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

Seaman (E-3)

E-4 Petty Officer Third Class

Petty Officer Second Class (E-5)

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.

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:

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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.