Marine engineers and naval architects design, develop and evaluate the operation of marine vessels, ship machinery and related equipment. Naval architects shape the hull and structure; marine engineers handle propulsion, power and onboard systems. AI and simulation software can help test designs before anything is built. Making a ship safe at sea, and signing off on it, stays with engineers.
The short answer: low exposure and much-faster-than-average growth. The ILO's 2025 index rates mechanical engineers, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.32. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 7 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 500 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed marine engineers are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineers | Not exposed | 0.32 |
The ILO scores groups of occupations, so this is the closest group for marine engineers and naval architects, not a score for the job title itself.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Marine engineers and naval architects | Grow 7% | About 500 |
The BLS expects these engineers to be needed to help design ships and port facilities that meet increasingly strict international emissions standards. Its outlook does not mention AI.
Where AI is helping
- Running faster simulations of hull shapes, stability and fuel use.
- Comparing engine and power options against emissions targets.
- Searching rules, class requirements and past design records.
What stays with marine engineers
- Safety at sea: stability, structure and systems that must not fail.
- Rules and approval: meeting class society and international requirements.
- Shipyard work: solving problems during building, trials and repairs.
- Checking AI help: generated calculations and specs can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
Stricter emissions rules mean new engines, fuels and hull designs, which keeps demand for marine engineering skills growing. Simulation speeds design, while sea trials and approvals stay with people. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace ship captains?, will AI replace aerospace engineers? and will AI replace engineers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for marine engineers and naval architects at $112,230 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: bachelor's degree. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace marine engineers?
Not on current projections. The BLS projects 7 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, with about 500 openings a year.
How exposed are marine engineers to AI?
The ILO rates mechanical engineers, the closest group, as not exposed with a score of 0.32.
What is driving demand?
The BLS points to ships and port facilities that must meet stricter international emissions standards.
What is the difference between a marine engineer and a naval architect?
Naval architects focus on the hull and structure; marine engineers focus on propulsion, power and onboard systems.