Annual Salary
£24,000 to £55,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Marine engineers design, build and repair boats, ships, submarines, offshore platforms and drilling equipment.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
2.4% more Marine engineer jobs in 2027.
Depending on the industry you work in, you could:
You may need to wear safety clothing and use safety equipment.
You could work at a shipyard, in an office, on a ship, at a port or underwater.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers, physically demanding and you may spend nights away from home.
You can get into this job through:
You usually need to complete a foundation degree or degree to become a marine engineer. Courses include:
You'll usually need:
You might be able to do the Marine Engineer Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship, then take further training on the job.
As a qualified engineer, you might be able to do a:Small Vessel Chief Engineer Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship; Marine Technical Superintendent Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship
You'll usually need:
You could start by training as a marine engineering technician with the Merchant Navy or Royal Navy.
You could then study for a marine engineering degree while working.
You can find more advice about careers in engineering from the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology and British Marine.
With experience, you could:specialise in project management, research and development or consultancy; work on land to refit marine vessels; move into law and work on maritime engineering safety; move into shipping fleet management
You'll need: