17 Series · SOC 17-2121

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$112,230
Median / year
$173,330
Top 10% earn
+5.8%
Growth '23–'33
8,250
US workers

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects earn a median of $112,230 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $112,230, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $83,010 (10th percentile) to $173,330 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 8,250 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($172,330), since pay varies by state and metro area.

17 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects earn a median of $112,230, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 89% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Architecture and Engineering, it ranks #11 of 36 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 5.8% by 2033.

$112,230
Median annual wage
Top 11%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#11 of 36
in Architecture and Engineering
2.1×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $172,330. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (SOC 17-2121) pays a national median of $112,230 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $83,010 at the 10th percentile to $173,330 at the 90th, with a mean of $124,180 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 8,250 Americans work in this occupation across 15 reporting states and 16 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a +5.8% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 600 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 2 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.5 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $172,330, which is +54% above the national figure. The top metro is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $159,700 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 8,250 jobs Median $112,230/yr

Median Salary

$112,230

per year

Median Hourly

$53.96/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$124,180

average

Employment

8,250

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Marine Engineers and Naval Architects pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$112,230 Top 11% higher than 89% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). This entry sits in this band. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 17-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Marine Engineers and Naval Architects; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Marine Engineers and Naval Architects sits on the faster-growing side at +5.8% growth and $112,230 median pay.

Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Marine Engineers and Naval Architects sits on the faster-growing side at +5.8% growth and $112,230 median pay. Scatter plot of 24 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000 -10%-5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 24 17-series occupations with growth data, Marine Engineers and Naval Architects sits on the faster-growing side at +5.8% growth and $112,230 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

+5.8%

About average

Annual Openings

600

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Bachelor's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

2/100K

Injury Rate

0.5/100

Danger Index

3/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Critical Thinking 4.1
Complex Problem Solving 4.1
Reading Comprehension 3.9
Active Listening 3.8
Writing 3.8
Speaking 3.8
Judgment and Decision Making 3.8
Mathematics 3.6
Science 3.5
Active Learning 3.5

Knowledge Areas

Engineering and Technology 4.3
Mechanical 4.2
Design 4.0
English Language 4.0
Transportation 3.7
Mathematics 3.6
Physics 3.6
Building and Construction 3.6
Computers and Electronics 3.5
Education and Training 3.3

Key Tasks

  • ▸ 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.
  • ▸ Supervise other engineers and crew members and train them for routine and emergency duties.
  • ▸ Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.
  • ▸ Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.
  • ▸ Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.
  • ▸ Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$83,010$99,250$112,230$137,690$173,330
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$39.91$47.71$53.96$66.20$83.33
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$83,010

25th Percentile

$99,250

Median

$112,230

75th Percentile

$137,690

90th Percentile

$173,330

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. District of Columbia $172,330 2. Texas $152,780 3. South Carolina $136,990 4. Florida $130,640 5. Maryland $130,150

Lowest Paying States

11. Michigan $76,210 12. Wisconsin $78,850 13. Mississippi $97,060 14. Georgia $97,770 15. Maine $100,430
View all 15 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 District of Columbia $172,330 +54% above national
2 Texas $152,780 +36% above national
3 South Carolina $136,990 +22% above national
4 Florida $130,640 +16% above national
5 Maryland $130,150 +16% above national
6 Massachusetts $114,640 +2% above national
7 New York $112,230 same as national
8 California $110,700 1% below national
9 Washington $109,550 2% below national
10 Hawaii $108,200 4% below national
11 Maine $100,430 11% below national
12 Georgia $97,770 13% below national
13 Mississippi $97,060 14% below national
14 Wisconsin $78,850 30% below national
15 Michigan $76,210 32% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $159,700 2. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $144,120 3. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $140,520 4. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $135,270 5. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $132,250

Lowest Paying Metros

12. Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $81,260 13. Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $97,310 14. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $103,170 15. Portland-South Portland, ME $104,850 16. Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $106,250
View all 16 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $159,700 +42% above national
2 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $144,120 +28% above national
3 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $140,520 +25% above national
4 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $135,270 +21% above national
5 Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $132,250 +18% above national
6 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $128,610 +15% above national
7 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $118,100 +5% above national
8 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $113,940 +2% above national
9 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $112,230 same as national
10 Urban Honolulu, HI $108,200 4% below national
11 Jacksonville, FL $107,020 5% below national
12 Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA $106,250 5% below national
13 Portland-South Portland, ME $104,850 7% below national
14 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $103,170 8% below national
15 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS $97,310 13% below national
16 Northeastern Wisconsin nonmetropolitan area $81,260 28% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 17 (architecture and engineering) with comparable pay and career paths.

Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians

SOC 17-3021

Aerospace Engineers

SOC 17-2011

Agricultural Engineers

SOC 17-2021

Architects, Except Landscape and Naval

SOC 17-1011

Architectural and Civil Drafters

SOC 17-3011
Compare Marine Engineers and Naval Architects side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects make? ▼
The median annual salary for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects is $112,230 ($53.96/hour). The salary range spans from $83,010 at the 10th percentile to $173,330 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Marine Engineers and Naval Architects the most? ▼
District of Columbia pays the highest median salary for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects at $172,330/year, which is +54% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects is Bachelor's degree.
How dangerous is being a Marine Engineers and Naval Architects? ▼
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 2 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.5 per 100 workers.
Is Marine Engineers and Naval Architects a good career? ▼
Employment for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects is projected to grow 5.8% from 2024 to 2034, which is about average. About 600 openings are projected each year.
How does Marine Engineers and Naval Architects pay vary by state? ▼
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is District of Columbia at $172,330/year, while Maine pays the least at $100,430/year. BLS data covers 15 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $159,700/year. BLS reports wage data for 16 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Marine Engineers and Naval Architects pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $137,690/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $172,330/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.