Jobs Similar to Ship Engineers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to ship engineers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Hydroelectric Plant Technicians, Wind Turbine Service Technicians and Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians.
Ship Engineers: $109,530 median pay · usual preparation: Training or associate.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Ship Engineers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydroelectric Plant Technicians | 83% | $102,040Broader BLS group · not compared | Training or associate |
| 2 | Wind Turbine Service Technicians | 82% | $64,120−41% | Training or associate |
| 3 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | 81% | $79,870−27% | Training or associate |
| 4 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | 81% | $65,510−40% | Training or associate |
| 5 | Geothermal Technicians | 80% | $49,230Broader BLS group · not compared | High school |
| 6 | Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators | 79% | $78,620−28% | Training or associate |
| 7 | Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists | 79% | $61,770−44% | Training or associate |
| 8 | Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door | 79% | $74,340−32% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay | 79% | $103,020−6% | Training or associate |
| 10 | Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers | 79% | $109,9100% | Training or associate |
| 11 | Industrial Machinery Mechanics | 79% | $64,520−41% | Training or associate |
| 12 | Power Plant Operators | 78% | $102,040−7% | High school |
| 13 | Wellhead Pumpers | 78% | $69,960−36% | High school |
| 14 | Rail Car Repairers | 78% | $67,530−38% | High school |
| 15 | Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers | 78% | $56,210−49% | Training or associate |
| 16 | Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics | 77% | $50,620−54% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Continuous Mining Machine Operators | 77% | $61,810−44% | High school |
| 18 | Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians | 77% | $57,550−47% | Training or associate |
| 19 | Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers | 77% | $39,630−64% | High school |
| 20 | Signal and Track Switch Repairers | 77% | $92,460−16% | Training or associate |
- 1Hydroelectric Plant Technicians
83% similar · $102,040 (broader group) · Training or associate
- 2Wind Turbine Service Technicians
82% similar · $64,120 (−41%) · Training or associate
- 3Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
81% similar · $79,870 (−27%) · Training or associate
- 4Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines
81% similar · $65,510 (−40%) · Training or associate
- 5Geothermal Technicians
80% similar · $49,230 (broader group) · High school
- 6Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
79% similar · $78,620 (−28%) · Training or associate
- 7Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
79% similar · $61,770 (−44%) · Training or associate
- 8Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
79% similar · $74,340 (−32%) · Training or associate
- 9Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
79% similar · $103,020 (−6%) · Training or associate
- 10Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers
79% similar · $109,910 (0%) · Training or associate
- 11Industrial Machinery Mechanics
79% similar · $64,520 (−41%) · Training or associate
- 12Power Plant Operators
78% similar · $102,040 (−7%) · High school
- 13Wellhead Pumpers
78% similar · $69,960 (−36%) · High school
- 14Rail Car Repairers
78% similar · $67,530 (−38%) · High school
- 15Electric Motor, Power Tool, and Related Repairers
78% similar · $56,210 (−49%) · Training or associate
- 16Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
77% similar · $50,620 (−54%) · Training or associate
- 17Continuous Mining Machine Operators
77% similar · $61,810 (−44%) · High school
- 18Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians
77% similar · $57,550 (−47%) · Training or associate
- 19Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers
77% similar · $39,630 (−64%) · High school
- 20Signal and Track Switch Repairers
77% similar · $92,460 (−16%) · Training or associate
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Geothermal Technicians80% similar · High school
- Power Plant Operators78% similar · High school
- Wellhead Pumpers78% similar · High school
- Rail Car Repairers78% similar · High school
- Continuous Mining Machine Operators77% similar · High school
- Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers77% similar · High school
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for ship engineers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where ship engineers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (87)
- Commercial Divers (86)
- Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (85)
- Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians (84)
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists (83)
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators (83)
- Wind Turbine Service Technicians (82)
- Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines (81)
- Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door (79)
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay (79)
Questions about jobs like ship engineers
What jobs are most similar to ship engineers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Hydroelectric Plant Technicians (83% similar), Wind Turbine Service Technicians (82% similar), Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians (81% similar), Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics (81% similar) and Geothermal Technicians (80% similar).
Do jobs like ship engineers pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than ship engineers where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.