Aspiring Sailors frequently ask about the Yeoman YN rating an essential administrative role keeping Navy commands organized and efficient.
YN Sailors handle tasks like preparing correspondence maintaining records managing personnel files and providing customer service to shipmates.
This enlisted position requires strong organizational skills communication abilities and proficiency with office software in various settings.
Requirements include a qualifying ASVAB score of VE plus AR equals 99 normal color vision and eligibility for secret security clearance.
Training commences with boot camp followed by a seven-week A-school at Naval Technical Training Center in Meridian Mississippi.
YN ratings provide opportunities for shore duties deployments and advancement in administrative leadership.
Benefits include competitive pay education assistance travel and pathways to civilian office management or HR careers.
This guide outlines the current 2026 duties qualifications training pay and more for the Navy Yeoman role.
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US Navy Yeomen Requirements and Qualifications
Here is what it takes to qualify to start training to become an enlisted Yeoman in the US Navy.
Educational Requirements
- High School Diploma
- GED
ASVAB Requirements
- Minimum ASVAB Score of combined Verbal Expression and Math Knowledge of 99
-OR-
A combined Verbal Expression, Math Knowledge, and Coding Speed score of 148
Additional Qualifications
- Be between the ages of 17 and 39 unless in possession of a waiver
- Be a United States Citizen
- Be eligible for a Secret security clearance
- Being people and team-oriented is an essential characteristic of this job and one that recruiters look for when filling this Navy position
- Exceptional typing skills are mandatory and a recruit will have to pass a standard typing test by typing at a rate of 40 words/minute or better
- Successful completion of 7-9 weeks of Navy Basic Recruit Training held at Great Lakes Naval Training Center which is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, close to Chicago. (Not required of those with prior military experience or training)
- Completion of a current Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) that will allow an enlisted person to obtain a high-level security clearance.
Submariner Requirements
There are some additional requirements along with higher ASVAB scores, which are demanded of those who want to serve in a Yeoman capacity on board a Navy submarine (YNS Rating).
These include:
An ASVAB combined score of 200 on Arithmetic Reasoning, Math Knowledge, Electronics Information, and General Science or a combined score of 200 on Verbal Expression, Arithmetic Reasoning, Math Knowledge, and Mechanical Comprehension.
Some electrical knowledge or background will substantially increase a person’s chances of being accepted to serve as a Yeoman on a submarine.
Once all of these requirements are fulfilled, an enlisted member will then be allowed to attend the Navy technical training school for this enlisted job.
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Training and Career Path to Become a US Navy Yeoman
Here is the training that it takes in order for any Yeoman recruit to perform the duties on their own that this Navy position requires.
Navy Technical Training Information
Navy A School for Yeoman training takes place at the Naval Air Station in Meridian, Mississippi.
This tech school normally lasts just under 2 months.
During their time in tech school, a Sailor will familiarize themselves with the most commonly used Navy forms and will be taught the proper procedures for doing personnel administration duties.
Approximately half of the way through technical training school, a Seaman will be made aware of their next duty assignment.
On-the-Job Training
As with most Navy jobs, there will be an on-the-job training period before a Navy recruit can fulfill all of the responsibilities that any Navy Yeoman position requires on their own.
This training will be done by select NCOs that are very experienced at doing the duties that a Navy Yeoman normally does.
This training will take place at a new recruit’s first permanent duty station.
How Much Are US Navy Yeoman Paid?
As with all military positions, the pay is determined on a set scale established by the Department of Defense.
Yeoman pay is based on two factors.
These are the enlisted member’s current rank and the amount of time they have spent in the military.
Most new Yeomen that are not prior military enlisted personnel will start out at the pay grade of Seaman Recruit (E-1) with less than two years of experience.
In certain cases, the initial rank of Seaman Apprentice (E-2) or Seaman (E-3) may be given to those individuals that have special skills or schooling that will make their transition into this Navy profession easier.
Anyone interested in joining the Navy as a Yeoman should definitely talk to their recruiter about this.
Here is the current pay table for Navy enlisted based on rank and time in service:
| 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) |
Advancement through the Seamen ranks (E-1 to E-3) is done simply by time in grade.
Those wishing to become non-commissioned officers in the Navy (E-4 and above) will need to achieve a good test score combined with their current time in grade to advance in rank.
Related Article: Navy Enlisted And Officer Ranks And Pay
Miscellaneous Pay, Allowances, and Incentives
There are other forms of payment that may add to someone’s paycheck while they are serving their country in the Navy too.
These include:
- Housing allowance for those that live off base (BAH)
- Subsistence allowance (Food – BAS)
- Temporary duty pay
- Hazardous duty pay
- Sea duty pay (Separation pay)
In addition, health care is always 100% covered for Navy enlisted personnel.
Enlisted personnel are also encouraged to pursue continuing studies on their own time.
Much of the expense of these continuing studies will be paid for by the Navy as part of an enlisted person’s benefits package.
Related Article – Basic Allowance For Housing (BAH) Calculator
What’s Life Like as a US Navy Yeoman?
Since being a Yeoman is such an important position that all Navy units must have, there is a lot of job variety and location variety for those acting as naval Yeoman.
So there is just as much chance for a newly trained Yeoman to be assigned shipboard as there is for an assignment to a naval base.
Yeoman can also be assigned to help support multi-branch military facilities and work for treaty organizations such as NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).
One of the best things about being a Navy Yeoman is that it’s a fairly stable position when done on a base.
That makes it very conducive to bringing up children in a fairly normal family atmosphere.
Most work that a Yeoman will do is done in a typical office setting.
This may involve working alone in a totally unsupervised setting or working alongside others in an environment where everyone is closely supervised.
Temporary duty stations or remote assignments may result in a Yeoman working in less than desirable office environments.
Sometimes there will be late-night shift requirements for Yeoman positions that must be manned around the clock.
Of course, there is always the possibility of temporary duty assignments and other short training periods spent away from an assigned base too.
As with Most Navy positions, there is also a good chance of being assigned to shipboard duty, which could result in a Yeoman spending an extended period of time away from home.
The below YouTube video describes in more detail what it takes to be a Yeoman in the US Navy:
Job Reviews
Here is what some enlisted members who served in the Navy as Yeomen had to say about their experiences on the website Indeed.com:
Most people that have served as Yeomen in the Navy admit that while the job can be demanding and stressful, it also can be rewarding and help launch a decent-paying civilian career.
What People Get Wrong About US Navy Yeoman (YN)
Many think YN Sailors perform simple clerical tasks like basic filing overlooking their critical role in managing complex personnel security and command operations.
In reality YNs coordinate travel submit passports handle classified correspondence and serve as key advisors to leadership on administrative matters.
People often assume no technical skills are needed ignoring the ASVAB requirement emphasizing verbal and arithmetic reasoning for handling reports and data.
Another misconception is that A-school is minimal when it covers seven weeks of intensive training on Navy systems protocols and office management.
Families sometimes view the rating as low-demand desk work not realizing frequent rotations to ships or overseas commands include sea duty pay.
Others believe promotion is slow in admin fields overlooking competitive advancement to E-9 with opportunities for flag writer or security specialist billets.
Some overlook the secret clearance necessity thinking background checks are routine when disqualifiers like financial issues can prevent entry.
People frequently assume civilian transitions limit to entry-level admin jobs ignoring high-value roles in HR management executive assistance or government earning solid incomes.
Another common error confuses YN with PS Personnel Specialist not understanding YN focuses on general admin while PS handles pay and personnel records.
Clearing these points helps candidates assess fit meet standards and pursue a foundational career in Navy administration for 2026.
US Navy Yeoman Civilian Career Opportunities
Anyone who works as a Yeoman in the US Navy will never lack for a civilian job unless they choose to do so.
There are a vast amount of civilian employers that can use the skills that enlisted members have gained while working as Yeomen in the US Navy.
Almost every sizable business needs such positions filled as those of executive secretaries, data entry personnel, employee administration, legal secretary, and other positions which Ex-Navy Yeomen are highly qualified to do.
Here are some examples of civilian job titles that Ex-Navy Yeomen have been hired to fill (Note: some of this reflects upon the specific job duties a Yeoman had while serving in the Navy)
- Administrative Assistant
- Executive Secretary
- Paralegal
- Legal Secretary
- Hotel Administrator
- Computer Skills Specialist
- Data Entry/Data Processing
- Project Management
- Human Resources
- Records Manager
- Microsoft Office Specialist
- And many more
If a Yeoman is given a high-security clearance (Secret or Top Secret) during their time in the Navy, this too is a valuable asset to have when job hunting.
It may qualify them for administrative positions with such government agencies or civilian contractors as:
- Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Air Force Reserve (for training and to fill government contractor positions) – Various locations
- Defense Intelligence Agency – Washington, D.C.
- Department of Homeland Security – Washington, DC
- Department of Defense – Washington, DC
- National Security Agency – Fort Meade, MD
- Boeing Aerospace Company – Chicago, IL
- General Dynamics Corporation – Falls Church, VA
- Raytheon Company – Waltham, MA
- Rand McNally – Chicago, IL
As you can see, civilian job opportunities are truly virtually unlimited for those that have served as Yeoman in the US Navy.
References:
Jacqueline served 5 years as a hospital corpsman in the US Navy, with tours in San Diego, California and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. She currently resides in Syracuse, NY, and is studying to become a physicians assistant.
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