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Home/Marine Electrician Salary
BLS 47-2111NAICS 336611

Marine Electrician Salary 2026

$58,000 - $96,000 by sector. Navy shipyard production floor at the top.

Updated 17 April 2026. Source: BLS OES May 2024, NAICS 336611 industry data, Metal Trades Council shipyard agreements.

Pay by Sector

SectorHourlyAnnual
US Navy Shipyard (Newport News, Bath, Electric Boat, Ingalls)

Production floor journeyman

$30 - $42/hr$62,000 - $87,000
US Navy Shipyard Foreman / Lead

Supervisory premium

$38 - $52/hr$79,000 - $108,000
Commercial Cargo Vessel Yard

Less overtime, steady base

$28 - $40/hr$58,000 - $83,000
Offshore Platform / OSV (Louisiana, Texas)

Per diem $80-150/day, rotational

$35 - $52/hr$73,000 - $108,000
Cruise Line Shipyard (Brevard County FL)

Lower base, hospitality refits

$24 - $34/hr$50,000 - $71,000
Yacht and Recreational Marine (ABYC certified)

ABYC adds premium

$32 - $48/hr$67,000 - $100,000
Inland River / Towboat Marine

Mississippi and Ohio Rivers

$28 - $38/hr$58,000 - $79,000

Major Employers

Huntington Ingalls Industries (Newport News VA)

Largest US Navy shipbuilder, aircraft carriers and Virginia-class submarines

General Dynamics Electric Boat (Groton CT)

Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines

Bath Iron Works (Bath ME)

Arleigh Burke destroyers, DDG(X)

Huntington Ingalls (Pascagoula MS)

DDG-51 destroyers, amphibious ships

NASSCO (San Diego CA)

Combat logistics, expeditionary sea base ships

BAE Systems Ship Repair (Jacksonville FL, Norfolk VA, San Diego CA)

Navy ship overhaul and repair

Edison Chouest Offshore (Houma LA)

Offshore service vessels (OSV) construction

VT Halter Marine (Pascagoula MS)

Coast Guard cutters and commercial

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do marine electricians make in 2026?
Marine electricians typically earn $58,000 to $96,000 per year depending on sector. US Navy shipyard work (Newport News, Bath Iron Works, Electric Boat, Ingalls, NASSCO) typically pays $62,000-$88,000 for a journeyman-level marine electrician on the production floor. Commercial vessel and offshore work in Houma LA, Houston TX, and Mobile AL can reach $85,000-$110,000 with travel premium. Cruise line shipyard work in Brevard County FL is typically lower. BLS classifies most marine electricians under occupation 47-2111 with an industry classification of 336611 (Ship Building and Repairing).
Which shipyard pays marine electricians the most?
General Dynamics Electric Boat (Groton CT and Quonset Point RI), Huntington Ingalls Industries (Newport News VA and Pascagoula MS), and Bath Iron Works (Bath ME) are the highest-paying production shipyards, all working on US Navy contracts. Electric Boat and Newport News have the highest Connecticut and Virginia rates and IAM and Metal Trades Council collective bargaining produces wage premiums above commercial yard work. Houma LA and Lockport LA offshore-platform yards pay sustained overtime premiums but base rates are typically lower.
Do marine electricians need a separate license?
Most state electrician licenses cover marine work as a specialty endorsement rather than a separate credential. American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) certifications (Marine Electrical, Standards Specialist) are highly valued by employers and add $3-$6/hr to journeyman scale in commercial yacht and recreational boat work. For US Navy contractor work, holding a NACE/SSPC certification and ITAR clearance is often required. Some states (Florida, Maine) recognize Marine Electrician as a distinct specialty license category.
Where do marine electricians work geographically?
The largest concentrations of marine electrician employment are in Tidewater Virginia (Newport News, Norfolk), Southeast Connecticut (Groton, New London), Bath Maine, Pascagoula and Gulfport Mississippi, Mobile Alabama, Houma and Avondale Louisiana, Houston ship channel area Texas, Bremerton and Seattle Washington (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard), and San Diego California (NASSCO). Inland river work on the Mississippi River and Ohio River systems is a smaller but consistent employer base.
What is the apprenticeship path for marine electricians?
Most major US Navy shipyards run internal apprenticeship programs (the Newport News Apprentice School is one of the most prestigious industrial apprenticeships in the United States, founded 1919, with a roughly four-year program leading to journeyman status). Commercial yards typically hire experienced inside wireman journeymen and provide on-the-job marine-specific training. IBEW-NECA JATC apprenticeship is recognized in shipyards in some jurisdictions but is not the primary entry path.

Related Pages

Industrial ElectricianVirginia SalaryConnecticut SalaryPer Diem and Travel Pay

Sources: BLS OES May 2024 (47-2111), NAICS 336611 Ship Building and Repairing industry data, Metal Trades Council shipyard agreements (publicly available), American Boat and Yacht Council certification programmes (abycinc.org).

Updated 2026-04-27