Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Salary
The median pay for a marine engineers and naval architects in Michigan is $76,210/year ($36.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $151K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $81,169 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 25.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Michigan. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $76K get you in Michigan?
About marine engineers and naval architects
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What this looks like in Michigan
Pay for marine engineers and naval architects in Michigan runs about 32% below the U.S. median of $112K. Rent runs $1,272/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level marine engineers and naval architects (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $76K. Top earners bring in $151K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track marine engineers and naval architects salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a marine engineers and naval architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $76K, rent takes 26% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for marine engineers and naval architects in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new marine engineers and naval architects typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,666/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is marine engineers and naval architect a high-paying job in Michigan?
Local pay runs 32% below the national median — $76K here vs. $112K nationally. Cost of living is 6% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for marine engineers and naval architects?
Michigan pays $76K median vs. the U.S. average of $112K — that’s -32%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do marine engineers and naval architects make in Michigan?
The median is $76,210 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,100, and experienced marine engineers and naval architects can clear $151,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $76K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,897/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 26% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a marine engineers and naval architects salary go in Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median marine engineers and naval architects salary is worth about $81,169 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do marine engineers and naval architects get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.