Ship Engineers Salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
The median pay for a ship engineers in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA is $143,600/year ($69.04/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $88K at the entry level to $200K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 115.61), so that salary is closer to $124,211 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,604/month — about 42.5% of take-home, which is tight.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $144K get you in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
About ship engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Entry-level ship engineers (10th percentile) start around $88K. Mid-career wages sit at $144K.Top earners bring in $200K or more - a $112K spread from bottom to top.
Ship Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $171K | +68% | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $136K | +34% | 90 |
| California | $135K | +33% | 430 |
| New York | $132K | +30% | 600 |
| Rhode Island | $124K | +22% | 40 |
| Texas | $122K | +21% | 870 |
| New Jersey | $117K | +16% | 170 |
| Illinois | $112K | +10% | 130 |
| Florida | $111K | +9% | 910 |
| Hawaii | $110K | +9% | 60 |
| Kentucky | $102K | +0% | 240 |
| Tennessee | $101K | -0% | 180 |
| Indiana | $100K | -1% | 180 |
| South Carolina | $100K | -2% | 60 |
| Washington | $96K | -5% | 910 |
Track ship engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do ship engineers make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median is $143,600 a year - that works out to about $69.04 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $87,900, and experienced ship engineers can clear $200,350. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $144K enough to live in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,284/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,604/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 43.5% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb - housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a ship engineers salary go in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has a Regional Price Parity of 115.61 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median ship engineers salary is worth about $124,211 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do ship engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.