What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Marine Engineers and Naval Architects in the U.S. earn more than $112,230 a year — the middle 80% land between $83,010 and $173,330. About 8,250 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Marine Engineers and Naval Architects”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$112,230typical pay / year
8,250people in this work
$173,330+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Keeping the record4
Build marine equipment and systems
+Create detailed build guidance for the new winch housing and deck cradle, check load calculations against…
Build marine equipment and systems
+Create detailed build guidance for the new winch housing and deck cradle, check load calculations against classification rules, list required approvals for sea trials, and issue a punch list for fabrication readiness by next Monday.
The tools that do the workDassault Systemes SolidWorksMicrosoft ExcelESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Design ship hulls and superstructures
+Produce hull and superstructure concept sections sized to the project's displacement and intact/damaged…
Design ship hulls and superstructures
+Produce hull and superstructure concept sections sized to the project's displacement and intact/damaged stability criteria, verify scantlings meet classification rules, and deliver three layout options with weight and centre-of-gravity estimates by Friday.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADThe MathWorks MATLABjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Prepare system layouts and schematics
+Lay out system schematics for the auxiliary machinery spaces, include piping runs, access ways and attachment…
Prepare system layouts and schematics
+Lay out system schematics for the auxiliary machinery spaces, include piping runs, access ways and attachment points, annotate compliance with fire and ventilation regulations, and hand over marked-up schematics for routing approval by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADMicrosoft Visiojob descriptionsO*NET
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Create design proposals and specifications
+Prepare a formal design proposal for the retrofit deck support framing: include scope, materials and weld…
Create design proposals and specifications
+Prepare a formal design proposal for the retrofit deck support framing: include scope, materials and weld specs, load calculations, costed bill of materials, and a compliance statement for classification review due next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Fixing1
Supervise installation and repair of equipment
+Schedule and document the site supervision plan for the sea-chest replacement: list tasks, acceptance…
Supervise installation and repair of equipment
+Schedule and document the site supervision plan for the sea-chest replacement: list tasks, acceptance criteria, safety holds, required spares, and a three-day inspection timetable, then circulate to fabrication and shipyard leads by Friday morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work17
Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
+Inspect life-saving appliances and oil spill prevention fittings during the scheduled shipboard survey,…
Perform monitoring activities to ensure that ships comply with international regulations and standards for life-saving equipment and pollution preventatives.
+Inspect life-saving appliances and oil spill prevention fittings during the scheduled shipboard survey, record measured clearances, serial numbers, and test readings, then file a compliance summary against SOLAS and MARPOL with photos and signatures.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelAdobe AcrobatO*NET
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Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.
+Draft a technical report on the hatch coaming reinforcement project, include as‑installed dimensions, load…
Prepare technical reports for use by engineering, management, or sales personnel.
+Draft a technical report on the hatch coaming reinforcement project, include as‑installed dimensions, load calculations, failure analysis, and recommended retrofit steps, then circulate the draft to engineering, project management, and sales for comment by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.
+Verify automatic bilge alarm and valve actuator functionality on two vessels: run the alarm sequence, log…
Check, test, and maintain automatic controls and alarm systems.
+Verify automatic bilge alarm and valve actuator functionality on two vessels: run the alarm sequence, log trigger thresholds, test remote annunciation and redundancy paths, and produce a pass/fail test sheet with corrective actions for any faults found.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Determine conditions under which tests are to be conducted, as well as sequences and phases of test operations.
+Define the test plan for the fatigue trial: list environmental conditions, load steps, measurement channels,…
Determine conditions under which tests are to be conducted, as well as sequences and phases of test operations.
+Define the test plan for the fatigue trial: list environmental conditions, load steps, measurement channels, sequence timing, acceptance criteria, and safety hold points so technicians can execute the runs and log data consistently.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ProjectMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Confer with research personnel to clarify or resolve problems and to develop or modify designs.
+Meet with the research team to review recent buckling test results, resolve discrepancies in the boundary…
Confer with research personnel to clarify or resolve problems and to develop or modify designs.
+Meet with the research team to review recent buckling test results, resolve discrepancies in the boundary conditions used, agree on a revised finite‑element model, and assign who will update drawings and run the next validation set.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookDassault Systemes SolidWorksO*NET
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Maintain records of engineering department activities, including expense records and details of equipment maintenance and repairs.
+Update the engineering activities ledger: record this month’s travel and material expenses, log completed…
Maintain records of engineering department activities, including expense records and details of equipment maintenance and repairs.
+Update the engineering activities ledger: record this month’s travel and material expenses, log completed maintenance on the gantry crane with dates and technicians, and attach invoices so the department budget and asset history are current.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelSAPO*NET
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Support the building of ships and platforms
+Support the build of the next 40m workboat by reviewing the structural arrangements, approving plate and…
Support the building of ships and platforms
+Support the build of the next 40m workboat by reviewing the structural arrangements, approving plate and stiffener sizes for the hull and deck, and issuing stamped drawings to the fabrication team by Wednesday so welding can start Friday.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADjob descriptions
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Prepare technical reports
+Prepare the technical report on the hull fatigue assessment: include load cases, calculations, weld detail…
Prepare technical reports
+Prepare the technical report on the hull fatigue assessment: include load cases, calculations, weld detail drawings, and conclusions, ensure it meets the class guidance, and deliver a signed PDF to the project manager and class surveyor by Tuesday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordAdobe Acrobatjob descriptions
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Oversee prototype building and testing
+Oversee the prototype module build at Bay 3: witness steel cutting, confirm dimensional checks against the…
Oversee prototype building and testing
+Oversee the prototype module build at Bay 3: witness steel cutting, confirm dimensional checks against the approved frame jigs, sign off the first-article inspection report and schedule the sea test for next Monday.
The tools that do the workDassault Systemes SolidWorksjob descriptions
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Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies
+Coordinate with Maritime Safety Authority and the class society to confirm documentation needed for the…
Coordinate activities with regulatory bodies
+Coordinate with Maritime Safety Authority and the class society to confirm documentation needed for the stability exemption, send them the structure drawings, calculations, and the proposed mitigation by Friday and request a clearance meeting next week.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Estimate costs and prepare schedules
+Estimate the structural scope cost and schedule for the topside reinforcement: itemise steel tonnage, labour…
Estimate costs and prepare schedules
+Estimate the structural scope cost and schedule for the topside reinforcement: itemise steel tonnage, labour hours, welding consumables and access scaffolding, produce a week-by-week build schedule and hand the estimate to procurement and the programme manager by close of business Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Projectjob descriptions
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Conduct environmental and performance tests
+Run the environmental and load performance campaign on the aft platform: define test matrix, record strain…
Conduct environmental and performance tests
+Run the environmental and load performance campaign on the aft platform: define test matrix, record strain gauge and deflection data during the tidal trial, analyse results for acceptance criteria and file the signed test summary with quality and the client within 48 hours.
The tools that do the workThe MathWorks MATLABjob descriptions
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Communicate complex technical concepts
+Explain the new fatigue-life calculation and its safety margins to the shipyard technical lead and our…
Communicate complex technical concepts
+Explain the new fatigue-life calculation and its safety margins to the shipyard technical lead and our project manager, using the updated stress plots, a plain-language summary of assumptions, and the sections of the standard that change certification decisions.
The tools that do the workThe MathWorks MATLABMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Collaborate with clients and team members
+Run a single annotated design review package for Priya in procurement, Luis the production foreman, and…
Collaborate with clients and team members
+Run a single annotated design review package for Priya in procurement, Luis the production foreman, and Claire the naval architect, showing key weld details, load paths, open questions and who owns each action, then invite them to a Thursday 14:00 review.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Operate power and propulsion plants
+Prepare the propulsion-room operational checklist and annotated piping diagram for the duty engineer, include…
Operate power and propulsion plants
+Prepare the propulsion-room operational checklist and annotated piping diagram for the duty engineer, include procedure steps for emergency shutdown, expected readings for the gearbox and main engine, and a sign-off line for the bridge officer before departure.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordAutodesk AutoCADWikipedia
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Apply mechanical, electrical, electronic, and computer engineering principles
+Summarise the integrated systems change: list mechanical, electrical and control modifications, show the…
Apply mechanical, electrical, electronic, and computer engineering principles
+Summarise the integrated systems change: list mechanical, electrical and control modifications, show the updated block diagram with signal flow and failure modes, and flag the new software-control interfaces that need bench testing before sea trials.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointThe MathWorks MATLABWikipedia
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Progress to the rank of chief engineer
+Draft a one-page development plan for my promotion to chief engineer: list the three outstanding…
Progress to the rank of chief engineer
+Draft a one-page development plan for my promotion to chief engineer: list the three outstanding certification steps, three operational leadership milestones to achieve in the next six months, and the training or mentorship I need, then propose a review with Captain Ahmed on the last working day of September.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses