US Navy Pay Chart 2012

The United States Navy was established on October 13th, 1775 as the Continental Navy to supplement the actions of the Americans during its rebellion against Britain during the American Revolutionary War (1775 – 1783). After the conclusion of the war that gained America its independence, the Continental Navy was disbanded in 1790. It was not until 1797 that the formal United States Navy was born to provide the country with its own show of force at sea – then the symbol of world military power. Today, the US Navy constitutes the largest sea-going fighting force on the planet, staffed by over 333,000 active personnel across 280 vessels including eleven city-sized aircraft carriers. In addition to its ship and submarine elements, the United States Navy maintains over 3,700 aircraft – both fixed-wing and rotary types – in a variety of combat, reconnaissance and transport forms to undertake whatever missions are required. Since the Revolutionary War, America’s naval force has taken part in every major military operation involving oceans including the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the American Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War 1, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, Kosovo, Somalia and – most recently – the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq following the events of 9/11.

Like other branches of service within the US military, the United States Navy is broken down into three distinct personnel categories – enlisted, warrant officers and commissioned officers. The branch primarily serves to defend the interests of herself and her allies across international waters protecting merchant shipping, enforcing international law or mandates as brought about by the United States government or the United Nations and assisting in humanitarian efforts and rescues at sea. The service branch is somewhat unique in its arrangement in that it fields all manner of surface vessels, underwater vessels, boats, amphibious assault craft, resupply craft and aircraft.

The US Navy has traditionally worked closely with its brethren in the United States Marine Corps and the United States Coast Guard.

US Navy Pay Scale by Rank

Enlisted Personnel and Officers

Insignia Title Abbr. Pay Grade Salary Range
Seaman Recruit SR E-1 $1491.00 - $1491.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Seaman Apprentice SA E-2 $1671.30 - $1671.30
pay per month
(based on experience)
Seaman SN E-3 $1757.40 - $1981.20
pay per month
(based on experience)
Petty Officer 3rd Class PO3 E-4 $1946.70 - $2363.10
pay per month
(based on experience)
Petty Officer 2nd Class PO2 E-5 $2123.40 - $3012.90
pay per month
(based on experience)
Petty Officer 1st Class PO1 E-6 $2317.80 - $3589.80
pay per month
(based on experience)
Chief Petty Officer CPO E-7 $2679.60 - $4815.90
pay per month
(based on experience)
Senior Chief Petty Officer SCPO E-8 $3854.70 - $5497.80
pay per month
(based on experience)
Master Chief Petty Officer MCPO E-9 $4708.80 - $7311.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy MCPON E-9 $4708.80 - $7311.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Chief Warrant Officer 2 CWO2 W-2 $3149.40 - $5256.90
pay per month
(based on experience)
Chief Warrant Officer 3 CWO3 W-3 $3558.90 - $6243.30
pay per month
(based on experience)
Chief Warrant Officer 4 CWO4 W-4 $3897.60 - $7260.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Chief Warrant Officer 5 CWO5 W-5 $6930.00 - $9068.70
pay per month
(based on experience)
Ensign ENS O-1 $2828.40 - $3558.60
pay per month
(based on experience)
Lieutenant Junior Grade LTJG O-2 $3258.60 - $4509.60
pay per month
(based on experience)
Lieutenant LT O-3 $3771.30 - $6135.60
pay per month
(based on experience)
Lieutenant Commander LCDR O-4 $4289.40 - $7161.90
pay per month
(based on experience)
Commander CDR O-5 $4971.30 - $8446.20
pay per month
(based on experience)
Captain CAPT O-6 $5963.40 - $10557.30
pay per month
(based on experience)
Rear Admiral (lower half) RDML O-7 $8045.70 - $12021.00
pay per month
(based on experience)
Rear Admiral (upper half) RADM O-8 $9683.10 - $13959.30
pay per month
(based on experience)
Vice Admiral VADM O-9 $13685.10 - $16975.80
pay per month
(based on experience)
Admiral ADM O-10 $15647.10 - $19239.90
pay per month
(based on experience)