Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

Summary

What Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Do About this section

Marine engineers and naval architects may work directly on ships.

Marine engineers and naval architects design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.

Duties

Marine engineers and naval architects typically do the following:

• Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of a marine vessel, such as its size, weight, and speed
• Design ship hulls and superstructures, following standards for safety, efficiency and economy
• Prepare system layouts and detailed drawings and schematics
• Design and oversee the building and testing of prototypes and the installation and repair of marine equipment
• Conduct environmental, operational, or performance tests on marine machinery and equipment
• Prepare cost estimates, contract specifications, and design and construction schedules
• Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure that repairs and alterations are done safely and at minimal cost
• Prepare technical reports for use by engineers, managers, or sales personnel

Marine engineers and naval architects focus on the design and production processes of water vehicles. They also may work on offshore projects, such as oil rigs and wind turbines, or on coastal structures, such as ports and seawalls.

Responsibilities for marine engineers and naval architects vary by employer. For example, those who work for ship and boat building firms may design large or small vessels, such as passenger ships, cargo ships, and rowboats. In the federal government, they may design or test ships or systems for the Army, Navy, or Coast Guard.

Marine engineers should not be confused with ship engineers, who supervise the operation of a ship’s machinery. For more information about ship engineers, see the profile on water transportation workers.

Work Environment About this section

Marine engineers and naval architects may work in a variety of settings, including outdoors.

Marine engineers and naval architects held about 10,100 jobs in 2023. The largest employers of marine engineers and naval architects were as follows:

Marine engineers and naval architects may work in a variety of settings, such as in offices, on manufacturing shop floors, or at sea. Those who work on power generation projects, such as offshore oil rigs or wind turbines, may spend much of their time offshore. Those involved in projects on land, such as ports and seawalls, may work along the coast.

Work Schedules

Most marine engineers and naval architects work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules may vary. For example, marine engineers and naval architects who work at sea usually keep hours that are tied to the operation of the ship.

How to Become a Marine Engineer or Naval Architect About this section

Marine engineers and naval architects must give clear instructions and explain complex concepts when leading projects.

Marine engineers and naval architects typically need a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering, naval architecture, or a related field. Some marine engineering and naval architecture programs are offered at state maritime academies.

Education

High school students interested in becoming a marine engineer or naval architect should take classes in math, such as algebra, trigonometry, and calculus; and science, such as chemistry and physics. If available, drafting courses also may be helpful.

College students interested in this occupation typically pursue a degree in an engineering field. Programs in marine engineering and naval architecture usually include courses in computer-aided design, fluid mechanics, and marine structures. Students also may choose to participate in cooperative education programs or internships. Through partnerships with local businesses, these programs allow students to gain practical experience while they complete their education.

Some marine engineering and naval architecture programs are offered at maritime academies. For information about the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy or state maritime academies, visit the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The U.S. Naval Academy and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy also offer programs in marine engineering and naval architecture.

Employers may prefer to hire candidates who graduate from a program accredited by a professional association such as ABET.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) issued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Merchant marine academies may include an MMC with engineer endorsements as part of their bachelor’s degree track. For more information about Coast Guard credentials and endorsements, visit the U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center.

Licensure is not required for entry-level marine engineers or naval architects. Experienced engineers may obtain a Professional Engineer (PE) license, which allows them to oversee the work of other engineers, sign off on projects, and provide services directly to the public.

State licensure typically requires a bachelor’s or higher degree in engineering, a passing score on the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam, several years of relevant work experience, and a passing score on the PE exam.

Each state issues its own license. Most states recognize licensure from other states, as long as the licensing state’s requirements meet or exceed their own licensure requirements. Several states require continuing education for engineers to keep their licenses.

Advancement

Marine engineers and naval engineers may advance to become technical specialists or to supervise a team of naval architects, marine engineers, or technicians. They also may move into sales work. For more information, see the profiles on architectural and engineering managers and sales engineers.

Important Qualities

Attention to detail. Marine engineers and naval architects must be accurate and meticulous in designing drawings and schematics.

Communication skills. Marine engineers and naval architects must be able to give clear instructions and explain complex concepts when leading projects.

Critical-thinking skills. Marine engineers and naval architects need to anticipate and correct any deficiencies in a ship’s performance before it is built or set to sea.

Interpersonal skills. Marine engineers and naval architects may collaborate with workers from a variety of specialties or lead a team in building and testing prototypes. They should be able to develop a rapport with others to encourage cooperation.

Math skills. Marine engineers and naval architects use calculus, trigonometry, and other mathematics for analysis, design, and troubleshooting in their work.

Problem-solving skills. Marine engineers must troubleshoot issues that arise in designing systems and address them as safely and efficiently as possible.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for marine engineers and naval architects was $100,270 in May 2023. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $76,860, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $156,630.

In May 2023, the median annual wages for marine engineers and naval architects in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most marine engineers and naval architects work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Their schedules may vary. For example, marine engineers and naval architects who work at sea usually keep hours that are tied to the operation of the ship.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of marine engineers and naval architects is projected to grow 8 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 900 openings for marine engineers and naval architects are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Marine engineers and naval architects are expected to be needed to help design ships and port facilities that meet increasingly strict international emissions standards. In addition, as offshore wind energy projects become more feasible, marine engineers and naval architects are expected to be needed to provide expertise for the construction of wind platforms.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area.

• Marine engineers and naval architects

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about marine engineers and naval architects, visit

American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE)

Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA)

For more information about general engineering education and career resources, visit

American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)

Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation 

Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME)

For more information about accredited engineering programs, visit

ABET

O*NET

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects