The US Navy is one of the largest branches in the US Military. With over 320,000 active duty personnel, the Navy has a long tradition of defending our nations 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 2021 for both officers and enlisted.
Jump To A Rank
Navy Ranks And Pay For 2021 – Enlisted
| Insignia | Pay Grade | Rank | Abbreviation | 2021 Minimum Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N/A | E-1 | Seaman Recruit | SR | $1,785.00 |
 | E-2 | Seaman Apprentice | SA | $2,000.70 |
 | E-3 | Seaman | SN | $2,103.90 |
 | E-4 | Petty Officer Third Class | PO3 | $2,330.40 |
 | E-5 | Petty Officer Second Class | PO2 | $2,541.60 |
 | E-6 | Petty Officer First Class | PO1 | $2,774.40 |
 | E-7 | Chief Petty Officer | CPO | $3,207.60 |
 | E-8 | Senior Chief Petty Officer | SCPO | $4,614.60 |
 | E-9 | Master Chief Petty Officer | MCPO | $5,637.00 |
 | E-9 | Command Master Chief Petty Officer | CMDCM | $5,637.00 |
 | E-9 | Master Chief Petty Officer Of The Navy | MCPON | $5,637.00 |
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, while an E-5 with less than 2 years in the Navy will receive an average of $2,541 per month, an E-5 with over 6 years in the Navy will receive an average of $3,187 per month.
Check out the charts below to see how it all plays out on a yearly basis:
Years 2 – 6
| Pay Grade | Less than 2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 Years | Over 6 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 |
| E-2 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 |
| E-3 | $2,103.90 | $2,236.20 | $2,371.80 | $2,371.80 | $2,371.80 |
| E-4 | $2,330.40 | $2,449.80 | $2,582.40 | $2,713.50 | $2,829.00 |
| E-5 | $2,541.60 | $2,712.90 | $2,844.00 | $2,978.10 | $3,187.20 |
| E-6 | $2,774.40 | $3,053.10 | $3,188.10 | $3,318.90 | $3,455.40 |
| E-7 | $3,207.60 | $3,501.00 | $3,635.40 | $3,812.40 | $3,951.30 |
Years 8 – 16
| Pay Grade | Over 8 Years | Over 10 Years | Over 12 Years | Over 14 Years | Over 16 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 |
| E-2 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 |
| E-3 | $2,371.80 | $2,371.80 | $2,371.80 | $2,371.80 | $2,371.80 |
| E-4 | $2,829.00 | $2,829.00 | $2,829.00 | $2,829.00 | $2,829.00 |
| E-5 | $3,405.60 | $3,585.30 | $3,606.90 | $3,606.90 | $3,606.90 |
| E-6 | $3,762.60 | $3,882.90 | $4,114.50 | $4,185.30 | $4,236.90 |
| E-7 | $4,189.50 | $4,323.90 | $4,561.80 | $4,760.10 | $4,895.10 |
| E-8 | $4,614.60 | $4,818.60 | $4,944.90 | $5,096.10 | $5,260.50 |
| E-9 | N/A | $5,637.00 | $5,764.80 | $5,925.90 | $6,114.90 |
Years 18 – 26
| Pay Grade | Over 18 Years | Over 20 Years | Over 22 Years | Over 24 years | Over 26 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 | $1,785.00 |
| E-2 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 | $2,000.70 |
| E-3 | $2,371.80 | $2,371.80 | $2,371.80 | $2,371.80 | $2,371.80 |
| E-4 | $2,829.00 | $2,829.00 | $2,829.00 | $2,829.00 | $2,829.00 |
| E-5 | $3,606.90 | $3,606.90 | $3,606.90 | $3,606.90 | $3,606.90 |
| E-6 | $4,297.20 | $4,297.20 | $4,297.20 | $4,297.20 | $4,297.20 |
| E-7 | $5,039.10 | $5,094.90 | $5,282.40 | $5,382.90 | $5,765.40 |
| E-8 | $5,556.30 | $5,706.30 | $5,961.60 | $6,103.50 | $6,451.80 |
| E-9 | $6,306.60 | $6,612.00 | $6,871.50 | $7,143.30 | $7,560.30 |
30+ Years
| Pay Grade | Over 30 Years | Over 34 Years | Over 38 Years | Over 40 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-8 | $6,581.40 | $6,581.40 | $6,581.40 | $6,581.40 |
| E-9 | $7,937.70 | $8,334.90 | $8,752.50 | $8,752.50 |
The above pay rates do not include the wide variety of 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 2021 – Officer
Here’s a chart showing the ranking structure for officers in the Navy:
| Insignia | Pay Grade | Rank | Abbreviation | 2021 Minimum Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | O-1 | Ensign | ENS | $3,385.80 |
 | O-2 | Lieutenant Junior Grade | LTJG | $3,901.20 |
 | O-3 | Lieutenant | LT | $4,514.70 |
 | O-4 | Lieutenant Commander | LCDR | $5,135.10 |
 | O-5 | Commander | CDR | $5,951.40 |
 | O-6 | Captain | CAPT | $7,139.10 |
 | O-7 | Rear Admiral Lower Half | RDML | $9,414.30 |
 | O-8 | Rear Admiral | RADM | $11,329.50 |
 | O-9 | Vice Admiral | VADM | $16,012.50 |
 | O-10 | Admiral | ADM | $16,608.30 |
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 $4,514 per month, an O-3 with over 8 years will receive about $6,628 per month on average.
Related Article: How To Verify Someones Military Service
Check out the charts below to see how it all plays out:
Years 2 – 6
| Pay Grade | Less Than 2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 years | Over 6 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | $3,385.80 | $3,524.40 | $4,260.60 | $4,260.60 | $4,260.60 |
| O-2 | $3,901.20 | $4,442.70 | $5,116.80 | $5,289.90 | $5,398.50 |
| O-3 | $4,514.70 | $5,117.70 | $5,523.30 | $6,022.80 | $6,311.70 |
| O-4 | $5,135.10 | $5,943.90 | $6,341.10 | $6,429.00 | $6,797.10 |
| O-5 | $5,951.40 | $6,704.40 | $7,168.20 | $7,255.50 | $7,545.60 |
| O-6 | $7,139.10 | $7,842.90 | $8,357.70 | $8,357.70 | $8,389.80 |
| O-7 | $9,414.30 | $9,851.40 | $10,053.90 | $10,215.00 | $10,506.00 |
| O-8 | $11,329.50 | $11,701.20 | $11,947.50 | $12,016.20 | $12,323.40 |
Years 8 – 16
| Pay Grade | Over 8 Years | Over 10 Years | Over 12 Years | Over 14 Years | Over 16 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | $4,260.60 | $4,260.60 | $4,260.60 | $4,260.60 | $4,260.60 |
| O-2 | $5,398.50 | $5,398.50 | $5,398.50 | $5,398.50 | $5,398.50 |
| O-3 | $6,628.20 | $6,832.80 | $7,169.40 | $7,345.20 | $7,345.20 |
| O-4 | $7,192.20 | $7,684.20 | $8,066.70 | $8,332.50 | $8,485.50 |
| O-5 | $7,718.40 | $8,099.40 | $8,379.60 | $8,740.80 | $9,293.10 |
| O-6 | $8,749.20 | $8,796.90 | $8,796.90 | $9,296.70 | $10,180.50 |
| O-7 | $10,794.00 | $11,126.70 | $11,458.20 | $11,791.20 | $12,836.70 |
| O-8 | $12,836.70 | $12,956.40 | $13,443.60 | $13,584.00 | $14,004.00 |
Years 18 – 26
| Pay Grade | Over 18 Years | Over 20 Years | Over 22 Years | Over 24 Years | Over 26 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-1 | $4,260.60 | $4,260.60 | $4,260.60 | $4,260.60 | $4,260.60 |
| O-2 | $5,398.50 | $5,398.50 | $5,398.50 | $5,398.50 | $5,398.50 |
| O-3 | $7,345.20 | $7,345.20 | $7,345.20 | $7,345.20 | $7,345.20 |
| O-4 | $8,573.70 | $8,573.70 | $8,573.70 | $8,573.70 | $8,573.70 |
| O-5 | $9,555.90 | $9,816.00 | $10,111.20 | $10,111.20 | $10,111.20 |
| O-6 | $10,699.20 | $11,217.60 | $11,512.80 | $11,811.90 | $12,390.90 |
| O-7 | $13,719.30 | $13,719.30 | $13,719.30 | $13,719.30 | $13,789.80 |
| O-8 | $14,611.80 | $15,171.90 | $15,546.00 | $15,546.00 | $15,546.00 |
| O-9 | N/A | $16,012.50 | $16,243.80 | $16,576.80 | $16,608.30 |
| O-10 | N/A | $16,608.30 | $16,608.30 | $16,608.30 | $16,608.30 |
30+ Years
| Pay Grade | Over 30 Years | Over 34 Years | Over 38 Years | Over 40 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-6 | $12,638.40 | $12,638.40 | $12,638.40 | $12,638.40 |
| O-7 | $14,065.80 | $14,065.80 | $14,065.80 | $14,065.80 |
| O-8 | $15,935.40 | $15,935.40 | $15,935.40 | $15,935.40 |
| O-9 | $16,608.30 | $16,608.30 | $16,608.30 | $16,608.30 |
| O-10 | $16,608.30 | $16,608.30 | $16,608.30 | $16,608.30 |
Navy Ranks And Pay For 2019 – Warrant Officers
Years 2 – 6
| Pay Grade | Under 2 Years | Over 2 Years | Over 3 Years | Over 4 Years | Over 6 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-1 | $3,309.30 | $3,666.00 | $3,761.40 | $3,963.90 | $4,203.00 |
| W-2 | $3,770.40 | $4,127.10 | $4,236.60 | $4,312.20 | $4,556.40 |
| W-3 | $4,261.20 | $4,438.50 | $4,620.90 | $4,680.30 | $4,870.80 |
| W-4 | $4,665.90 | $5,018.70 | $5,162.70 | $5,304.60 | $5,548.80 |
Years 8 – 16
| Pay Grade | Over 8 Years | Over 10 Years | Over 12 Years | Over 14 Years | Over 16 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-1 | $4,423 | $4,583 | $4,807 | $5,027 | $5,200 |
| W-2 | $4,793 | $4,976 | $5,156 | $5,376 | $5,548 |
| W-3 | $5,094 | $5,473 | $5,652 | $5,859 | $6,072 |
| W-4 | $5,622 | $5,859 | $6,216 | $6,529 | $6,827 |
Years 18 – 26
| Pay Grade | Over 18 Years | Over 20 Years | Over 22 Years | Over 24 years | Over 26 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-1 | $5,359 | $5,552 | $5,552 | $5,552 | $5,552 |
| W-2 | $5,704 | $5,890 | $6,013 | $6,110 | $6,110 |
| W-3 | $6,455 | $6,714 | $6,868 | $7,033 | $7,257 |
| W-4 | $7,071 | $7,309 | $7,658 | $7,945 | $8,273 |
| W-5 | N/A | $8,055 | $8,463 | $8,768 | $9,104 |
30+ Years
| Pay Grade | Over 30 Years | Over 34 Years | Over 38 Years | Over 40 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W-4 | $8,438 | $8,438 | $8,438 | $8,438 |
| W-5 | $9,560 | $10,037 | $10,540 | $10,540 |
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?
An E-1, or Seaman recruit, can expect to make around $1,785 a month 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 a Basic Allowance for Housing (or BAH). Its purpose is to provide an allowance for housing, and is determined by several factors.
Sources:
https://www.navy.com/sites/default/files/2019-02/MilPayTable2019-1-FullTime.pdf
- Navy Reserve Pay for 2022 - March 20, 2022
- Navy Ranks And Basic Pay For 2022 - March 20, 2022
- Delayed Entry Program (DEP) 2022 Guide - March 20, 2022
