All About Marine Engineers
Job Description: Design, develop, and take responsibility for the installation of ship machinery and related equipment including propulsion machines and power supply systems.
Daily Life Of a Marine Engineer
- Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications.
- Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.
- Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.
- Design and oversee testing, installation, and repair of marine apparatus and equipment.
- Confer with research personnel to clarify or resolve problems and to develop or modify designs.
- Act as liaisons between ships' captains and shore personnel to ensure that schedules and budgets are maintained, and that ships are operated safely and efficiently.
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Skills Needed to be a Marine Engineer
Below is a list of the skills most Marine Engineers say are important on the job.
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.
Types of Marine Engineer
- Ships Equipment Engineer
- Marine Surveyor
- Marine Consultant
- Port Engineer
- Project Engineer
Job Opportunities for Marine Engineers
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. There will be an estimated 600 positions for Marine Engineer per year.

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.
How Much Does a Marine Engineer Make?
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 different U.S. states?
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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Marine Engineers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Marine Engineers:
- 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 many years of work experience do I need?

Where Marine Engineers Work

Below are examples of industries where Marine Engineers work:

Similar Careers
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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