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Salary comparison

Ship Engineers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?

Ship Engineers out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by $69K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Ship Engineers land at $109,530 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand at $40,240. The education gap is real: ship engineer programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Ship Engineers is New York ($133,640); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand it's Minnesota ($46,280).

Ship Engineers
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Median salary
$109,530
$40,240
Hourly rate
$52.66/hr
$19.35/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$57,870
$31,270
Senior level (90th %)
$165,490
$55,140
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
8,400
2,950,280
Job growth (10-year)
1.6%
1.5%
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
New York
Minnesota

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Ship Engineers median pay.

State
Ship Engineers
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
New York
$133,640
$44,630
Hawaii
$131,640
$44,120
Massachusetts
$122,720
$44,920
Indiana
$122,190
$41,340
Kentucky
$120,550
$42,770
Rhode Island
$119,330
$41,690
Connecticut
$119,010
$43,640
New Jersey
$118,310
$39,540
Illinois
$115,310
$40,550
Washington
$107,940
$46,190
California
$97,660
$44,710
Oregon
$88,800
$44,750
Alaska
$88,190
$44,510
Pennsylvania
$80,210
$42,480
Maine
$77,160
$42,640

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Ship Engineers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Ship Engineers earn more nationally. The median is $109,530 for Ship Engineers versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand, a difference of $69K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Ship Engineers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Ship Engineers has the better 10-year outlook at 1.6% projected growth, compared to 1.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Ship Engineers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Ship Engineers typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Ship Engineers get paid the most?

New York is the top-paying state for Ship Engineers at $133,640/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Ship Engineers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In New York, Ship Engineers earn $133,640 vs. $44,630 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Ship Engineers salary breakdownView →Full Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary breakdownView →Best cities for Ship Engineers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand by take-home payExplore →How to become a ship engineersGuide →How to become a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handGuide →