Marine Architect

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Work Tasks

• Design and build ships, barges, tugs, dredges, submarines, torpedoes, floats, and buoys
• Take charge of how the structures are built
• Test models to make sure they are safe
• Design the layout for all parts and systems of the structure
• Work for marine design and consulting firms, shipyards, companies that make offshore platforms, shipping lines, oil companies, tug and towboat operators, research firms, universities, the government, the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), the Coast Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Maritime Administration (MARAD), and organizations that certify that ships are seaworthy
• Work with drawings, detailed weight statements, numerical data, records of analyses, calculations, and computers

Salary, Size & Growth

• $81,500 average per year ($39.25 per hour)
• A small occupation (5,700 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow slowly (0.6% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in naval architecture, marine engineering, or ocean engineering
• Employers Prefer: A master's degree in naval architecture
• Certification/Licensing: Registration is required, after a degree, 4 years experience, and passing a test.