SOC 53-5031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Ship Engineers — Kentucky
Kentucky
The median wage for Ship Engineers in Kentucky is $120,550 per year, 10.1% above the national median of $109,530.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Ship Engineers in Kentucky is $120,550 per year, 10.1% above the national median of $109,530. Half of workers earn between $116,330 and $121,270. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $81,040 and the ninetieth at $121,880.
Kentucky ranks number 7th out of 24 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 699 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 45th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $81,040 | −26.0% |
| 25th | $116,330 | +6.2% |
| Median (50th) | $120,550 | +10.1% |
| 75th | $121,270 | +10.7% |
| 90th | $121,880 | +11.3% |
| Mean | $114,730 | +4.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Kentucky run 9.8% below the national average, so the median of $120,550 goes as far as $133,647 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 22.0% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$120,550as reported by BLSLocal price level
90.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$133,647US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $120,550 a year, 10.1% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $81,040 to $121,880 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- It ranks 7th of 24 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Ship Engineers in Kentucky?
The median annual wage is $120,550, or $57.96 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $109,530, so pay in Kentucky is 10.1% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Kentucky earns more than $121,880 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $81,040 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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