Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Salary
The median pay for a marine engineers and naval architects in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA is $128,610/year ($61.83/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $89K at the entry level to $164K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.13), so that salary is closer to $115,729 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,501/month, about 30.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $129K get you in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue’s Regional Price Parity (111.13). 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
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What this looks like in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue sits well above the national pay line for marine engineers and naval architects, local pay runs about 15% higher than the U.S. median of $112K. Rent runs $2,501/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 11% above the national average (BEA RPP 111.13), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for marine engineers and naval architects in metros near Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard | $106K | $101K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Entry-level marine engineers and naval architects (10th percentile) start around $89K. Mid-career wages sit at $129K. Top earners bring in $164K or more, a $75K 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a marine engineers and naval architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $129K, rent takes 30.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,501/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,500/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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new marine engineers and naval architects typically earn — is $89K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,354/month. At HUD’s $2,501/month FMR, rent would take 47% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Local pay is 15% above the national median — $129K here vs. $112K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 11% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue compare to the national average for marine engineers and naval architects?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue pays $129K median vs. the U.S. average of $112K — that’s +15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 111.13), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do marine engineers and naval architects make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median is $128,610 a year, that works out to about $62 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $89,230, and experienced marine engineers and naval architects can clear $164,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $129K enough to live in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,222/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,501/month, which eats 30.4% 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue?
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue has a Regional Price Parity of 111.13 (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 $115,729 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.