United States Coast Guard - E-6 Petty Officer First Class

Petty Officer Second Class (E-5)

E-6 Petty Officer First Class

Chief Petty Officer (E-7)

Yearly Base Pay

$37,627 - $58,277

Monthly Base Pay

$3,135.60 - $4,856.40

Hourly Base Pay *

$19.60 - $30.35

Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class - Rank Details

Petty Officer First Class (PO1)

Classification	Petty Officer
Abbreviation	PO1
NATO Code	OR-6
Service	United States Coast Guard
Address	Petty Officer (last name)

What are a Petty Officer First Class' Responsibilities?

Petty Officer First Class is the sixth enlisted rank in the Coast Guard and the third lowest rank of non-commissioned officer (NCO). The rank requires a combination of technical skill in the designated occupational specialty as well as proven leadership skills. A key function of a Coast Guardsman from the rank of Petty Officer upwards is that her or she is legally empowered to act as a law enforcement and federal customs' official.

Typical of the Coast Guard, this relatively junior non-commissioned officer rank carries greater responsibility than an equivalent rank in the other armed forces. The PO1 is qualified in a technical specialty and is addressed by his or her "rate", which is a combination of rank and rating, or specialty. An example is an Electronics Technician First Class (ET1), whose responsibilities include the maintenance, installation and repair of electronic equipment at his or her unit, which might be a maintenance shop, communications station, or on board a cutter or small boat.

In terms of "High Year Tenure", a PO1 must have advanced to the next grade by his or her twentieth year in service, or face "involuntary separation" from active duty. From an E-6 pay grade in the Coast Guard, opportunities to study towards a recognised associate or bachelor's degree through a "C" School become available.

What is a Petty Officer First Class' Paygrade?

A Petty Officer First Class is considered a Petty Officer, with a paygrade of E-6. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly GS-5 under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.

On this page you can learn more about a Petty Officer First Class' payscale, the process of becoming a Petty Officer First Class, and the history of the rank in the United States Coast Guard.

Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Pay Calculator

Starting pay for a Petty Officer First Class is $3,135.60 per month, with raises for experience resulting in a maximum base pay of $4,856.40 per month. You can use the simple calculator below to see basic and drill pay for a Petty Officer First Class, or visit our Coast Guard pay calculator for a more detailed salary estimate.

Basic Pay:

Drill Pay:

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For an E-6 Petty Officer First Class with
years of experience.

Use the slider below to calculate the basic pay and drill pay for an E-6 Petty Officer First Class at varying years in his or her military career.

2 or less years

Over 40 years

Equivalent Ranks to a Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class

A Petty Officer First Class is a Petty Officer, with a military paygrade of E-6. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly GS-5 under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.

The table below lists the equivalent ranks of a Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class, and their insignia, in the other four branches of the United States' Armed Services.