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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
How much should a Marine Engineer expect to earn? If you're going by the national average of $111,733, you're missing the plot. The real answer depends on where you work, how long you've been at it, and what the local market can bear. Across 288 tracked cities, we found a $78,213 range from entry to senior-level pay — and a geographic spread that's equally dramatic.
Positioned in Engineering within the broader Engineering industry, Marine Engineers typically hold Bachelor's in marine eng. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is shipyard/field. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$123,840 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Marine Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $203,520 — $123,840 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($79,680). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. For early-career professionals, the geographic pay premium is worth the math.
The three-tier salary picture for Marine Engineers in 2026: $80,448 at entry (P10), $111,733 at midpoint, and $158,661 at the senior end (P90). Entry-level numbers tell a different story: The $78,213 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $31,366 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $190,080, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $80,320. The $109,760 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Marine Engineer in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $203,520 — $123,840 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($79,680). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Marine Engineer is $80,448, while senior-level (P90) earners average $158,661. That $78,213 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Marine Engineers at $134,856 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $118,560) is $16,296.
At the 90th percentile, Marine Engineers pull in an average of $158,661. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $80,448 | $111,733 | $158,661 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £44,218 | £61,413 | £87,207 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$64,735 | CA$89,909 | CA$127,671 |
| Australia | 13 | A$74,840 | A$103,944 | A$147,600 |
| Sweden | 24 | 441,803 kr | 613,615 kr | 871,334 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $97,097 | $134,856 | $191,496 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $93,831 | $130,320 | $185,055 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $93,312 | $129,600 | $184,032 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $86,400 | $120,000 | $170,400 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $85,363 | $118,560 | $168,355 |
| Washington | 8 | $83,722 | $116,280 | $165,118 |
| New York | 5 | $78,797 | $109,440 | $155,405 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $78,797 | $109,440 | $155,405 |
| Florida | 22 | $78,200 | $108,611 | $154,228 |
| Colorado | 11 | $76,849 | $106,735 | $151,563 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $76,723 | $106,560 | $151,315 |
| Nevada | 5 | $76,585 | $106,368 | $151,043 |
| Arizona | 12 | $76,205 | $105,840 | $150,293 |
| Oregon | 5 | $76,032 | $105,600 | $149,952 |
| Idaho | 3 | $75,802 | $105,280 | $149,498 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $75,203 | $104,448 | $148,316 |
| Utah | 4 | $74,995 | $104,160 | $147,907 |
| Virginia | 7 | $73,761 | $102,446 | $145,473 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $72,806 | $101,120 | $143,590 |
| Alaska | 1 | $72,576 | $100,800 | $143,136 |
| Illinois | 5 | $71,746 | $99,648 | $141,500 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $69,965 | $97,173 | $137,986 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $69,120 | $96,000 | $136,320 |
| Montana | 1 | $69,120 | $96,000 | $136,320 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $68,890 | $95,680 | $135,866 |
| Texas | 40 | $68,550 | $95,208 | $135,195 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $68,429 | $95,040 | $134,957 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $68,083 | $94,560 | $134,275 |
| Georgia | 6 | $67,853 | $94,240 | $133,821 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $67,738 | $94,080 | $133,594 |
| Kansas | 4 | $67,392 | $93,600 | $132,912 |
| Michigan | 6 | $67,162 | $93,280 | $132,458 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $66,356 | $92,160 | $130,868 |
| Maryland | 1 | $66,355 | $92,160 | $130,867 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $65,664 | $91,200 | $129,504 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $65,664 | $91,200 | $129,504 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $63,936 | $88,800 | $126,096 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $63,590 | $88,320 | $125,414 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $62,726 | $87,120 | $123,710 |
| Missouri | 4 | $62,727 | $87,120 | $123,711 |
| Alabama | 5 | $62,485 | $86,784 | $123,233 |
| Indiana | 3 | $61,517 | $85,440 | $121,325 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $61,517 | $85,440 | $121,325 |
| Iowa | 2 | $60,826 | $84,480 | $119,962 |
| Ohio | 6 | $60,711 | $84,320 | $119,735 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $58,061 | $80,640 | $114,509 |
At the state level, California leads with an average Marine Engineer median of $134,856 across 61 cities, followed by Massachusetts ($130,320) and Hawaii ($129,600). The city-level data complicates the national narrative. The lowest-paying states — Mississippi, Ohio, Iowa — offer medians between $80,640 and $84,480. But state averages mask city-level variation that's often just as large.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($203,520 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $96,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $203,520 | 212 | $96,000 | $118,070 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $190,080 | 198 | $96,000 | $111,597 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $176,640 | 184 | $96,000 | $104,198 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $173,760 | 181 | $96,000 | $102,612 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $170,880 | 178 | $96,000 | $101,027 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $169,920 | 177 | $96,000 | $100,498 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $169,920 | 177 | $96,000 | $100,498 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $166,080 | 173 | $96,000 | $98,385 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $166,080 | 173 | $96,000 | $98,385 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $162,240 | 169 | $96,000 | $96,271 |
Career economics for Marine Engineers: entry level averages $80,448, mid-career hits $111,733, and experienced professionals reach $158,661. That's a 2.0× multiplier from start to peak. The path typically requires Bachelor's in marine eng, and the work is shipyard/field. The outlook: steady. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The weighted national median salary for Marine Engineers is $111,733 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $80,448, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $158,661.
The highest-paying city for Marine Engineers is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $203,520. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($203,520), Santa Clara ($190,080), Irvine ($176,640). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Marine Engineer salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $79,680. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Marine Engineers (10th percentile) average $80,448 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $146,534. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Marine Engineers average $158,661 nationally — $78,213 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Marine Engineers can earn up to $288,998.
The top-paying states for Marine Engineers are California ($134,856 median), Massachusetts ($130,320 median), Hawaii ($129,600 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Marine Engineer involves Bachelor's in marine eng. The field is in the Engineering sector (Engineering), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically shipyard/field.
With a national median of $111,733 and representation across 288 metro areas, Marine Engineer offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $78,213 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.