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.
AI Impact Summary
Ship Engineers faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 28/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 30% of all analyzed occupations. Of 17 analyzed tasks, 5 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.
Skill Impact Analysis
AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
AI-Resistant Skills (11)
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
Recommended Courses
Courses matched to Ship Engineers skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.
Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.
Upskill to Reduce Risk
Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills
SQL Fundamentals Skill Track
by DataCamp
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Google UX Design Professional Certificate
by Google
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.
Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.
Education & Training
Percentage of workers at each education and training level
Education Level
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
How AI Impacts Each Task
17 tasks analyzed
Start engines to propel ships and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers.
Maintain or repair engines, electric motors, pumps, winches, or other mechanical or electrical equipment or assist other crew members with maintenance or repair duties.
Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required.
Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff.
Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations.
Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks.
Maintain electrical power, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, or sewerage systems.
Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified.
Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed.
Install engine controls, propeller shafts, or propellers.
Record orders for changes in ship speed or direction and note gauge readings or test data, such as revolutions per minute or voltage output, in engineering logs or bellbooks.
Clean engine parts and keep engine rooms clean.
Operate or maintain off-loading liquid pumps or valves.
Supervise the activities of marine engine technicians engaged in the maintenance or repair of mechanical or electrical marine vessels and inspect their work to ensure that it is performed properly.
Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts, maintain inventories, and record usage of supplies.
Fabricate engine replacement parts, such as valves, stay rods, or bolts, using metalworking machinery.
Act as a liaison between a ship's captain and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained and that the ship is operated safely and efficiently.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start engines to propel ships and regulate engines and power transmissions to control speeds of ships, according to directions from captains or bridge computers. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Maintain or repair engines, electric motors, pumps, winches, or other mechanical or electrical equipment or assist other crew members with maintenance or repair duties. | 10Estimated | 13.0% | 15% | |
| Perform or participate in emergency drills, as required. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 2% | |
| Monitor engine, machinery, or equipment indicators when vessels are underway and report abnormalities to appropriate shipboard staff. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 10% | |
| Maintain complete records of engineering department activities, including machine operations. | 92Estimated | 86.0% | 5% | |
| Perform general marine vessel maintenance or repair work, such as repairing leaks, finishing interiors, refueling, or maintaining decks. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 10% | |
| Maintain electrical power, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, or sewerage systems. | 5Estimated | 11.0% | 10% | |
| Monitor and test operations of engines or other equipment so that malfunctions and their causes can be identified. | 65Estimated | 53.0% | 8% | |
| Monitor the availability, use, or condition of lifesaving equipment or pollution preventatives to ensure that international regulations are followed. | 70Estimated | 77.2% | 3% | |
| Install engine controls, propeller shafts, or propellers. | 0Estimated | 9.0% | 4% | |
| Record orders for changes in ship speed or direction and note gauge readings or test data, such as revolutions per minute or voltage output, in engineering logs or bellbooks. | 95Estimated | 87.2% | 5% | |
| Clean engine parts and keep engine rooms clean. | 20Estimated | 41.0% | 5% | |
| Operate or maintain off-loading liquid pumps or valves. | 35Estimated | 47.0% | 5% | |
| Supervise the activities of marine engine technicians engaged in the maintenance or repair of mechanical or electrical marine vessels and inspect their work to ensure that it is performed properly. | 20Estimated | 23.0% | 5% | |
| Order and receive engine room stores, such as oil or spare parts, maintain inventories, and record usage of supplies. | 90Estimated | 85.2% | 3% | |
| Fabricate engine replacement parts, such as valves, stay rods, or bolts, using metalworking machinery. | 30Estimated | 21.0% | 3% | |
| Act as a liaison between a ship's captain and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained and that the ship is operated safely and efficiently. | 33.33Observed | 28.3% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 30.3%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
Wage & Employment (2024)
Median Wage
$101,320
per year
Mean Wage
$105,600
per year
Employment
9K
workers
Wage Range
$56,620 - $162,370
10th - 90th pct
Wage Distribution
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsRefrigeration Mechanics and Installers
16%Median salary: $59,810
Higher risk than 2% of other occupations
Municipal Firefighters
18%Median salary: $59,530
Higher risk than 3% of other occupations
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
22%Median salary: $78,680
Higher risk than 10% of other occupations
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers
22%Median salary: $92,560
Higher risk than 11% of other occupations
Commercial Divers
22%Median salary: $61,130
Higher risk than 12% of other occupations
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General
24%Median salary: $48,620
Higher risk than 16% of other occupations
Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
28%Median salary: $100,940
Higher risk than 28% of other occupations
Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators
39%Median salary: $58,260
Higher risk than 78% of other occupations
Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
40%Median salary: $85,750
Higher risk than 81% of other occupations
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
42%Median salary: $75,190
Higher risk than 85% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
Financial Managers
Recommendations
Skills to Develop
These skills are at risk from AI automation. Ship Engineers professionals should diversify beyond them.
- Information Ordering
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Reading Comprehension
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Mathematics
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
- Memorization
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
- Mathematics
Mathematics is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
Skills to Leverage
These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.
- Equipment Maintenance
Equipment Maintenance is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Adaptability/Flexibility
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Leadership
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Complex Problem Solving
Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
- Manual Dexterity
Manual Dexterity is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Tools to Adopt
AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.
- Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Monitoring
Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Writing
Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Judgment and Decision Making
Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
- Systems Analysis
Systems Analysis will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.
Score History
Risk score over 2 scoring runs
overall change
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