How much do Marine Engineers and Naval Architects make?
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects earn a median annual salary of $112,230 in the United States, which works out to roughly $53.96 per hour for full-time work. Most earn between $83,010 at the entry level and $173,330 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $99,250 and $137,690 a year.
That is $50,840 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salary range by percentile
Half of all Marine Engineers and Naval Architects earn between $99,250 and $137,690 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,010 | $39.91 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $99,250 | $47.72 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $112,230 | $53.96 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $137,690 | $66.20 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,330 | $83.33 |
Highest-paying states for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. District of Columbia leads the country for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects pay at $172,330 a year, followed by Texas ($152,780) and South Carolina ($136,990). At the other end, Michigan posts the lowest median at $76,210 — a gap of $96,120 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $172,330 | $82.85 | +54% |
| 2 | Texas | $152,780 | $73.45 | +36% |
| 3 | South Carolina | $136,990 | $65.86 | +22% |
| 4 | Florida | $130,640 | $62.81 | +16% |
| 5 | Maryland | $130,150 | $62.57 | +16% |
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 15 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 8,000 people work as Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $124,180 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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Other engineering roles with similar pay.