Life As a Marine Engineer
Job Description & Duties Design, develop, and take responsibility for the installation of ship machinery and related equipment including propulsion machines and power supply systems.
Daily Life Of a Marine Engineer
- Conduct environmental, operational, or performance tests on marine machinery and equipment.
- Inspect marine equipment and machinery to draw up work requests and job specifications.
- Prepare plans, estimates, design and construction schedules, and contract specifications, including any special provisions.
- Investigate and observe tests on machinery and equipment for compliance with standards.
- Maintain records of engineering department activities, including expense records and details of equipment maintenance and repairs.
- Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.
Marine Engineer Skills
Marine Engineers state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Types of Marine Engineer
- Supplier Quality Engineer (SQE)
- Naval Marine Engineer
- Port Engineer
- Marine Design Engineer
- Propulsion Machinery Service Engineer
Is There Job Demand for Marine Engineers?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 8,200 jobs in the United States for Marine Engineer. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,000 new jobs for Marine Engineer by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 600 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Marine Engineer are Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Virginia. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Marine Engineer
The average yearly salary of a Marine Engineer ranges between $65,090 and $148,950.
Marine Engineers who work in California, District of Columbia, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Marine Engineers make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alaska | $116,100 |
California | $126,140 |
District of Columbia | $118,090 |
Florida | $94,310 |
Hawaii | $78,980 |
Louisiana | $106,850 |
Maryland | $114,010 |
Massachusetts | $75,110 |
Mississippi | $106,130 |
Missouri | $81,590 |
New Jersey | $93,770 |
New York | $120,860 |
Texas | $92,830 |
Virginia | $91,480 |
Washington | $91,670 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Marine Engineers
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Marine Engineers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- SAP
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
- PTC Creo Parametric
- IBM Lotus 1-2-3
- Oracle Primavera Systems
- ANSYS FLUENT
- McNeel Rhino software
- Siemens PLM Software Solid Edge
- MSC Software Nastran
- Siemens PLM Software NX
- Autodesk Algor Simulation
Becoming a Marine Engineer
What kind of Marine Engineer requirements are there?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Marine Engineers Work?
The table below shows the approximate number of Marine Engineers employed by various industries.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Marine Engineer might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: U.S. Navy via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.