If you're weighing a career in naval engineering -- or wondering whether your current paycheck stacks up -- the marine engineer salary picture in the United States is strong and getting stronger. The median marine engineer salary now sits above $105,000 per year, employment in the field is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations, and the highest earners clear $167,000 annually.

But averages only tell part of the story. Where you work, who you work for, and how far along you are in your career all move the needle significantly. Here's a detailed breakdown of what marine engineers and naval architects really earn, drawing on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and salary data aggregated from job postings.

What Is the Average Marine Engineer Salary?

According to the BLS, the median annual wage for marine engineers and naval architects was $105,670 in May 2024, or about $50.80 per hour. That figure puts the profession essentially on par with engineering as a whole, where the median across all engineering disciplines was $106,070 -- and more than double the $49,500 median for all U.S. occupations.

Job-posting data tells a similar story. Indeed reports an average base salary of $104,474 per year for marine engineers in the United States, based on 283 salaries pulled from job postings over the past 36 months (updated July 2026). Indeed's reported range runs from a low of roughly $67,800 to a high of about $161,000.

The close agreement between government survey data and job-market data is worth noting: whichever source you trust, a six-figure salary is the norm for this profession, not the exception.

Marine Engineer Salary Range: From Entry Level to Senior Roles

The BLS percentile data gives a useful sense of how earnings progress over a career:

• Lowest 10 percent: less than $79,700 per year
• Median (50th percentile): $105,670 per year
• Highest 10 percent: more than $167,660 per year

The lower end of that range generally reflects entry-level positions -- recent graduates with a bachelor's degree in marine engineering, naval architecture, or a related field, which is the typical educational requirement for the profession. Notably, the BLS lists no work experience or on-the-job training as typical requirements for entry, meaning new graduates can step directly into professional roles.

The upper end reflects senior engineers, technical leads, and specialists in high-demand niches. Put another way: even the bottom 10 percent of marine engineers out-earn the median American worker by a wide margin, and the career ceiling extends well past $160,000 before accounting for management tracks or executive roles.

Marine Engineer Salary by Industry and Employer Type

Where a marine engineer works matters as much as how long they've worked. BLS data from May 2024 breaks down median annual wages across the top industries employing marine engineers and naval architects:

A few takeaways stand out for anyone charting a naval engineering career:

Federal government roles pay the most. At a median of $124,090, federal positions top the industry list -- roughly $18,000 above the occupation-wide median. For naval engineers, this category includes Navy civilian positions at organizations such as Naval Sea Systems Command, the Navy's warfare centers, and public shipyards. Federal roles also typically come with government benefits and pension structures that job-posting salary figures don't capture.

Going to sea pays a premium. Water transportation -- the sector covering engineers who sail aboard commercial vessels -- posts a median of $122,370. Engineers working at sea usually keep hours tied to the operation of the ship, so the higher pay comes with a demanding schedule that can stretch well beyond a standard work week.

Shipbuilding pays below the occupational median. Ship and boat building, at $101,820, sits at the bottom of the top-four industries. Private shipbuilders employ large numbers of marine engineers and naval architects, and while the pay is still comfortably in six figures at the median, engineers focused purely on maximizing salary may find federal or consulting roles more lucrative. Professional, scientific, and technical services -- the category that includes engineering consultancies and design firms supporting shipbuilders and the Navy -- splits the difference at $110,680.

Where Marine Engineers Earn the Most

Geography plays a major role in marine engineer pay, and the highest-paying markets aren't always the ones you'd guess. According to Indeed's job-posting data, the top-paying U.S. cities for marine engineers are:

1. Houston, TX -- $155,202 per year
2. San Francisco, CA -- $147,892 per year
3. Washington, DC -- $120,805 per year
4. Baltimore, MD -- $116,327 per year
5. San Diego, CA -- $110,979 per year
6. Seattle, WA -- $109,026 per year
7. New York, NY -- $92,864 per year
8. Norfolk, VA -- $90,522 per year
9. Fort Lauderdale, FL -- $67,811 per year

Houston's position at the top reflects the offshore energy sector's appetite for marine engineering talent, while the Washington-Baltimore corridor's strong showing tracks with the concentration of Navy program offices, federal agencies, and defense contractors in the region.

The Norfolk figure deserves context. Hampton Roads is home to one of the largest concentrations of naval shipbuilding and ship repair activity in the country, and the region's lower cost of living relative to Washington, San Francisco, or Seattle means a $90,000 salary there can go further than a nominally higher salary in a top-five market. Salary comparisons across cities should always account for local cost of living.

Job Outlook: A Growing Field with Steady Openings

The earning picture is backed by a healthy demand forecast. The BLS projects employment of marine engineers and naval architects to grow 6 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. That growth adds about 500 jobs to a field that employed 8,500 people in 2024.

On top of new positions, the BLS projects about 600 openings per year on average over the decade, with many of those openings driven by the need to replace workers who retire or move to other occupations. For a relatively small profession, that replacement demand creates consistent opportunity for new graduates and mid-career engineers alike.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marine Engineer Salaries

How much does a marine engineer make per hour? The BLS median works out to $50.80 per hour as of May 2024, based on the annual median of $105,670.

Do marine engineers or naval architects earn more? The BLS groups marine engineers and naval architects together in its wage data, so official statistics don't distinguish between the two. Both share the same $105,670 median.

What degree do I need to earn a marine engineer salary? A bachelor's degree in marine engineering, naval architecture, or a related field is the typical entry-level education. No prior work experience is typically required for entry-level roles.

Is marine engineering a growing career? Yes. Projected employment growth of 6 percent from 2024 to 2034 outpaces the average for all occupations, with roughly 600 openings expected per year.

The Bottom Line

A marine engineer salary in the United States starts strong and climbs steadily: roughly $80,000 at the low end, a median above $105,000, and top earners exceeding $167,000. Federal government and seagoing roles command the highest medians, high-cost coastal markets and energy hubs pay the biggest premiums, and a growth rate that outpaces the broader economy means the demand side of the equation favors engineers for the decade ahead. For those considering the field -- or considering their next move within it -- the numbers make a compelling case that naval engineering rewards its practitioners well.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (May 2024 data); Indeed Career Explorer, Marine Engineer Salary in United States (updated July 2026).

Main image caption: U.S. Navy Machinists Mate 1st Class Andrew Mariano, left, and Fireman Miah Mancilla, both assigned to Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4), restow supplies after conducting oil testing in the ship’s oil lab, June 27, 2026. Boxer, flagship of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, is underway with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Eliora Sims)