Occupations/53-5031.00
Ship Engineers
Supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
32%
More resilient
Human characteristics
68%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
55%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.
- Mostly routine
Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway, and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.
- Mostly routine
Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 01Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway, and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.
- 02Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.
- 03Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.
- 04Start engines to propel ships, and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.
- 05Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.
- 06Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.86
- Degree of automation2.28
- Time sitting2.56
- Originality (ability)3.00
- Conflict situations3.11
- Hands-on objects/tools4.19
- Outdoors / weather4.39
- Disease exposure1.32
- Decision freedom3.98
Top abilities
- Problem Sensitivity4.00
- Oral Expression4.00
- Oral Comprehension4.00
- Deductive Reasoning4.00
- Written Comprehension3.62
- Near Vision3.62
- Control Precision3.62
- Speech Clarity3.50
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.12
- Active Listening3.62
- Writing3.00
- Speaking3.50
- Mathematics2.38
- Science1.88
- Critical Thinking3.88
- Active Learning3.25
- Learning Strategies2.75
- Monitoring3.62
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
1 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Texas A & M University-College Station College Station, TX · Public | Marine Science/Merchant Marine Officer 49.0309 | $13,200 | 63% | 83% | 1 yr $72,682 2 yr $86,129 Bachelor's · CIP 49.03 |