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The differences between engine room operators and shift engineers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an engine room operator and a shift engineer. Additionally, a shift engineer has an average salary of $91,237, which is higher than the $37,546 average annual salary of an engine room operator.
The top three skills for an engine room operator include troubleshoot, math and safety procedures. The most important skills for a shift engineer are HVAC, preventive maintenance, and plumbing.
| Engine Room Operator | Shift Engineer | |
| Yearly salary | $37,546 | $91,237 |
| Hourly rate | $18.05 | $43.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 61,977 | 31,693 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An Engine Room Operator is one who operates and monitors the engines of a ship. This person is responsible for inspecting the engine, managing its operation, and reporting immediately any problems and requests for repairs, troubleshoots, and upgrades for the engine. The maintenance inside the engine room is essential for the continued operation of the ship. Included in the responsibilities is ensuring the engine area's safety and its personnel from any problems, such as fires, preventable mishaps, and accidents.
A shift engineer conducts maintenance operations and ensures a company's engineering policies are upheld. They supervise a team, perform preventative maintenance, take orders, keep records, and control inventory. This position requires good communication skills, time management skills, and previous experience in the field.
Engine room operators and shift engineers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Engine Room Operator | Shift Engineer | |
| Average salary | $37,546 | $91,237 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $49,000 | Between $64,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Bristol-Myers Squibb |
| Best paying industry | - | Technology |
There are a few differences between an engine room operator and a shift engineer in terms of educational background:
| Engine Room Operator | Shift Engineer | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | Bachelor's Degree, 64% |
| Most common major | Business | Mechanical Engineering |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between engine room operators' and shift engineers' demographics:
| Engine Room Operator | Shift Engineer | |
| Average age | 50 | 50 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 55.7% Female, 44.3% | Male, 95.5% Female, 4.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.3% Asian, 7.7% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% | Black or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 7.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |