How to Become a Marine Engineer in Texas: Salary & Requirements (2026)

Q: "How much does a marine engineer make in Texas?"

"The median annual wage for marine engineers and naval architects in Texas is $152,780 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 36% above the national median of $112,230."

Q: "How do I become a marine engineer in Texas?"

"The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in marine engineering, naval architecture, or marine systems - with licensing administered at the state level: USCG engineering license for shipboard roles; PE for design sign-off. See the steps below."

Q: "How many marine engineers and naval architects work in Texas?"

"BLS counts about 330 marine engineers and naval architects employed in Texas (BLS OEWS, May 2025)."

Updated July 23, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Texas marine engineers and naval architects earn a median annual wage of $152,780 ($73.45/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 330 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 36.1% above the national median of $112,230 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $152,780 ($73.45/hr)
25th percentile: $119,270 per year
75th percentile: $189,640 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $230,020 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $93,180 per year
Workers employed in Texas: 330
Versus national median: 36.1% above the U.S. median of $112,230
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.45 - this occupation is less concentrated in Texas than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed July 23, 2026.

Quick answer: The median marine engineer salary in Texas is $152,780 per year - 36% above 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.

Marine Engineer Salary in Texas

Wage level	Annual salary
Texas entry level (10th percentile)	$93,180
Texas 25th-75th percentile	$119,270 - $189,640
Texas median	$152,780
Texas top earners (90th percentile)	$230,020
U.S. median	$112,230

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 330.

The Texas Job Market: Marine Engineer

Metric	Value
Employed in Texas	330
Jobs per 1,000 in the state	0.02
Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient)	0.45
Mean annual wage in Texas	$153,350

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.45, Texas employs marine engineers and naval architects at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.

Requirements in Texas

The education path is national - Bachelor’s in marine engineering, naval architecture, or marine systems - while licensing runs through Texas’s own boards: USCG engineering license for shipboard roles; PE for design sign-off. Verify current requirements with the Texas licensing authority before enrolling, as details change. The step-by-step path (degree, exams, first role, advancement) is covered in the national guide: How to Become a Marine Engineer.

Salary Nationwide

Annual Wage by Percentile - Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects annual wage percentiles
Percentile	Annual wage
10th	$83,010
25th	$99,250
50th (median)	$112,230
75th	$137,690
90th	$173,330

Job Outlook

Projected employment growth, Marine Engineers and Naval Architects, 2024-2034

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024-2034

Marine Engineers and Naval Architects employment projection 2024 to 2034
Year	Employment
2024	8,500
2034 projected	9,000
Percent change	+5.8%

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a marine engineer make in Texas?

The median annual wage for marine engineers and naval architects in Texas is $152,780 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 36% above the national median of $112,230.

How do I become a marine engineer in Texas?

The core path is the same nationwide - Bachelor's in marine engineering, naval architecture, or marine systems - with licensing administered at the state level: USCG engineering license for shipboard roles; PE for design sign-off. See the steps below.

How many marine engineers and naval architects work in Texas?

BLS counts about 330 marine engineers and naval architects employed in Texas (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Marine Engineer in Nearby States

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (SOC 17-2121), Texas 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)