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, marine engineer or ship captain?
Marine Engineers earn more at the median: $112,230 versus $92,460 for ship captains, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Marine Engineers typically train faster (4-year engineering degree) than ship captains (Years of sea time and credentials).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects marine engineers to grow +6.7% from 2025–35, compared with +4.0% for ship captains.