Marine Engineers and Naval Architects Salary
The median pay for a marine engineers and naval architects in South Carolina is $136,990/year ($65.86/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $168K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $147,032 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 15.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of South Carolina. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $137K get you in South Carolina?
About marine engineers and naval architects
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What this looks like in South Carolina
South Carolina sits well above the national pay line for marine engineers and naval architects, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $112K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 15.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, South Carolina offers a genuinely strong financial position for marine engineers and naval architectss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level marine engineers and naval architects (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $137K. Top earners bring in $168K or more, a $83K 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 South Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a marine engineers and naval architect afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $137K, rent takes 15.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for marine engineers and naval architects in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new marine engineers and naval architects typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,100/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is marine engineers and naval architect a high-paying job in South Carolina?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $137K here vs. $112K nationally.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for marine engineers and naval architects?
South Carolina pays $137K median vs. the U.S. average of $112K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $147K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do marine engineers and naval architects make in South Carolina?
The median is $136,990 a year, that works out to about $66 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,000, and experienced marine engineers and naval architects can clear $167,720. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $137K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,104/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 15.6% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $147,032 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.