marine electronics technician
Snapshot
Do you enjoy working with technology and have a passion for the sea? As a marine electronics technician, you’ll be vital in ensuring the safe and efficient operation of vessels by installing, maintaining, and repairing complex electronic systems.
Marine electronics technicians are skilled professionals responsible for the functionality of electronic equipment onboard ships and other marine vessels. Your days might involve troubleshooting navigation systems, communication devices, radar, sonar, and engine control systems. You'll work from blueprints and technical manuals, often in challenging environments, ensuring everything operates reliably and safely.
- • Installing new electronic systems and equipment according to blueprints and specifications.
- • Diagnosing and repairing faults in existing electronic systems, including navigation, communication, and safety equipment.
- • Performing routine maintenance and testing to ensure optimal performance and prevent breakdowns.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Electrical and electronic trades workers — 42 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia and 8 more.
Longest-running shortage: Norway, 4 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
Explore More
Find your career path and explore the science behind our recommendations.
Could marine electronics technician fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Integrity?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Future Outlook for marine electronics technician
The outlook for marine electronics technician reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could marine electronics technician change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could marine electronics technician change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- apply health and safety standards
- apply soldering techniques
- solder electronics
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- interpret circuit diagrams
- read assembly drawings
- assemble electronic units
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Supply Chain & Transportation
A typical day as a marine electronics technician
09 09:00 · Morning interpret circuit diagrams
10 10:30 · Mid-morning use water navigation devices
12 12:00 · Midday align components
14 14:00 · Afternoon apply health and safety standards
15 15:30 · Late afternoon apply soldering techniques
17 17:00 · Wrap-up assemble electronic units
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
-
maritime electric drives
The technology used to convert electrical energy from a battery or power system into mechanical energy, transmitting the force generated into motion. In the maritime sector, electrical energy is used to drive propeller blades.
-
mechanics of vessels
The mechanical aspects and principles of vessels operations, and the technicalities and mechanical composition of boats and ships.
-
types of maritime vessels
Various types of maritime vessels such as container ships, passenger ships and fishing vessels, and their characteristics and specifications, security, technical, and maintenance requirements.
-
cloud technologies
The technologies which enable access to hardware, software, data and services through remote servers and software networks irrespective of their location and architecture.
-
data mining
The methods of artificial intelligence, machine learning, statistics and databases used to extract content from a dataset.
- electrical equipment regulations
- electronic equipment standards
- electronics
-
interpret circuit diagrams
Read and comprehend circuit diagrams showing the connections between the devices, such as power and signal connections.
-
read assembly drawings
Read and interpret drawings listing all the parts and subassemblies of a certain product. The drawing identifies the different components and materials and provides instructions on how to assemble a product.
-
apply soldering techniques
Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of soldering, such as soft soldering, silver soldering, induction soldering, resistance soldering, pipe soldering, mechanical and aluminium soldering.
-
solder electronics
Operate and use soldering tools and soldering iron, which supply high temperatures to melt the solder and to join electronic components.
-
use water navigation devices
Utilise water navigation devices, e.g. compass or sextant, or navigational aids such as lighthouses or buoys, radar, satellite, and computer systems, in order to navigate vessels on waterways. Work with recent charts/maps, notices, and publications in order to determine the precise position of a vessel.
-
assemble electronic units
Connect various electronic and computer parts to form an electronic product or device.
-
align components
Align and lay out components in order to put them together correctly according to blueprints and technical plans.
-
clean components during assembly
Clean components before fixing them to other compounds or units of components during the assembly process.
-
fasten components
Fasten components together according to blueprints and technical plans in order to create subassemblies or finished products.
-
apply health and safety standards
Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
See whether this role fits your Career DNA
Take the free Career DNA assessment to see how marine electronics technician aligns with your interests, work style, and future path. In less than 10 minutes, you will get a personalized fit signal and a roadmap for what to do next.
Scan to continue on mobileGrowth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does marine electronics technician fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of vessels do marine electronics technicians typically work on?
- You might find yourself working on a variety of vessels, including cargo ships, passenger ferries, fishing boats, yachts, and research vessels. The specific type of vessel will depend on the employer and location.
- Is this a physically demanding job?
- Yes, the role can be physically demanding. You'll often be working in confined spaces, climbing ladders, and handling heavy equipment. The marine environment itself can present challenges, such as fluctuating temperatures and humidity.
- What skills are important for a marine electronics technician?
- Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently are crucial. A solid understanding of electronics, electrical systems, and computer technology is also essential. Good communication skills are needed to collaborate with other crew members and report findings effectively.
- Marine Electronics Technician — is there a shortage in Europe?
- Yes. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a shortage was reported in 12 of the 14 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany and 8 more. Norway has reported one for 4 consecutive years. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Marine Electronics Technician — what does it pay in the United States?
- $82,730 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $58,120 to $122,140. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.