Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salary by state
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
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About this role
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects is a professional role within the function in the Architecture and Engineering job family.
Typical entry preparation: Bachelor's Degree and up to 2 years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.
Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.
Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.
Top skills:Critical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingJudgment and Decision Making
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects pay by experience level
Entry level$86,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$102,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$116,000
Mid-career median pay
Senior$142,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$179,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+5.8%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
600
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salary by industry
Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
4,220 workers
$118,500
Ship and Boat Building
4,220 workers
$118,500
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
1,810 workers
$135,500
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services
1,290 workers
$133,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
1,100 workers
$136,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
1,030 workers
$136,500
Support Activities for Transportation
560 workers
$165,500
Support Activities for Water Transportation
520 workers
$167,500
Water Transportation
310 workers
$129,500
Deep Sea, Coastal, and Great Lakes Water Transportation
250 workers
$132,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Pay trend
National median annual wage, 2020 to 2025: $95,440 to $112,230.
+17.6% over this period
Medians as published each May in the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics national estimates. Nominal dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS.
Pay by experience level
How annual pay for this occupation spreads from newcomers to the highest paid, aged to 2026.
Entry10th percentile
$86,000
Early career25th percentile
$102,500
Median50th percentile
$116,000
Experienced75th percentile
$142,500
Top earners90th percentile
$179,500
Bands are the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages for this occupation nationally. Percentiles reflect the full mix of tenure, employer, and location, so they approximate but do not equal years of experience. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS national estimates.
Where this job pays most
Top-paying states for this occupation, average annual wage aged to 2026.
State averages for this occupation from the BLS OEWS state estimates. Cost of living differs by state; a higher wage does not always mean more buying power.
The abilities employers and analysts most associate with this occupation.
Critical ThinkingComplex Problem SolvingReading ComprehensionWritingSpeakingJudgment and Decision Making
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, O*NET occupational database.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.
Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.
Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Pay outlook
Five-year pay outlook for this title
2026$128,500
2027$133,000
2028$137,500
2029$142,500
2030$147,500
2031$152,500
Projection assumes market wages keep rising about 3.5% a year, consistent with recent wage growth measured by the BLS Employment Cost Index. It reflects market movement for the title, not individual raises or promotions, which vary.
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Sources and assumptions
Modeled market estimate, aged to 2026. Underlying source families are BLS OEWS May 2025 for BLS-mapped occupations and the 2018–19 collection for corporate titles. Annual aging is compounded at approximately 3–4%; geographic, industry and company-size repricing are modeled. See the role details and methodology for the applicable source and assumptions.
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How much does a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects make?
The median market pay for a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in the United States is about $128,500 per year in 2026, based on WePayFairly's market model.
What is the salary range for a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects?
Most Marine Engineers and Naval Architects pay falls between about $102,500 (25th percentile) and $142,500 (75th percentile), with top earners above $179,500.
What does a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects do?
Core responsibilities include: perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives; and design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
Is pay for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects roles growing?
Yes. The national median wage for this occupation moved from $95,440 in 2020 to $112,230 in 2025, a change of +17.6% in nominal dollars.
How this role compares
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects pays 19% above the average across 59 roles in the Architecture and Engineering job family (family average $108,000).
Similar-paying roles in Architecture and Engineering
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects make?
The average base salary for a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in the United States is $128,500 per year, or about $61.78 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $103,000 and $142,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Architecture and Engineering roles?
The Architecture and Engineering job family averages $108,000 across 59 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Marine Engineers and Naval Architects pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
