This US Navy Rank Earns Over $96 per Hour

Though you might initially picture yourself sailing across the open ocean, the Navy offers much more than just unending maritime service. There are at least 150 diverse roles within the Navy, ranging from special operations and engineering to business administration, first responders, legal, medical, and religious positions.

Each position comes with its own unique duties and salary. Like all U.S. military personnel, U.S. Navy sailors receive a base pay determined by rank and years of service. This base pay increased by 5.2% in 2024 — the highest in the past two decades. In addition to base pay, Navy personnel may also earn allowances, bonuses, and other benefits.

To determine the pay for each rank in the U.S. Navy, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2024 basic pay tables and Navy ranks provided by the Defense Finance and Accounting Service for the Department of Defense. These ranks were categorized by pay grades and are ordered based on their maximum possible annual base pay (calculated from monthly pay), with the minimum pay used as a tie-breaker.

Seaman ranks are typically the lowest paid because they’re either in training or on their first assignment. Once they move up to Petty Officer Third Class, they start taking on leadership roles. The highest-ranking enlisted sailor is the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. This position is chosen by the head of the Navy to represent the interest of all enlisted sailors.

The commissioned ranks are the highest in the Navy, though O-1 to O-3 grades are junior grade, O-4 to O-6 are mid-grade, and O-7 and higher are flag officers. Naval officers wear collar insignia pins on khaki uniforms, stripes on shoulder boards with whites, and stripes sewn on the lower coat sleeves with blues.

(It is important to note that the O-1E to O-3E officers — those with previous enlisted active-duty service — get paid extra in acknowledgment of their service time and experience.)

Why This Matters

military forces, recruitment, financing and national service concept - close up of american flag, dollar money and military badges

The U.S. military collectively fell short of its recruiting goals by about 41,000 recruits in 2023, as reported by the DOD. While the Navy tries to attract recruits by paying enlistment bonuses of up to $50,000, potential recruits should also consider the importance of pay and benefits. While the base pay may seem low, it does not include allowances, benefits, and career training that many Navy personnel receive. Here we aim to provide an overview of the basic pay for various Navy ranks.

28. Midshipmen

Pay: $1,340 a month or $16,074 a year

27. Seaman Recruit (SR) — pay grade: E-1

Navy+Seaman+Recruit+SR | 180913-N-UB406-0046

Pay with <4 mos of service — E1 <4 mos: $1,865 a month
Pay with >4 mos & <2 yrs of service: $2,017 a month or $24,206 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $2,017 a month or $24,206 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $24,206
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $24,206
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $24,206

26. Seaman Apprentice (SA) — pay grade: E-2

Navy+Seaman+Apprentice+SA | 190709-N-DQ787-1051

Pay with >4 mos & <2 yrs of service: $2,261 a month or $27,133 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $2,261 a month or $27,133 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $27,133
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $27,133
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $27,133

25. Seaman (SN) — pay grade: E-3

Navy+Seaman+SN | 180413-N-GR168-0067

Pay with <2 yrs of service: $2,378 a month or $28,530 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $2,680 a month or $32,162 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $32,162
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $32,162
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $32,162

24. Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) — pay grade: E-4

Pay with <2 yrs of service: $2,634 a month or $31,604 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $3,197 a month or $38,369 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $36,796
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $38,369
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $38,369

23. Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) — pay grade: E-5

Pay with <2 yrs of service: $2,872 a month or $34,466 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $4,076 a month or $48,917 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $40,388
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $48,625
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $48,917

22. Ensign (ENS) — pay grade: O-1

Pay with <2 yrs of service: $3,826 a month or $45,914 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $4,815 a month or $57,776 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $57,776
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $57,776
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $57,776

21. Petty Officer First Class (PO1) — pay grade: E-6

Pay with <2 yrs of service: $3,136 a month or $37,627 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $4,856 a month or $58,277 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $45,011
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $52,654
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $58,277

20. Chief Petty Officer (CPO) — pay grade: E-7

Pay with <2 yrs of service: $3,625 a month or $43,500 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $6,515 a month or $78,180 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $51,696
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $58,632
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $69,096

19. Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG) — pay grade: O-2

Knighthawk+helicopter | Replenishment at sea [Image 4 of 6]

Pay with <2 yrs of service: $4,409 a month or $52,902 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $6,101 a month or $73,210 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $71,737
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $73,210
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $73,210

18. USN Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) — pay grade: W-1

Pay with <2 yrs of service: $3,740 a month or $44,878 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $6,463 a month or $77,555 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $53,755
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $64,012
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $77,555

17. USN Chief Warrant Officer 2 (CWO2) — pay grade: W-2

Pay with <2 yrs of service: $4,261 a month or $51,131 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $7,112 a month or $85,342 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $58,478
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $69,502
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $82,274

16. Senior Chief Petty Officer (SCPO) — pay grade: E-8

Navy+Senior+Chief+Petty+Officer+SCPO | NMTSC Pins 4 New Senior Chiefs

Pay with 8 yrs of service: $5,215 a month or $62,579 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $7,437 a month or $89,248 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $0
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $65,347
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $77,389

15. Lieutenant (LT) — pay grade: O-3

Pay with <2 yrs of service: $5,102 a month or $61,225 a year
Pay with 40 yrs of service: $8,301 a month or $99,612 a year
Annual pay with over 4 yrs of service: $81,673
Annual pay with over 10 yrs of service: $92,660
Annual pay with over 20 yrs of service: $99,612

14. USN Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3) — pay grade: W-3

USS+Gladiator+MCM-11 | USS Sentry (MCM 3), left, USS Gladiator (MCM 11), USS O'Kane (DDG 77), USS Portland (LPD 27) and the Royal Saudi Naval Forces frigate Al Riyadh (812) transit the Red Sea during exercise Indigo Defender 21.