How Much Do Marine Engineers Earn?

Marine engineers design ships, docks and oceanography equipment.

The salary of a marine engineer depends on his education and level of experience. Marine engineering includes naval engineering, the design of floating and oceanographic equipment, and naval architecture, the design of ships and submarines. There were about 5,000 marine engineers in the United States in 2008, according to "Engineering: What Can I Do Now?" by Ferguson books.

Marine Engineer Salary Range

The 2010 edition of the "Occupational Outlook Handbook" by the Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the lowest-paid 10 percent of marine engineers earned $43,070 per year. The highest-paid 10 percent earned $118,630. The median salary for marine engineers in 2008 was $74,140.

Civil Engineers as Marine Engineers

Some marine engineers have civil engineering degrees. According to "Green Jobs for a New Economy" by Therese DeAngelis, the mean salary of a civil engineer, including civil engineers specializing in marine engineering, was $78,560 per year in 2008.

Marine Architects

Architects who design buildings, platforms and construction projects for the ocean environment can be called marine engineers. Architects, including marine architects, make from $50,000 to $75,000 a year, as of 2005, according to "Your Dream Career for Dummies" by Carol McClelland and Richard Bolles.

References

• "Occupational Outlook Handbook"; United States Bureau of Labor Statistics; 2010
• "Your Dream Career for Dummies"; Carol McClelland, Richard Bolles; 2005
• "Green Jobs for a New Economy"; Therese DeAngelis; 2009
• "Engineering: What Can I Do Now?"; Ferguson Books; 2007

Resources

• "Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation"; Adam Weintrit; 2009
• Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Home Page