U.S. Navy Ranks List - Lowest to Highest

U.S. Navy: List of Ranks, Insignia, and Pay Range

An enlisted member enters the Navy as a Seaman Recruit. After completing basic training, the enlisted recuits advances to Seaman. The next notable advancement is to a Noncommissioned Officer.

The highest rank attainable in the Navy is the five-star Fleet Admiral. In 1944, Congress created the rank Fleet Admiral to be granted to four people. There has been no authorization to use the rank since the World War II era.

The table below lists all the standard ranks in the U.S. Navy and their respective pay grades, insignias, abbreviations, and classifications. Click any rank to view detailed information about that rank's duties, pay, promotions, and more.

Navy Ranks - Enlisted and Officer, from Lowest to Highest

Pay Grade	Insignia	Rank	Abbreviation	Classification	2017 Pay Range
E-1	No Insignia	Seaman Recruit	SR	Junior Enlisted	$1,600 per month
E-2		Seaman Apprentice	SA	Junior Enlisted	$1,793 per month
E-3		Seaman	SN	Junior Enlisted	$22,630 - $25,510 per year
E-4		Petty Officer Third Class	PO3	Noncommissioned Officer	$25,067 - $30,427 per year
E-5		Petty Officer Second Class	PO2	Noncommissioned Officer	$27,338 - $38,794 per year
E-6		Petty Officer First Class	PO1	Noncommissioned Officer	$29,840 - $46,220 per year
E-7		Chief Petty Officer	CPO	Senior Noncommissioned Officer	$34,502 - $62,010 per year
E-8		Senior Chief Petty Officer	SCPO	Senior Noncommissioned Officer	$49,633 - $70,787 per year
E-9		Master Chief Petty Officer	MCPO	Senior Noncommissioned Officer	$60,631 - $94,136 per year
E-9		Command Master Chief Petty Officer	CMDCM	Senior Enlisted Advisor	$60,631 - $94,136 per year
E-9		Master Chief Petty Officer Of The Navy	MCPON	Senior Enlisted Advisor	$60,631 - $94,136 per year
W-2		Chief Warrant Officer 2	CW2	Warrant Officer	$40,554 - $67,687 per year
W-3		Chief Warrant Officer 3	CW3	Warrant Officer	$45,828 - $80,392 per year
W-4		Chief Warrant Officer 4	CW4	Warrant Officer	$50,184 - $93,478 per year
W-5		Chief Warrant Officer 5	CW5	Warrant Officer	$89,233 - $116,770 per year
O-1		Ensign	ENS	Junior Officer	$36,418 - $45,824 per year
O-2		Lieutenant Junior Grade	LTJG	Junior Officer	$41,958 - $58,068 per year
O-3		Lieutenant	LT	Junior Officer	$48,560 - $79,002 per year
O-4		Lieutenant Commander	LCDR	Junior Officer	$55,231 - $92,218 per year
O-5		Commander	CDR	Senior Officer	$64,012 - $108,752 per year
O-6		Captain	CAPT	Senior Officer	$76,784 - $135,936 per year
O-7		Rear Admiral Lower Half	RDML	Flag Officer	$101,257 - $151,283 per year
O-8		Rear Admiral	RADM	Flag Officer	$121,860 - $175,676 per year
O-9		Vice Admiral	VADM	Flag Officer	$172,224 - $186,998 per year
O-10		Admiral	ADM	Flag Officer	$15,583 per month
O-11		Fleet Admiral	FADM	Flag Officer	n/a

To see how Navy ranks compare to civilian employees, see our Navy ranks to GS grades comparison table.

All Navy Ranks