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Coast Guard Ranks to Civilian GS Paygrades

In many situations, when military personnel interact with civilian government employees, it's important to understand how the military rank hierarchy compares to the seniority structure among their civilian counterparts. Military Rank to Civilian equivalency tables are created by each branch of the military. These tables help civilian and military personnel determine proper conduct for social and diplomatic purposes when interacting with each other.

The comparison table below shows how Coast Guard ranks compare to civilian General Schedule paygrades in terms of respect and seniority. We have also provided comparitive pay ranges for civilian and military paygrades (based on Military Basic Pay and the civilian General Schedule pay table). Generally, civilian employees are paid more compared to someone they are equal to socially - but military personnel also get additional benefits, which are explained in the footnotes.

Please note that these rank-to-gs mappings can vary. Age, position, and experience level are a huge factor, and are often more significant than grade alone. If you have any feedback concerning this table, please contact us with your suggestions.

Seal of the Coast Guard Chart of Coast Guard Ranks vs. Civilian General Schedule Equivalents

See military paygrade and the associated Coast Guard rank on the left, and equivalent General Schedule paygrade on the right.

Pay Grade Insignia Coast Guard Rank Basic Pay Range 1 GS Grade Civilian Pay Range 2
E-1 No Insignia Seaman Recruit $19,199 per year3 GS-1 $21,672 - $27,114 per year
E-2 Insignia of a Coast Guard Seaman Apprentice Seaman Apprentice $21,521 per year3 GS-2 $24,367 - $30,671 per year
E-3 Insignia of a Coast Guard Seaman Seaman $22,630 - $25,510 per year GS-3 $26,587 - $34,561 per year
E-4 Insignia of a Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Petty Officer Third Class $25,067 - $30,427 per year GS-4 $29,847 - $38,798 per year
E-5 Insignia of a Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Petty Officer Second Class $27,338 - $38,794 per year GS-5 $33,394 - $43,414 per year
E-6 Insignia of a Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Petty Officer First Class $29,840 - $46,220 per year GS-5 $33,394 - $43,414 per year
E-7 Insignia of a Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Chief Petty Officer $34,502 - $62,010 per year GS-6 $37,223 - $48,385 per year
E-8 Insignia of a Coast Guard Senior Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Petty Officer $49,633 - $70,787 per year GS-6 $37,223 - $48,385 per year
E-9 Insignia of a Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Master Chief Petty Officer $60,631 - $94,136 per year GS-6 $37,223 - $48,385 per year
E-9 Insignia of a Coast Guard Command Master Chief Petty Officer Command Master Chief Petty Officer $60,631 - $94,136 per year GS-6 $37,223 - $48,385 per year
E-9 Insignia of a Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Of The Coast Guard Master Chief Petty Officer Of The Coast Guard $60,631 - $94,136 per year GS-6 $37,223 - $48,385 per year
W-2 Insignia of a Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chief Warrant Officer 2 $40,554 - $67,687 per year GS-7 $41,365 - $53,773 per year
W-3 Insignia of a Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chief Warrant Officer 3 $45,828 - $80,392 per year GS-8 $45,810 - $59,557 per year
W-4 Insignia of a Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chief Warrant Officer 4 $50,184 - $93,478 per year GS-8 $45,810 - $59,557 per year
O-1 Insignia of a Coast Guard Ensign Ensign $36,418 - $45,824 per year GS-7 $41,365 - $53,773 per year
O-2 Insignia of a Coast Guard Lieutenant Junior Grade Lieutenant Junior Grade $41,958 - $58,068 per year GS-8 $45,810 - $59,557 per year
O-2 Insignia of a Coast Guard Lieutenant Junior Grade Lieutenant Junior Grade $41,958 - $58,068 per year GS-9 $50,598 - $65,778 per year
O-3 Insignia of a Coast Guard Lieutenant Lieutenant $48,560 - $79,002 per year GS-10 $55,720 - $72,437 per year
O-3 Insignia of a Coast Guard Lieutenant Lieutenant $48,560 - $79,002 per year GS-11 $61,218 - $79,586 per year
O-4 Insignia of a Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant Commander $55,231 - $92,218 per year GS-12 $73,375 - $95,388 per year
O-5 Insignia of a Coast Guard Commander Commander $64,012 - $108,752 per year GS-13 $87,252 - $113,428 per year
O-5 Insignia of a Coast Guard Commander Commander $64,012 - $108,752 per year GS-14 $103,106 - $134,038 per year
O-6 Insignia of a Coast Guard Captain Captain $76,784 - $135,936 per year GS-15 $121,280 - $157,663 per year
O-7 Insignia of a Coast Guard Rear Admiral Lower Half Rear Admiral Lower Half $101,257 - $151,283 per year SES Level 5 $153,800 per year
O-8 Insignia of a Coast Guard Rear Admiral Rear Admiral $121,860 - $175,676 per year SES Level 4 $164,200 per year
O-9 Insignia of a Coast Guard Vice Admiral Vice Admiral $172,224 - $186,998 per year SES Level 3 $174,500 per year
Pay Range Notes
  1. Military pay displayed in this chart is based on the 2017 military basic pay table. Note that military servicemembers also receive housing and food allowances and/or incentive pay, which are both considerable portions of their overall compensation package.
  2. Civilian pay ranges are based on the current-year 2018 General Schedule pay table, adjusted for the Rest of U.S. pay locality. Civilians who work in an area with a high cost of living, like the San Francisco bay area, earn higher base pay.
  3. E-1 and E-2 are ranks that are generally held for a short amount of time, so there are no pay raises based on years of experience like those available to higher ranks.
    4. View Military Pay
** This Document Provided By www.FederalPay.org - The Civil Employee's Resource **
Source: www.federalpay.org/military/coast-guard-ranks-to-gs-grade