Undersea Warfare: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Undersea Warfare is a specialized academic field dedicated to the advanced study of underwater defense systems, integrating engineering, science, and military strategy to develop and deploy effective undersea technologies. This program prepares students to understand the complex operational environments and technical challenges associated with underwater sensor networks and weapon systems in modern naval operations.
- Acoustics: Explores the behavior of sound in water, essential for detecting, tracking, and communicating through submerged environments.
- Electrical and Mechanical Engineering: Provides foundational knowledge in the design, development, and maintenance of underwater hardware and integrated systems.
- Mathematics: Offers rigorous training in analytical and computational methods critical for modeling underwater dynamics and system performance.
- Meteorology and Oceanography: Examines environmental factors such as water temperature, currents, and atmospheric conditions that influence undersea operations.
- Physics: Delivers a deep understanding of physical principles governing underwater propagation, fluid dynamics, and energy transfer.
- Operations Analysis: Focuses on optimizing mission planning, system effectiveness, and decision-making under real-world constraints.
- Human Factors: Investigates how human performance, cognition, and ergonomics impact the design and operation of undersea systems.
- Computer Science: Covers algorithms, software architecture, and data processing techniques used in autonomous underwater systems and sensor integration.
- Robotics: Addresses the development and deployment of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat missions.
Undersea Warfare Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Undersea Warfare Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Undersea Warfare degrees, including Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 64,410 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other 17-3029 | $77,390 | $47,010 - $114,630 | 64,410 | $37.21 |
Undersea Warfare Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $58,350 in Vermont to $109,120 in District of Columbia—a 87% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, New Mexico, and Maryland. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 64,410 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Undersea Warfare by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 1 institutions offering Undersea Warfare programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Undersea Warfare is found at Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) (40 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 40 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
40 | Monterey, California | Public | nps.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Undersea Warfare programs
How much can I earn with a Undersea Warfare degree?
Salaries for Undersea Warfare graduates vary by role and location. Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other earn a median of $77,390 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $109,120 compared to $58,350 in Vermont. Approximately 64,410 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Undersea Warfare programs?
Currently 1 accredited institutions offer Undersea Warfare degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) (40 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Undersea Warfare growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 17 in 2010 to a peak of 46 in 2020, before declining slightly to 40 in 2023-24. This represents a 135% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Undersea Warfare degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 64,410 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Military Tech Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Military Tech field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Strategic Intelligence
A program that focuses on the management, analysis and use of national-level, theatre-level, and international intelligence and related policy issues. Includes instruction in...
Signal and Geospatial Intelligence
A program that focuses on the theory, technology and operational aspects of collecting, processing and exploiting remote-sensed, radar, acoustic and other forms of...
Command and Control Systems and Operations
A program that focuses on the theory, technology and operational use of information and decision systems in support of battlefield, theatre, and global...
Psychological Warfare and Military Media Relations
A program that focuses on the support of military and strategic operations and policy via the use of information as a tool of...
Cyber and Electronic Warfare
A program that focuses on the technological and operation aspects of information warfare, including cyber attack and cyber defense. Includes instruction in computer...
Intelligence and Information Operations
Any instructional program in intelligence, command control and information operations not listed above.