Marine Engineers and Naval Architects: Job Description
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
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What Tasks Do Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Take On?
Typical responsibilities of marine engineers and naval architects cover:
- 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.
- 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.
- Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.
Skills and Knowledge
Effective marine engineers and naval architects draw on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Job Titles
This career also goes by job titles like:
- Architect Specialist
- Automation Engineer
- Boat Designer
- Consulting Marine Engineer
- Engineer
- Engineering Specialist
- Marine Architect
- Marine Civil Engineer
Job Outlook
There are roughly 242,075 marine engineers and naval architects working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +11.6% over the projection horizon.
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $121,581 |
| Hourly median | $58.45 |
| 10th percentile | $83,773 |
| 25th percentile | $102,677 |
| 75th percentile | $140,484 |
| 90th percentile | $159,388 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $166,750 |
| California | $128,750 |
| Texas | $128,470 |
| Maryland | $121,890 |
| South Carolina | $119,990 |
| Florida | $118,200 |
| New Jersey | $109,810 |
| New York | $109,040 |
| Washington | $107,100 |
| Louisiana | $106,500 |
| Hawaii | $102,190 |
| Virginia | $100,630 |
| Maine | $99,330 |
| Mississippi | $99,130 |
| Tennessee | $95,260 |
| Massachusetts | $93,490 |
| Michigan | $82,070 |
| Wisconsin | $78,950 |
| Georgia | $77,970 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Earnings for marine engineers and naval architects differ across the country. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest | $128,470 | 10.3% | 0.75 |
| Far Western US | $113,021 | 11.6% | 1.52 |
| Middle Atlantic | $106,861 | 18.5% | 4.91 |
| Southeast | $104,246 | 51.8% | 5.88 |
| New England | $99,330 | 5.6% | 9.03 |
| Great Lakes | $79,990 | 2.2% | 0.40 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $160,100 | 640 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $148,650 | 50 |
| Jacksonville, FL | FL | $135,850 | |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | SC | $134,430 | 40 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | FL | $131,820 | 210 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | TX | $128,470 | 470 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | CA | $128,420 | 80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $118,810 |
Industry Breakdown
The largest employers of marine engineers and naval architects are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 4,430 | $101,820 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 2,290 | $110,680 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 380 | $106,500 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 90 | $126,780 |
| Educational Services | 40 | $89,390 |
Below are examples of industries where marine engineers and naval architects work:
Software Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Use
- Document management software: Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Dassault Systemes SolidWorks (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software: SAP software (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: The MathWorks MATLAB (hot technology)
Work Environment
Daily working conditions for marine engineers and naval architects reflects the following characteristics:
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Telephone Conversations
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How to Become Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
Entry-level marine engineers and naval architects positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Architectural and Engineering Managers (Supplemental)
- Aerospace Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Civil Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Electrical Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Industrial Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Mechanical Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Short)
- Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Aspiring marine engineers and naval architects commonly pursue programs in:
Engineering
1 programs across 1 majors
References
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 17-2121.00 (Marine Engineers and Naval Architects).
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