by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Marine Maintenance/Fitter & Ship Repair Technology/Technician covers Marine Maintenance/fitter And Ship Repair Technology/technician. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To Repair Outboard And Inboard Engines; Test, Maintain, And Repair Steering Devices And Electrical Systems; Repair Metal, Wood, And Fiberglass Hulls And Vessel Components; Fabricate And Maintain Sails; And Repair And Balance Propellers And Drive Shafts. Continue reading for the essential details every marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician programs.
Across the country, marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician is a widely-pursued major, with 799 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Marine Maintenance/Fitter & Ship Repair Technology/Technician Schools ranking analyzes these 48 schools to determine the best overall colleges for marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician programs later in this article.
Programs in Marine Maintenance/Fitter & Ship Repair Technology/Technician emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 546 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 126 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 127 |
People currently working in careers related to marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Postsecondary certificate | 53.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 23.6% |
| Some college courses | 11.5% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 6.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.5% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician opens doors to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians | 350,797 | 10.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $37,744 |
| 4 years | $43,612 |
| 5 years | $49,558 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Motorboat Mechanics and Service Technicians | $50,761 |
With 48 different marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician school rankings to help you.
Students interested in marine maintenance/fitter & ship repair technology/technician, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
