A Marine Engineer's Job Description
- The quickest route to a marine engineer position is to earn a bachelor's degree from an Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) approved school with an emphasis, concentration or focus in maritime engineering. However, additional schooling may be required depending upon the position. Some entry-level positions in engineering research require graduate-level coursework. Individuals with degrees in mathematics and other scientific fields are sometimes considered for marine engineering positions as well.
- Many marine engineering positions require an engineering license. Licensed engineers are called professional engineers or PEs. Before an engineer can get her license she must earn a degree from an ABET-accredited engineering program, complete four years of relevant work experience and pass two written exams.
The first test is called the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam. Once a student passes this exam he is considered an EIT or engineering intern. After a PE candidate completes his work experience requirements he can take the Principles of Practice and Engineering exam. Upon completion of this test he is considered a PE. - Work hours are spread among office buildings, laboratories and industrial plants and even construction sites. Where a marine engineer spends her days varies depending upon her employer and the particular project she is assigned to at the time. Most engineers enjoy a standard 40-hour work week; overtime and odd hours may be required as deadlines approach. Holiday and evening work is rare.
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for marine engineers and naval architects was about $78,000 in 2008. Earnings varied; 10% of salaries totaled more than $119,000. Workers living in Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas earned the most. Average annual salaries in these states were more than $85,000.
- According to the BLS, job growth rates for marine engineers are lower than most occupations. Experts project that between 2008 and 2018 job growth will top out at 6%. Although new jobs are not being created at an accelerated rate, new workers will be needed to replace those who retire or leave the industry for other jobs. Another offset to the limited job growth rate is the low number of students pursuing careers in this field.