Marine Engineer
Also known as: Trainee Marine Engineer · Junior Engineer · Fourth Engineer
Operates and maintains a ship's engines and machinery, rising through MEO certificate grades.
What you’d do
A marine engineer runs and maintains a ship's main engines, generators, pumps and other machinery. Shipping companies and ship-management firms hire them for contracts at sea. A typical day involves engine room watches, planned maintenance, repairs and record-keeping.
- Keep engine-room watches
- Maintain engines, pumps and generators
- Fix machinery faults at sea
- Record fuel, oil and machinery logs
How you get in
After Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths, join a DG Shipping-approved marine engineering course (entry often through IMU-CET), or take the Graduate Marine Engineering course after a Mechanical degree. You sail as an engine cadet to build sea time, then pass the MEO Class IV exams to become an officer.
Salary in India
Fresher salary over the years
middle of the 0–1 yr range, ₹ lakh a year
Fewer than two years of fresher data so far — the trend shows once there are two.
Skills you’ll use
From our guide · a curated list is coming
- Operating diesel engines, boilers and auxiliary machinery
- Fault finding and repair
- Planned maintenance and engine room records
- Safety and pollution-prevention rules
About this field · for freshers
Job openings by year
Is demand growing?
Not added yet.
Competition
How many graduates enter each year?
Not added yet.
Who hires
IT firms, banks, government, startups?
Not added yet.
Where the jobs are
Which cities?
Not added yet.
Women in the field
Is it diverse?
Not added yet.
At a glance
- Getting a cadet berth with a company is a common hurdle after the course.
- Long months at sea away from family are part of the job.
- Later moves ashore include technical superintendent, surveyor and shipyard roles.
- Engine rooms are hot and noisy; physical fitness matters.
Stay safe
No legitimate employer ever asks you to pay to get a job.