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marine engineering technology

Types of Degrees marine engineering technology Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing marine engineering technology have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Certificate	19
Associate’s Degree	1
Bachelor’s Degree	48

What marine engineering technology Majors Need to Know

Coursework for marine engineering technology develop a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that marine engineering technology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in marine engineering technology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Mechanical — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Engineering and Technology — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

Skills built by a marine engineering technology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Quality Control Analysis — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Operations Monitoring — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.2 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.3 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to marine engineering technology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.4 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.5 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, marine engineering technology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.2 / 7
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	3.9 / 7
Controlling Machines and Processes	3.9 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	3.9 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	3.8 / 7
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards	3.8 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	3.7 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by marine engineering technology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Facebook	Web page creation and editing software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
National Instruments LabVIEW	Development environment software	—
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—
Autodesk AutoCAD	Computer aided design CAD software	—
Engine diagnostic scanners	Analytical or scientific software	—
Rinda Technologies DIACOM Marine	Analytical or scientific software	—
Inventory tracking software	Inventory management software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for marine engineering technology graduates include:

• Test Technician (Test Tech)
• Laser Specialist
• Marine Diesel Mechanic
• Service Technician
• Boat Rigger
• Motorboat Mechanic
• Boat Mechanic
• Marine Machinery Mechanic
• Boat Tester
• Outboard Motor Tester
• Marine Propulsion Technician
• Marine Mechanic
• Outboard Motor Mechanic
• Boat Outboard Engine Mechanic
• Boat Motor Mechanic

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to marine engineering technology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
High school diploma or equivalent	38.9%
Postsecondary certificate	23.3%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	18.1%
Some college courses	8.4%
Bachelor’s degree	6.0%
Less than a high school diploma	2.3%
Master’s degree	1.5%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.4%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in marine engineering technology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly male, with men earning 89.7% of marine engineering technology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	7	10.3%
Men	61	89.7%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of marine engineering technology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	44	64.7%
Asian	2	2.9%
Hispanic or Latino	14	20.6%
Two or More Races	7	10.3%
Race Unknown	1	1.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do marine engineering technology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of marine engineering technology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$58,128
4 years	$66,942
5 years	$75,102

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $75,102 — roughly 29% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in marine engineering technology Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, marine engineering technology graduates earn a median of $66,942 four years after completion — roughly 76% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians	5,996
Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician	3,162
Architectural Engineering Technologies/Technicians	1,557
Biomedical Technology/Technician	1,460
Computer Engineering Technology/Technician	1,215
Aeronautical/Aerospace Engineering Technology/Technician	1,144
Automotive Engineering Technology/Technician	1,112
Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other	492
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians, Other	478
Computer Software Technology/Technician	278
Applied Engineering Technologies/Technicians	113
Composite Materials Technology/Technician	108

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.