Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$83,010
- 25th Percentile — Junior$99,250
- 50th Percentile — Median$112,230
- 75th Percentile — Senior$137,690
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$173,330
The top 10% of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects earn $173,330 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $83,010, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska (est.) | $163,918 | +32.0% |
| New Jersey (est.) | $158,950 | +28.0% |
| District of Columbia | $156,300 | +25.9% |
| Texas | $153,350 | +23.5% |
| Connecticut (est.) | $151,500 | +22.0% |
| Rhode Island (est.) | $142,807 | +15.0% |
| New Hampshire (est.) | $141,565 | +14.0% |
| Oregon (est.) | $139,082 | +12.0% |
| Colorado (est.) | $136,598 | +10.0% |
| Virginia (est.) | $136,598 | +10.0% |
| Maryland | $136,260 | +9.7% |
| Vermont (est.) | $134,114 | +8.0% |
| Florida | $133,820 | +7.8% |
| Delaware (est.) | $130,389 | +5.0% |
| Illinois (est.) | $130,389 | +5.0% |
| Massachusetts | $128,580 | +3.5% |
| Nevada (est.) | $126,664 | +2.0% |
| South Carolina | $125,430 | +1.0% |
| Minnesota (est.) | $124,180 | +0.0% |
| Utah (est.) | $124,180 | +0.0% |
| Arizona (est.) | $122,938 | -1.0% |
| Pennsylvania (est.) | $122,938 | -1.0% |
| New York | $122,230 | -1.6% |
| California | $118,380 | -4.7% |
| Montana (est.) | $117,971 | -5.0% |
| Idaho (est.) | $115,487 | -7.0% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $115,487 | -7.0% |
| Washington | $114,400 | -7.9% |
| North Dakota (est.) | $114,246 | -8.0% |
| North Carolina (est.) | $113,004 | -9.0% |
| Louisiana (est.) | $109,278 | -12.0% |
| Nebraska (est.) | $109,278 | -12.0% |
| New Mexico (est.) | $109,278 | -12.0% |
| Ohio (est.) | $109,278 | -12.0% |
| Tennessee (est.) | $109,278 | -12.0% |
| Hawaii | $108,120 | -12.9% |
| Alabama (est.) | $108,037 | -13.0% |
| Missouri (est.) | $108,037 | -13.0% |
| South Dakota (est.) | $108,037 | -13.0% |
| Iowa (est.) | $106,795 | -14.0% |
| Indiana (est.) | $105,553 | -15.0% |
| Kansas (est.) | $105,553 | -15.0% |
| Maine | $105,420 | -15.1% |
| Oklahoma (est.) | $104,311 | -16.0% |
| Arkansas (est.) | $103,069 | -17.0% |
| Kentucky (est.) | $103,069 | -17.0% |
| Mississippi | $98,740 | -20.5% |
| Georgia | $97,080 | -21.8% |
| West Virginia (est.) | $96,860 | -22.0% |
| Michigan | $87,040 | -29.9% |
| Wisconsin | $82,300 | -33.7% |
What Factors Affect Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: District of Columbia pays an average of $156,300, while Wisconsin pays $82,300 — a gap of $74,000 per year.
The middle half of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects earn between $99,250 and $137,690 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $83,010, while the top 10% earn more than $173,330.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Mechanical Engineers $113,610/yr United States 8.5% vs this role
- Civil Engineers $108,670/yr United States 12.5% vs this role
- Electrical Engineers $125,100/yr United States +0.7% vs this role
- Industrial Engineers $109,900/yr United States 11.5% vs this role
- Aerospace Engineers $142,060/yr United States +14.4% vs this role
- Chemical Engineers $129,980/yr United States +4.7% vs this role
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States 18.3% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States +10.6% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects?
The average salary for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in the United States is $124,180 per year, with a median of $112,230.
What is the starting salary for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects?
Entry-level Marine Engineers and Naval Architects typically earn between $83,010 and $99,250 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Marine Engineers and Naval Architects the most?
District of Columbia pays Marine Engineers and Naval Architects the most at $156,300 per year on average, followed by Texas ($153,350) and Maryland ($136,260).
How much do Marine Engineers and Naval Architects make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $124,180, Marine Engineers and Naval Architects earn approximately $59.7 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Marine Engineers and Naval Architects a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 8,250 Marine Engineers and Naval Architects jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $124,180 and a median of $112,230 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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