What Do Marine Engineer Do?
Marine Engineer Job Description Design, develop, and take responsibility for the installation of ship machinery and related equipment including propulsion machines and power supply systems.
Life As a Marine Engineer: What Do They Do?
- Investigate and observe tests on machinery and equipment for compliance with standards.
- Procure materials needed to repair marine equipment and machinery.
- Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.
- Schedule machine overhauls and the servicing of electrical, heating, ventilation, refrigeration, water, and sewage systems.
- Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications.
- Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions.
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Marine Engineer Skills
Marine Engineers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Other Marine Engineer Job Titles
- Project Engineer
- Ship Surveyor
- Structural Designer
- Marine Service Engineer
- Marine Equipment Design Engineer
Marine Engineer Employment Estimates
There were about 8,200 jobs for Marine Engineer in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,000 new jobs for Marine Engineer by 2026. The BLS estimates 600 yearly job openings in this field.

The states with the most job growth for Marine Engineer are Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Virginia. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Do Marine Engineers Make A Lot Of Money?
The salary for Marine Engineers ranges between about $65,090 and $148,950 a year.

Marine Engineers who work in California, District of Columbia, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Marine Engineers make in each U.S. state?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alaska | $116,100 |
California | $126,140 |
District of Columbia | $118,090 |
Florida | $94,310 |
Hawaii | $78,980 |
Louisiana | $106,850 |
Maryland | $114,010 |
Massachusetts | $75,110 |
Mississippi | $106,130 |
Missouri | $81,590 |
New Jersey | $93,770 |
New York | $120,860 |
Texas | $92,830 |
Virginia | $91,480 |
Washington | $91,670 |
What Tools & Technology do Marine Engineers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Marine Engineers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
- PTC Creo Parametric
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- Oracle Primavera Systems
- ANSYS FLUENT
- McNeel Rhino software
- Siemens PLM Software Solid Edge
- MSC Software Nastran
- Siemens PLM Software NX
- Autodesk Algor Simulation
Becoming a Marine Engineer
Individuals working as a Marine Engineer have obtained the following education levels:

How Long Does it Take to Become a Marine Engineer?

Where Marine Engineers Work

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those interested in being a Marine Engineer may also be interested in:
References:
Image Credit: U.S. Navy via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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