SOC 53-5031 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Ship Engineers — Southwest Louisiana
Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Southwest Louisiana, LA is $93,980 a year, trailing the national median of $109,530 by 14.2%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Southwest Louisiana, LA is $93,980 a year, trailing the national median of $109,530 by 14.2%. Half of workers earn between $93,620 and $117,220. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $83,210 and the ninetieth at $204,890.
The area has 50 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 11.53 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. New Orleans leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $132,710. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 23rd of 259 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,210 | −24.0% |
| 25th | $93,620 | −14.5% |
| Median (50th) | $93,980 | −14.2% |
| 75th | $117,220 | +7.0% |
| 90th | $204,890 | +87.1% |
| Mean | $116,570 | +6.4% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Orleans | $132,710 | 230 | |
| 2 | Houma | $100,260 | 150 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Southwest Louisiana run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $93,980 goes as far as $106,553 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 2.7% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$93,980as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$106,553US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $93,980 a year, 14.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $83,210 to $204,890 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New Orleans, at $132,710.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Ship Engineers in Southwest Louisiana, LA?
The median annual wage is $93,980, or $45.18 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 Southwest Louisiana, LA is 14.2% lower. 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 Southwest Louisiana, LA earns more than $204,890 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $83,210 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in New Orleans, at $132,710 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Southwest Louisiana, LA. Self-employed workers are not included.
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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