Marine Engineers and Naval Architects: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)
Architecture and Engineering · SOC 17-2121 · O*NET 17-2121.00
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects fall under the Architecture and Engineering category in the U.S. occupational classification. Marine Engineers and Naval Architects earn a median salary of $105,670 per year, ranking in the top 10% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +5.8% job growth through 2034, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.
What do marine engineers and naval architects earn?
The median annual wage for marine engineers and naval architects is $105,670. That puts marine engineers and naval architects at #78 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.
| 10th percentile (entry-level) | $79,700 |
| 25th percentile | $88,480 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $105,670 |
| 75th percentile | $133,780 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $167,660 |
| Median hourly wage | $50.80/hr |
Is marine engineers and naval architects a growing career?
The 10-year outlook for marine engineers and naval architects is +5.8%, projected to grow at roughly the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 8K positions in 2024 to 9K in 2034, a net change of 1K. Average growth signals a healthy, resilient occupation that mirrors broader U.S. employment trends. Job availability tends to track regional economic conditions.
What do marine engineers and naval architects do every day?
According to O*NET task surveys of working marine engineers and naval architects, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.
- 1.Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.
- 2.Evaluate performance of craft during dock and sea trials to determine design changes and conformance with national and international standards.
- 3.Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
- 4.Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
- 5.Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.
- 6.Establish arrangement of boiler room equipment and propulsion machinery, heating and ventilating systems, refrigeration equipment, piping, and other functional equipment.
- 7.Design and oversee testing, installation, and repair of marine apparatus and equipment.
- 8.Conduct environmental, operational, or performance tests on marine machinery and equipment.
Top skills for marine engineers and naval architects
O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.
What education does my child need to become marine engineers and naval architect?
The standard path into marine engineers and naval architects begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.
Based on O*NET surveys of incumbents — what people in this job actually have, not what employers list as required.
Related careers your child might also consider
How parents help teens explore careers like this
Solyo helps parents map a teen's interests to specific careers, then back to the colleges and majors that lead there. Salary, outlook, and education data come from BLS and O*NET — the same sources high school counselors use — but presented for the parent's planning lens, not the student's exploration view.
Common questions parents ask about marine engineers and naval architects
What is the median salary for marine engineers and naval architects?
The median annual salary for marine engineers and naval architects is $105,670 according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Is marine engineers and naval architects a growing career?
BLS projects +5.8% growth for marine engineers and naval architects from 2024 through 2034, which is average growth projected to grow at roughly the US average.
What education does my child need to become marine engineers and naval architect?
The typical entry path requires a bachelor's degree, plus any state licensure or certification specific to the role. Programs that align well with this career can be filtered inside Solyo's college search.
What careers are similar to marine engineers and naval architects?
Related occupations within the Architecture and Engineering category share education paths and skill profiles, so they're a useful starting set when a teen is uncertain. The "Related careers" section below lists nearby options.
Salary data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics program. Skills, tasks, and education distribution from the O*NET database. Job outlook from the BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 release.