Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Salary
The median pay for a marine engineers and naval architects in Portland-South Portland, ME is $104,850/year ($50.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 101.86), that's roughly $102,935 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,130/month, about 33% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $105K get you in Portland-South Portland?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Portland-South Portland’s Regional Price Parity (101.86). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About marine engineers and naval architects
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Portland-South Portland
Marine engineers and naval architects pay in Portland-South Portland tracks closely to the national median, $105K locally vs. $112K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $2,130/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 101.86) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Portland-South Portland, ME
Entry-level marine engineers and naval architects (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $57K spread from bottom to top.
Marine Engineers and Naval Architects pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Marine Engineers and Naval Architects salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $172K | +54% | 490 |
| Texas | $153K | +36% | 330 |
| South Carolina | $137K | +22% | 40 |
| Florida | $131K | +16% | 370 |
| Maryland | $130K | +16% | 300 |
| Massachusetts | $115K | +2% | N/A |
| New York | $112K | +0% | 250 |
| California | $111K | -1% | 250 |
| Washington | $110K | -2% | 370 |
| Hawaii | $108K | -4% | 120 |
| Maine | $100K | -11% | 260 |
| Georgia | $98K | -13% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $97K | -14% | 70 |
| Wisconsin | $79K | -30% | 80 |
| Michigan | $76K | -32% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 15 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track marine engineers and naval architects salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Portland-South Portland numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a marine engineers and naval architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in Portland-South Portland?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 33.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,130/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for marine engineers and naval architects in Portland-South Portland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new marine engineers and naval architects typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,762/month. At HUD’s $2,130/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Portland-South Portland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $105K locally vs. $112K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Portland-South Portland compare to the national average for marine engineers and naval architects?
Portland-South Portland pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $112K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $103K — below the national median.
How much do marine engineers and naval architects make in Portland-South Portland, ME?
The median is $104,850 a year, that works out to about $50 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,370, and experienced marine engineers and naval architects can clear $136,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Portland-South Portland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,347/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,130/month, which eats 33.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a marine engineers and naval architects salary go in Portland-South Portland?
Portland-South Portland has a Regional Price Parity of 101.86 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median marine engineers and naval architects salary is worth about $102,935 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.