How to Become a Marine Engineer in Michigan: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median marine engineer salary in Michigan is $76,210 per year - 32% below the national median of $112,230 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: Bachelor’s in marine engineering, naval architecture, or marine systems.
How to Become a Marine Engineer in Michigan
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree
Marine engineering, naval architecture, or marine engineering technology; maritime academies dominate the field.
2. Choose shipboard or shoreside
Shipboard engineering officers need a USCG license; shoreside design and survey roles do not.
3. Start in a shipyard or design office
Shipbuilders, classification societies, and the Navy’s civilian corps hire at the bachelor’s level.
4. Gain licensure
USCG Third Assistant Engineer (shipboard) or the PE (design sign-off).
5. Advance
Chief engineer, senior naval architect, or marine surveyor.
Requirements in Michigan
The education path is national - Bachelor’s in marine engineering, naval architecture, or marine systems. Shipboard engineering credentials are federal, issued by the USCG National Maritime Center, not Michigan’s own boards: USCG engineering license for shipboard roles; PE for design sign-off. Verify current requirements with the USCG National Maritime Center before enrolling, as details change.
Marine Engineer Salary in Michigan
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Michigan entry level (10th percentile) | $61,100 |
| Michigan 25th-75th percentile | $64,800 - $92,820 |
| Michigan median | $76,210 |
| Michigan top earners (90th percentile) | $151,110 |
| U.S. median | $112,230 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: n/a.
The Michigan Job Market: Marine Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Mean annual wage in Michigan | $87,040 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $83,010 |
| 25th | $99,250 |
| 50th (median) | $112,230 |
| 75th | $137,690 |
| 90th | $173,330 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 8,500 |
| 2034 projected | 9,000 |
| Percent change | +5.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a marine engineer make in Michigan?
The median annual wage for marine engineers and naval architects in Michigan is $76,210 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 32% below the national median of $112,230.
How to become a marine engineer in Michigan?
The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in marine engineering, naval architecture, or marine systems - with federal USCG licensing, not Michigan's own boards: USCG engineering license for shipboard roles; PE for design sign-off. See the steps on this page.
Marine Engineer in Nearby States
- Marine Engineer in Maryland
- Marine Engineer in Massachusetts
- Marine Engineer in Mississippi
- Marine Engineer in New York
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (SOC 17-2121), Michigan and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |