Marine engineers and naval architects
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
Marine engineers and naval architects design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems. The role reports a median annual salary of $105,670 in the US and is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.43 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £51,110 a year for Mechanical engineers (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
Middle half of full-time jobs: £39,125 to £62,237 a year
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2122). ONS rates this estimate precise. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Marine engineers and naval architects, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
The usual route into this career in India. Each step links to the official page it comes from.
- 1 · Entrance exam IMU-CET (Indian Maritime University) or JEE for naval architecture seats[1][2]
- 2 · Qualification B.Tech in Naval Architecture & Ocean Engineering (4 years), or B.Tech Marine Engineering[1][2]
- 3 · Entrance exam GATE for M.Tech admission or for recruitment by public sector undertakings (PSUs) that use GATE scores[3]
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- Indian Maritime University — Prospectus 2026-27 (read on 2026-09-27)
- JEE (Advanced) 2026 Information Brochure (read on 2026-09-27)
- GATE 2027 — IIT Madras (organising institute) (read on 2026-09-27)
Entrance exams on this route — Dates, eligibility and cut-offs for the exams on the way to this career:
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Engineering and Technology
- Mechanical
- Design
- English Language
- Transportation
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Building and Construction
What you'd actually do
- Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
- Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
- Conduct analyses of ships, such as stability, structural, weight, and vibration analyses.
- Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.
- Maintain contact with, and formulate reports for, contractors and clients to ensure completion of work at minimum cost.
- Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies to ensure repairs and alterations are at minimum cost and consistent with safety.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Marine engineers and naval architects do?
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
How much does Marine engineers and naval architects earn?
The median annual salary for Marine engineers and naval architects in the US is $105,670.
What is the job outlook for Marine engineers and naval architects?
The role is projected to grow 6% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 8,500 workers.
How do I become marine engineers and naval architects?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Marine engineers and naval architects need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Complex Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking, Writing. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Marine engineers and naval architects?
Our AI-durability model gives Marine engineers and naval architects a score of 0.43 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Marine engineers and naval architects has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.