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Salary comparison

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects vs. Civil Engineers: Who Earns More?

Marine Engineers and Naval Architectss out-earn Civil Engineerss by $11K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Marine Engineers and Naval Architectss land at $112,230 and Civil Engineerss at $100,840. The education gap is real: marine engineers and naval architect programs typically require bachelor's degree, while civil engineer programs require bachelor's degree. Top-paying state for Marine Engineers and Naval Architectss is District of Columbia ($172,330); for Civil Engineerss it's California ($122,500).

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
Civil Engineers
Median salary
$112,230
$100,840
Hourly rate
$53.96/hr
$48.48/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$83,010
$68,240
Senior level (90th %)
$173,330
$163,220
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
U.S. employment
8,250
367,840
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
5%
Category
Engineering
Engineering
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Marine Engineers and Naval Architects median pay.

State
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects
Civil Engineers
District of Columbia
$172,330
$103,880
Texas
$152,780
$96,860
South Carolina
$136,990
$101,600
Florida
$130,640
$98,570
Maryland
$130,150
$100,680
Massachusetts
$114,640
$106,730
New York
$112,230
$103,760
California
$110,700
$122,500
Washington
$109,550
$110,000
Hawaii
$108,200
$94,280
Maine
$100,430
$97,820
Georgia
$97,770
$84,240
Mississippi
$97,060
$100,170
Wisconsin
$78,850
$94,600
Michigan
$76,210
$92,100

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Marine Engineers and Naval Architectss or Civil Engineerss?

Marine Engineers and Naval Architectss earn more nationally. The median is $112,230 for Marine Engineers and Naval Architectss versus $100,840 for Civil Engineerss, a difference of $11K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Marine Engineers and Naval Architects or Civil Engineers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Marine Engineers and Naval Architects or Civil Engineers?

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects typically requires bachelor's degree. Civil Engineers requires bachelor's degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Marine Engineers and Naval Architectss get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Marine Engineers and Naval Architectss at $172,330/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Marine Engineers and Naval Architects vs. Civil Engineers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In District of Columbia, Marine Engineers and Naval Architectss earn $172,330 vs. $103,880 for Civil Engineerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salary breakdownView →Full Civil Engineers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Marine Engineers and Naval Architectss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Civil Engineerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a marine engineers and naval architectsGuide →How to become a civil engineersGuide →