Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
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Marine engineers and naval architects work in a specialized field that combines mathematics, science, and creative problem solving. This career offers a national median salary of $105,670 and national employment of about 8,000 positions, reflecting a relatively focused profession. Projected employment growth of 5.8% and around 1,000 annual openings suggest steady movement in the job market, including new roles and replacement needs. People in this field rely on strong critical and analytical thinking, along with being detail oriented and innovative. Communication skills in writing, reading, speaking, and listening also play an important role, as does comfort with computers, information technology, and project management. For students and career changers who enjoy technical work, analytical reasoning, and structured problem solving, marine engineering and naval architecture can provide a highly technical, well-compensated path with defined educational expectations and clear opportunities across several states and major metro areas.
Marine engineers and naval architects earn a national median annual salary of $105,670, with several states and metro areas offering higher typical pay. Among the top states by opportunity score, Texas shows the highest median salary at $152,780, followed by Maryland at $130,150. New York, California, and Washington also report median salaries above $109,000, indicating strong earning potential in multiple regions. At the metro level, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV stands out with a median salary of $159,700, and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $140,520. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA has a median salary of $128,610, while New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA offer median salaries of $112,230 and $103,170 respectively. These figures show that pay can vary significantly by location, with some metros and states offering compensation notably above the national median.
Marine engineers and naval architects have national employment of about 8,000, with projected employment growth of 5.8%. This growth rate is consistent across the top states and metro areas listed, each showing the same 5.8% projection. The occupation is expected to generate about 1,000 annual openings, reflecting a combination of new positions and replacement of workers who leave the field. While the total employment base is relatively small compared with many other occupations, the combination of measurable growth and ongoing openings indicates a continuing need for qualified professionals. This environment can be attractive to individuals who want to enter a specialized field where both technical expertise and problem solving are central. For those already in related scientific or engineering roles, such as the listed similar occupations (industrial engineers, chemists, “engineers, all other,” food scientists and technologists, and physical scientists), this field may represent a defined path into a focused engineering specialty.
Career opportunities for marine engineers and naval architects show meaningful differences by state and metro area. Among states, California and New York have opportunity scores of 67.38 and 65.78, with median salaries of $110,700 and $112,230 and employment of about 250 in each. Washington has the highest state employment among the top states at 370, with a median salary of $109,550 and an opportunity score of 56.29. Maryland and Texas have somewhat lower opportunity scores (52.88 and 51.57) but notably higher median salaries of $130,150 and $152,780, with employment of 300 and 330 respectively. At the metro level, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ leads the opportunity scores at 77.27, with a median salary of $112,230 and employment of 250. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has the highest listed metro employment at 710 and a median salary of $159,700. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Seattle metros provide smaller employment bases but strong salaries and solid opportunity scores, giving candidates multiple geographic options.
The typical education requirement for marine engineers and naval architects is a bachelor’s degree. This level of education aligns with the occupation’s emphasis on technical and analytical skills. Core strengths for success in this field include mathematics and science, which support the quantitative and scientific aspects of the work. Critical and analytical thinking, along with problem solving and decision making, are important for tackling complex engineering challenges. Being detail oriented and having creativity and innovation help in developing and refining technical solutions. Strong writing and reading skills, as well as speaking and listening, support effective communication with colleagues and stakeholders. Comfort with computers and information technology, together with project management skills, rounds out the skill profile by enabling professionals to manage technical information and coordinate work over the life of a project. For students planning their path, building these competencies alongside a bachelor’s degree is central to preparing for this career.
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