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Related career paths that build on similar skills and experience
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Transfers producibility, shipyard processes, fixtures, quality issues, suppliers, cost constraints, and design-for-build review.
Why it fits
Directly reuses mechanical design, propulsion, power systems, CAD, calculations, testing, materials, and technical documentation.
Why it fits
Fits engineers focused on ship power, efficiency, fuel use, propulsion energy, audits, models, and performance improvements.
Why it fits
Fits senior engineers using design review, vessel programs, budgets, schedules, standards, clients, and technical staff coordination.
Occupation snapshot
What does this snowflake show?
What's this?
We rate jobs using four factors. These are:
- Chance of being automated
- Job growth
- Wages
- Volume of available positions
These are some key things to think about when job hunting.
Risk & user votes
Calculated automation risk
Minimal Risk (0-20%): This occupation appears difficult to replace end-to-end with current or near-future automation, including AI software and robotics. Roles in this range usually depend on human judgement, creativity, care, leadership, specialist expertise, or adapting to messy real-world situations. AI and machines may still change parts of the work, but the occupation is likely to remain a distinct human role.
More information on what this score is, and how it is calculated is available here.
Human strengths important in this job
These are human abilities and work contexts that are important in this occupation. They may help explain why parts of the role are harder to replace end-to-end, but they are not the only inputs into the automation score.
Decision-making and problem solving
Very importantWhy this matters
Thinking creatively
Quite importantWhy this matters
Managing and developing people
Quite importantWhy this matters
Social perceptiveness
Quite importantWhy this matters
Communicating with people outside the organization
Quite importantWhy this matters
Show 3 more strengths
Consulting and advising others
Quite importantWhy this matters
Active learning
Quite importantWhy this matters
Education and training expertise
Quite importantWhy this matters
What users think
Based on 174 votes
Our visitors have voted there's a low chance this occupation will be automated. This assessment is further supported by the calculated automation risk level, which estimates 12% chance of automation.
What do you think the risk of automation is?
What is the likelihood that Marine Engineers and Naval Architects will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence within the next 20 years?
Sentiment
Based on user votes over time
View sentiment trend
How opinions have changed over time
Pay & outlook
Wages
In 2024, the median annual wage for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects was $105,670 ($51 per hour).
The median annual wage for Marine Engineers and Naval Architects was 113.5% higher than the national median annual wage, which stood at $49,500.
View wage trend
Wages over time
Growth
The number of 'Marine Engineers and Naval Architects' job openings is expected to rise 5.8% by 2034
View employment trend
Total employment, and estimated job openings
Updated projections are due 09-2025.
Volume
As of 2024 there were 8,440 people employed as 'Marine Engineers and Naval Architects' within the United States.
This represents around < 0.001% of the employed workforce across the country
Put another way, around 1 in 18 thousand people are employed as 'Marine Engineers and Naval Architects'.
People also viewed
Job description
Design, develop, and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery, and related equipment, such as power supply and propulsion systems.
O*NET-SOC code: 17-2121.00
What people are saying (3)
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