Navy Ranks And Basic Pay For 2026

The Navy is one of the largest branches of the U.S. military.  With over 340,000 active duty personnel, the Navy has a long tradition of defending our nation’s waters, and force projection throughout the world.

Like every other military branch, they have a very structured ranking system that clearly designates who’s in charge of whom.

Whether you’re a Navy SEAL, a pilot, or a cook, the ranking structure is the same no matter what job you have in the Navy.

Below is a table outlining the Navy Ranks and Basic Pay for 2026 for both officers and enlisted.

Jump To A Rank

Navy Ranks And Pay For 2026 – Enlisted

Insignia	Pay Grade	Rank	Abbreviation	2026 Minimum Monthly Pay (<2 Years)
N/A	E-1	Seaman Recruit	SR	$2,407.20 (after 4 months; $2,225.70 for first 4 months)
	E-2	Seaman Apprentice	SA	$2,697.90
	E-3	Seaman	SN	$2,836.80
	E-4	Petty Officer Third Class	PO3	$3,142.20
	E-5	Petty Officer Second Class	PO2	$3,342.90
	E-6	Petty Officer First Class	PO1	$3,401.10
	E-7	Chief Petty Officer	CPO	$3,932.10
	E-8	Senior Chief Petty Officer	SCPO	$5,656.50 (starts at over 8 years)
	E-9	Master Chief Petty Officer	MCPO	$6,910.20 (starts at over 10 years)
	E-9	Fleet/Command Master Chief Petty Officer	FMCPO/CMCP	$6,910.20 (starts at over 10 years)
	E-9	Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy	MCPON	$6,910.20 (starts at over 10 years)

And here’s a chart that shows how the pay breaks down by rank and time in service for Enlisted from the very beginning of your Navy career to the end:

Keep in mind that the above pay is based on the lowest number of years in the Navy while achieving a specific rank.

The longer you serve, the higher your pay will be.

For example, base pay for an E-1 is $2,225.70 during their first four months in the Navy. After four months, they receive a base pay of $2,407.20 per month.

Another good example is that while an E-5 with less than 2 years in the Navy will receive a base pay of $3,342.90 per month, an E-5 with over 6 years in the Navy will receive $4,110.00 base pay per month.

The above base pay rates do not include the wide variety of allowances, bonuses, and benefits that are included in Navy service.

Additional incentives, pay, and bonuses may also include:

• BAH – Basic Allowance for Housing
• Re-Enlistment bonuses
• Quick ship bonuses
• Uniform allowances
• Hardship duty pay
• Family separation allowance
• Foreign Language Proficiency Bonus

To name just a few. Check with your local Navy recruiter to learn more.

Related Article: How To Land The Highest Paying Jobs In The Military

Navy Ranks And Pay For 2026 – Officer

Here’s a chart showing the ranking structure for officers in the Navy:

Insignia	Pay Grade	Rank	Abbreviation	2026 Minimum Monthly Pay (<2 Years)
	O-1	Ensign	ENS	$4,150.20
	O-2	Lieutenant Junior Grade	LTJG	$4,782.00
	O-3	Lieutenant	LT	$5,534.10
	O-4	Lieutenant Commander	LCDR	$6,294.60
	O-5	Commander	CDR	$7,295.40
	O-6	Captain	CAPT	$8,751.30
	O-7	Rear Admiral Lower Half	RDML	$11,540.10
	O-8	Rear Admiral Upper Half	RADM	$13,888.50
	O-9	Vice Admiral	VADM	$19,629.30 (starts at over 20 years)
	O-10	Admiral	ADM	$20,058.30 (starts at over 20 years)

And here’s a chart that shows how the pay breaks down by rank and time in service for Officers from the very beginning of your Navy career to the end:

Just like with the enlisted ranks, the above pay numbers are the absolute minimum.

The longer you serve, the higher the pay will be.

For example, while an O-3 with less than 2 years in the Navy will receive about $5,534.10 per month in base pay, an O-3 with over 8 years will receive about $8,125.50 per month in base pay.

Related Article: How To Verify Someone’s Military Service

Navy Ranks And Pay For 2026 – Warrant Officers

Here’s a chart showing the ranking structure for warrant officers in the Navy:

And here’s a chart that shows how the pay breaks down by rank and time in service for Warrant Officers from the very beginning of your Navy career to the end:

Frequently Asked Questions

Which branch of the military pays the most?

All military branches pay the same. Pay is dictated by your rank and length of time in service, and goes up as time goes on.

What is the first-year pay for an enlisted sailor?

After the first four months, an E-1, or Seaman recruit, can expect to make around $2,407.20 a month base pay in his or her first 2 years.

Does the Navy pay for housing?

Like other branches of the military, the US Navy entitles sailors to housing. This may be provided on base or off base according to rank, marital status, and availability. If living off base, the Navy provides a Basic Allowance for Housing (or BAH). Its purpose is to provide an allowance for housing off base and is determined by several factors.

Sources:

https://www.navy.com/sites/default/files/2019-02/MilPayTable2019-1-FullTime.pdf

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Nicholas A.

Nick Anderson has been serving on Active Duty in the U.S. Navy for the last 10 years. He graduated from Saint Leo University with his B.A. in Accounting and is a graduate student at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, pursuing an M.B.A. in Finance. Born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Nick enlisted in the Navy at the age of 17. During his deployments onboard the USS Fort McHenry, he traveled to 23 countries on four continents, sailing roughly 42,000 nautical miles across 30 seas and five oceans. He currently resides in Meridian, Mississippi.

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Navy Ranks and Pay

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Learn more about the ranks and pay for the US Navy for 2023 here. Includes the pay rates for both enlisted, as well as officers.