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United States Coast Guard - E-4 Petty Officer Third Class

E-4 Petty Officer Third Class

Yearly Base Pay

$31,604 - $38,369

Monthly Base Pay

$2,633.70 - $3,197.40

Hourly Base Pay *

$16.46 - $19.98

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class - Rank Details


Petty Officer Third Class (PO3)

Classification Petty Officer
Abbreviation PO3
NATO Code OR-4
Service United States Coast Guard
Address Petty Officer (last name)
What are a Petty Officer Third Class' Responsibilities?

Petty Officer Third Class is the fourth enlisted rank in the Coast Guard and the 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.

At this level, the Coast Guardsman will hold a rank and rating and be referred to by his or her "rate", eg. Yeoman Third Class (YN3) for mainly administrative and clerical work, or Fire Controlman Third Class (FC3). A key function of a Coast Guardsman E-4 that sets him or her apart from an equivalent rank in other services, is that he or she is legally empowered to act as a law enforcement and federal customs officer.

The "High Year Tenure" ruling places limitations on the length of service of a PO3, as he or she is generally required to have advanced to PO2 after a maximum of eight years in service. Failure to do so will result in the petty officer being "involuntarily separated" from active duty.

What is a Petty Officer Third Class' Paygrade?

A Petty Officer Third Class is considered a Petty Officer, with a paygrade of E-4. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly GS-4 under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.

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

Seal of the Coast Guard Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Pay Calculator

Starting pay for a Petty Officer Third Class is $2,633.70 per month, with raises for experience resulting in a maximum base pay of $3,197.40 per month. You can use the simple calculator below to see basic and drill pay for a Petty Officer Third Class, or visit our Coast Guard pay calculator for a more detailed salary estimate.


Basic Pay:

Drill Pay:

n/a Learn more
For an E-4 Petty Officer Third Class with
years of experience.

Use the slider below to calculate the basic pay and drill pay for an E-4 Petty Officer Third 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 Third Class

A Petty Officer Third Class is a Petty Officer, with a military paygrade of E-4. The civilian equivalent of this military rank is roughly GS-4 under the federal government's General Schedule payscale.

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


** This Document Provided By www.FederalPay.org - The Civil Employee's Resource **
Source: www.federalpay.org/military/coast-guard/petty-officer-third-class