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How do you make more money as a new recruit of the U.S. Navy? You’ll need to work your way up the Navy enlisted ranks one position at a time.
When you start out in the Navy you’ll enter as a Seaman Recruit (E-1), the lowest rung on the totem pole. New recruits make base pay of about $1,500 per month after enlisting.
After you gain some experience and improve your standing you might find yourself with more seniority and a bigger paycheck. The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (E-9) makes over $7,500 per month in base pay. Not too bad, right?
Explore all of the Navy enlisted ranks from highest to lowest:
| Pay Grade | Insignia | Title | Abbreviation | Total Active | Salary |
| E-9 |  |
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy | MCPON | 2,569 | Pay Chart |
| E-9 |  |
Master Chief Petty Officer | MCPO | 2,569 | Pay Chart |
| E-8 |  |
Senior Chief Petty Officer | SCPO | 6,466 | Pay Chart |
| E-7 |  |
Chief Petty Officer | CPO | 20,660 | Pay Chart |
| E-6 |  |
Petty Officer First Class | PO1 | 47,255 | Pay Chart |
| E-5 |  |
Petty Officer Second Class | PO2 | 63,482 | Pay Chart |
| E-4 |  |
Petty Officer Third Class | PO3 | 51,290 | Pay Chart |
| E-3 |  |
Seaman | SN | 55,349 | Pay Chart |
| E-2 |  |
Seaman Apprentice | SA | 14,650 | Pay Chart |
| E-1 | No Insignia | Seaman Recruit | SR | 9,702 | Pay Chart |
Conclusion
Whether you are looking to move up just one rank in the Navy or all the way to the top, this Navy rank chart will be your roadmap. You will need to meet the requirements to move up one spot at a time. Yes, it may take many years to get where you want to go, but it will be worth it.
Be sure to check out our military pay chart to see how much you could make by working your way up the rankings.
Have a question about these Navy enlisted ranks? Just ask!
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Active Duty Personnel Stats via DMDC