Reef building corals, such as Orbicella faveolata, are the foundation for essential marine habitats. These corals depend on a complex symbiosis between the coral host, bacterial microbiome, and photosymbionts (Symbiodiniaceae). To examine the genomic potential of coral bacterial symbionts we assembled the genomes of nine O. faveolata bacterial isolates via KBase, and annotated the genomes using RAST’s annotation server. The subsystem features found in each genome were assessed via SEED viewer and compared to 33 previously published phylogenetically related genomes (including 13 host-associated and 20 free-living bacteria) from NCBI. Eight of the nine coral-associated bacterial genomes included the complete biosynthesis pathway of essential amino acids, including threonine and leucine. An ANOVA analysis of the subsystem features was used to narrow down the more important features contributing to the host-associated lifestyle for each phylogenetic group, and those features were then visualized using a PCA analysis. The subsystem features contributing to the host-associated lifestyle varied by phylogenetic group, but included genes associated with amino acid biosynthesis, stress response, and transporters, among others. The presence of essential amino acid biosynthesis pathways suggests that these coral-associated bacteria could be nutritional symbionts of O. faveolata. Using a comparative genomics approach allows us to more comprehensively examine the potential contributions of coral bacterial symbionts. At a time when tropical corals are under increasing threats, a more in-depth understanding of the interactions between members of this complex symbiosis will aid in our efforts to support and rescue coral reefs.