USA Career Guide - Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

Education and Training Requirements for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in US

To work as marine engineer / naval architect in USA shipping companies one needs at least bachelor’s degree in marine engineering / naval architecture. Higher degree programs leading to award of masters and PhD degree are also offered through different institutions. Candidates from cooperative engineering program makes preferred choice among recruiters as this saves them a lot of resources in job training. Minimum qualification to join a course in marine engineering and naval architecture is high school with physics, chemistry and mathematics. Marine Engineering courses in United States are approved from ABET.

Industrial Overview

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics marine engineers and naval architects held 5,900 jobs in 2010. Industries employing the greatest numbers of marine engineers and naval architects in 2010 were the following:

• Architectural, engineering, and related services - 47%
• Federal government, excluding postal service - 17%
• Ship and boat building - 10%
• Other professional, scientific, and technical services     - 6%
• Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation - 4%

Job Prospects for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in the US

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment of marine engineers and naval architects is expected to grow 17 percent from 2010 to 2020, about as fast as the average for all occupations. US marine engineers work in offshore oil rigs; since more companies are coming up in drilling of oil and natural gas, the demand for qualified marine engineers is expected to be continue and even growing. The work opportunities of US marine engineers on overseas water vessels and oil and natural gas companies are also equally good. There is a huge demand to produce new sea vehicles and containers and hence need for qualified naval architect is also equally good as well as it is for marine engineers.

Pay of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in the US

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics the median annual wage of marine engineers and naval architects was $79,920 in May 2010. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of marine engineers and naval architects in May 2010 were the following:

• Federal government, excluding postal service - $100,750
• Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation - $88,930
• Architectural, engineering, and related services - $77,670
• Other professional, scientific, and technical services - $68,460
• Ship and boat building - $65,860