Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
SOC code 17-2121 · O*NET-SOC 17-2121.00 · Considerable preparation needed · Science and engineering
Bright Outlook — O*NET expects rapid growth for this occupation
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects pay
U.S. national figures, May 2025 BLS survey · How we got this number
Median pay
$112,230
a year
Hourly
$53.96
per hour
The solid band is the middle 50% of workers; the bar spans the 10th to 90th percentile.
Average pay
$124,180
$59.70 per hour
Middle 50%
$99,250 – $137,690
25th to 75th percentile
Full spread
$83,010 – $173,330
10th to 90th percentile
People employed
8,250
nationwide
National U.S. figure, May 2025. Local pay can be higher or lower.
- 10th percentile
- $83,010
- $39.91/hr
- 25th percentile
- $99,250
- $47.71/hr
- Median percentile
- $112,230
- $53.96/hr
- 75th percentile
- $137,690
- $66.20/hr
- 90th percentile
- $173,330
- $83.33/hr
Job outlook · federal projection 2024–34
+6%
Growing faster than average
8,500
jobs in 2024
9,000
projected for 2034
About 500 more jobs
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projections, 2024–34. Projections describe the broader occupation group and are estimates, not guarantees.
What do marine engineers and naval architects do?
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
The tasks that matter most day to day
- Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
- Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
- Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.
- Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.
- Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.
- Supervise other engineers and crew members and train them for routine and emergency duties.
- Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.
- Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.
How to qualify for this work
Most people in this role hold bachelor's degree — 53% of workers surveyed reported it as their level of education.
Preparation level: zone 4 — Considerable preparation needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education reported by people doing this job
- Bachelor's Degree53%
- Post-Secondary Certificate16%
- Some College Courses11%
- First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession.11%
Common questions
How much does a marine engineers and naval architects earn?
The national median is $112,230 a year. The full range runs from $83,010 at the 10th percentile to $173,330 at the 90th — entry pay sits closer to the lower figure, and experience, licensing and specialisation move you up the range.
Can you become a marine engineers and naval architects without a degree?
Not usually — this occupation sits in preparation zone 4, where the typical entry route is most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. The education breakdown above shows what people in the role actually reported.
Is marine engineers and naval architects in demand?
Federal projections expect employment to grow by about 6% between 2024 and 2034 — growing faster than average. Openings also come from people retiring or changing jobs, which the growth figure does not count.
Skills and knowledge you need
Core skills
- Critical Thinking4.1/5
- Reading Comprehension3.9/5
- Active Listening3.8/5
- Writing3.8/5
- Speaking3.8/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Science3.5/5
- Active Learning3.5/5
Knowledge areas
- Engineering and Technology4.3/5
- Mechanical4.2/5
- Design4.0/5
- English Language4.0/5
- Transportation3.7/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Physics3.6/5
- Building and Construction3.6/5
Transferable strengths: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making.