Career comparison
Civil Engineer vs. Marine Engineer
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Marine engineers earn more at the median ($112,230 vs. $100,840), while civil engineers usually get to work faster (4 years + PE path of training). Civil engineers design and build roads, bridges, water systems and the infrastructure we rely on. Marine engineers design ships, submarines and offshore structures.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Civil Engineer | Marine Engineer | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $100,840 ($48.48/hr) | $112,230 ($53.96/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $68,240 – $163,220 | $83,010 – $173,330 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +6.4% (faster than average) | +6.7% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 22,700 | 500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | 4 years + PE path | 4-year engineering degree |
| Key credential | Engineer in Training (EIT) | PE license |
| Work setting | Civil engineers work in offices and at construction sites.. | Marine engineers work in offices, shipyards and at sea.. |
What each job does
Civil Engineer
- Design infrastructure projects
- Analyze loads, soils and water flow
- Prepare plans and specifications
- Estimate costs
- Manage construction
Marine Engineer
- Design hulls
- Calculate stability
- Design propulsion systems
- Design onboard systems
- Oversee construction
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, problem-solving, teamwork, and in-demand. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose civil engineer if…
- I love math and physics
- I want to build infrastructure
- I like solving complex problems
Choose marine engineer if…
- I love ships
- I like physics and math
- I like big projects
Still torn? Take the Civil Engineer fit quiz and the Marine Engineer fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, civil engineer or marine engineer?
Marine Engineers earn more at the median: $112,230 versus $100,840 for civil engineers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Civil Engineers typically train faster (4 years + PE path) than marine engineers (4-year engineering degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects marine engineers to grow +6.7% from 2025–35, compared with +6.4% for civil engineers.