Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for marine engineers and naval architects in the U.S. is $112,230 ($53.96 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $112,230
- Mean annual wage
- $124,180
- Median hourly wage
- $53.96
- Employment
- 8,250
8,250 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $83,010 | $39.91 |
| 25th percentile | $99,250 | $47.71 |
| Median (50th) | $112,230 | $53.96 |
| 75th percentile | $137,690 | $66.20 |
| 90th percentile | $173,330 | $83.33 |
Highest-paying states for marine engineers and naval architects
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $172,330 | 490 |
| Texas | $152,780 | 330 |
| South Carolina | $136,990 | 40 |
| Florida | $130,640 | 370 |
| Maryland | $130,150 | 300 |
| Massachusetts | $114,640 | — |
| New York | $112,230 | 250 |
| California | $110,700 | 250 |
| Washington | $109,550 | 370 |
| Hawaii | $108,200 | 120 |
Lowest-paying states
- Michigan: $76,210 median annual wage
- Wisconsin: $78,850 median annual wage
- Mississippi: $97,060 median annual wage
- Georgia: $97,770 median annual wage
- Maine: $100,430 median annual wage
About this occupation
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
Typical tasks
- Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
- Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications.
- Evaluate performance of craft during dock and sea trials to determine design changes and conformance with national and international standards.
- Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions.
- Conduct environmental, operational, or performance tests on marine machinery and equipment.
- Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.1% |
| Some college, no degree | 9.4% |
| Associate's degree | 7.2% |
| Bachelor's degree | 60.6% |
| Master's degree | 11.7% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 3.2% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Civil Engineers$100,840
- Industrial Engineers$102,440
- Mechanical Engineers$104,110
- Electrical Engineers$120,630
- Engineers, All Other$122,930
- Architects, Except Landscape and Naval$99,280
- Architectural and Civil Drafters$66,150
- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$130,220
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.