Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salary in the U.S.
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in the U.S. earn a median of $112,230 a year ($53.96 an hour), based on BLS data for 8,250 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,330 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $124,180, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for marine engineers and naval architects in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,010 | $39.91 |
| 25th percentile | $99,250 | $47.71 |
| Median | $112,230 | $53.96 |
| 75th percentile | $137,690 | $66.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,330 | $83.33 |
| Average (mean) | $124,180 | $59.70 |
Half of marine engineers and naval architects earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $9,352.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,676.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,316.54 |
| Weekly | $2,158.27 |
| Hourly | $53.96 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | n/a |
| New York | $112,230 | 250 |
| California | $110,700 | 250 |
| Washington | $109,550 | 370 |
| Hawaii | $108,200 | 120 |
| Maine | $100,430 | 260 |
| Georgia | $97,770 | 40 |
| Mississippi | $97,060 | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $78,850 | 80 |
| Michigan | $76,210 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for marine engineers and naval architects
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $159,700 | 710 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $144,120 | n/a |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $140,520 | 50 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $135,270 | n/a |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $132,250 | n/a |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $128,610 | 150 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $118,100 | 90 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $113,940 | 80 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $112,230 | 250 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | $108,200 | 120 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $107,020 | n/a |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | $106,250 | 180 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | $104,850 | 230 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $103,170 | 80 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | $97,310 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most marine engineers and naval architects
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 710 | $159,700 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 250 | $112,230 |
| Portland-South Portland, ME | 230 | $104,850 |
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA | 180 | $106,250 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 150 | $128,610 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | 120 | $108,200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 90 | $118,100 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 80 | $113,940 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 80 | $103,170 |
| Gulfport-Biloxi, MS | 60 | $97,310 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 50 | $140,520 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineer | $100,840 | $48.48 |
| Industrial Engineer | $102,440 | $49.25 |
| Mechanical Engineer | $104,110 | $50.05 |
| Electrical Engineer | $120,630 | $58.00 |
| Engineers, All Other | $122,930 | $59.10 |
| Electronics Engineers, Except Computer | $130,220 | $62.60 |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $161,740 | $77.76 |
| Aerospace Engineer | $134,960 | $64.89 |
| Environmental Engineer | $107,110 | $51.50 |
| Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | $109,370 | $52.58 |
| Materials Engineer | $112,860 | $54.26 |
| Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors | $115,160 | $55.36 |
| Chemical Engineer | $125,040 | $60.12 |
| Petroleum Engineer | $144,910 | $69.67 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 17-2121. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a marine engineers and naval architects make in the U.S.?
The median salary for marine engineers and naval architects in the U.S. is $112,230 a year, or $53.96 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,010 for the lowest-paid 10% to $173,330 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid marine engineers and naval architects make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of marine engineers and naval architects in the U.S. earn at least $173,330 a year. The top 25% earn $137,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for marine engineers and naval architects in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,010 a year, and a quarter of marine engineers and naval architects earn $99,250 or less.
How many marine engineers and naval architects work in the U.S.?
About 8,250 marine engineers and naval architects are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.