Career comparison
Ship Captain 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. $92,460), while ship captains usually get to work faster (Years of sea time and credentials of training). Ship captains command and navigate ships, tugs and ferries on oceans, rivers and lakes. 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
| Ship Captain | Ship Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $92,460 ($44.45/hr) | $109,530 ($52.66/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $47,420 – $170,640 | $57,870 – $165,490 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +4.0% (about as fast as average) | +2.7% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 3,800 | 900 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | Years of sea time and credentials | Years of sea time and credentials |
| Key credential | USCG Master or Mate license | USCG engineer license |
| Work setting | Captains work on vessels for weeks or months at a time.. | Engineers work in hot, loud engine rooms aboard vessels.. |
What each job does
Ship Captain
- Navigate vessels
- Stand watch
- Supervise crew
- Plan voyages
- Oversee cargo
Ship Engineer
- Operate main engines
- Maintain generators
- Repair pumps and boilers
- Stand engine watches
- Troubleshoot breakdowns
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, travel, and teamwork. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose ship captain if…
- I love the water
- I can lead a crew
- I can be away for weeks
Choose ship engineer if…
- I love engines
- I solve problems
- I can be away for weeks
Still torn? Take the Ship Captain fit quiz and the Ship Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, ship captain or ship engineer?
Ship Engineers earn more at the median: $109,530 versus $92,460 for ship captains, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Ship Captains typically train faster (Years of sea time and credentials) than ship engineers (Years of sea time and credentials).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects ship captains to grow +4.0% from 2025–35, compared with +2.7% for ship engineers.