Life As a Marine Architect
Marine Architect Example Design and oversee construction and repair of marine craft and floating structures such as ships, barges, tugs, dredges, submarines, torpedoes, floats, and buoys. May confer with marine engineers.
Life As a Marine Architect
- Conduct stability analyses of ships.
- Oversee construction and testing of prototype in model basin and develop sectional and waterline curves of hull to establish center of gravity, ideal hull form, and buoyancy and stability data.
- Evaluate performance of craft during dock and sea trials to determine design changes and conformance with national and international standards.
- Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators.
- Study design proposals and specifications to establish basic characteristics of craft, such as size, weight, speed, propulsion, displacement, and draft.
- Confer with marine engineering personnel to establish arrangement of boiler room equipment and propulsion machinery, heating and ventilating systems, refrigeration equipment, piping, and other functional equipment.
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Things a Marine Architect Should Know How to Do
Below is a list of the skills most Marine Architects say are important on the job.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Marine Architect Jobs
- Engineering Specialist
- Initial Design and Naval Architecture Supervisor
- Marine Structural Designer
- Naval Architect Specialist
- Boat Designer
Job Demand for Marine Architects
There were about 8,200 jobs for Marine Architect in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 12.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,000 new jobs for Marine Architect by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 600 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Marine Architect are Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Virginia. Watch out if you plan on working in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, or Oregon. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Marine Architects Salary
The average yearly salary of a Marine Architect ranges between $65,090 and $148,950.

Marine Architects who work in California, District of Columbia, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Marine Architects in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alaska | $116,100 |
California | $126,140 |
District of Columbia | $118,090 |
Florida | $94,310 |
Hawaii | $78,980 |
Louisiana | $106,850 |
Maryland | $114,010 |
Massachusetts | $75,110 |
Mississippi | $106,130 |
Missouri | $81,590 |
New Jersey | $93,770 |
New York | $120,860 |
Texas | $92,830 |
Virginia | $91,480 |
Washington | $91,670 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Marine Architects
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Marine Architects may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Access
- Microsoft Project
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Dassault Systemes SOLIDWORKS
- ANSYS FLUENT
- MSC Software Nastran
- Siemens PLM Software NX
- Autodesk Algor Simulation
- Intergraph SmartMarine 3D
- Creative System GHS
- HydroComp NavCad
- Proteus Engineering FastShip
- Strand7
- ShipConstructor
Becoming a Marine Architect
Education needed to be a Marine Architect:

What work experience do I need to become a Marine Architect?

Marine Architects Sector

The table below shows the approximate number of Marine Architects employed by various industries.

References:
Image Credit: U.S. Navy via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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