What Does it Take to Be a Marine Architect?
Occupation Description 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.
Daily Life Of a Marine Architect
- Design complete hull and superstructure according to specifications and test data, in conformity with standards of safety, efficiency, and economy.
- 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.
- Design layout of craft interior, including cargo space, passenger compartments, ladder wells, and elevators.
- Evaluate performance of craft during dock and sea trials to determine design changes and conformance with national and international standards.
- Conduct stability analyses of ships.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Marine Architect?
These are the skills Marine Architects say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Engineering Technician
- Piping Designer
- Engineering Specialist
- Naval Architect
- Designer
Is There Job Demand for Marine Architects?
In the United States, there were 8,200 jobs for Marine Architect in 2016. 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.
Do Marine Architects Make A Lot Of Money?
The typical yearly salary for Marine Architects is somewhere between $65,090 and $148,950.

Marine Architects who work in California, District of Columbia, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Marine Architects make 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 |
What Tools do Marine Architects Use?
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
How do I Become a Marine Architect?
What kind of Marine Architect requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Marine Architect?

Where Marine Architects Work

Below are examples of industries where Marine Architects work:

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