Salary in the Royal Navy is made up of three parts – core salary (which is based on rank) plus the supplement or step rate, plus the X-Factor.
On this guide to Royal Navy ranks and pay, you can find pay charts for all each rank in the Royal Navy and in the Royal Marines and for each step within that rank. Click on the links below to scroll to a specific section.
Royal Navy pay rise 2023
In July 2023, the Government announced a 2023/24 pay rise for members of the Royal Navy (and the rest of the armed forces) of 5%. In addition, all full-time UK Regular personnel will receive a £1,000 increase in basic salary.
This approach means that personnel receive an overall increase in 2023 of between 5.8% (one star officers) and 9.7% (most junior ranks).
How is pay set in the Royal Navy
The Armed Forces Pay Review Body (AFPRB) reviews pay across the British Armed Forces. A range of organisations, including the Ministry of Defence, provide evidence and, each year the AFPRB produces a report with its recommendations for pay increases.
The Ministry of Defence reviews the report and takes the final decision on what pay rise should be given each year. It doesn’t have to accept the AFPRB’s recommendation, but it usually does.
The process is similar for all major groups working in the British Public Sector.
Royal Navy X-Factor
The pay tables below all include additional X-Factor payments.
X-Factor payments exist to ensure that pay in the armed forces is comparable to pay for civilians working in the public sector. They are reviewed every five years, and are currently set at 14.5% on top of basic (core) pay for full time personnel.
X-Factor payments are pensionable.
Royal Marines Pay
Royal Marines salary is calculated in exactly the same way for the rest of the Royal Navy. The only thing that is different is the rank titles – we have indicated through the article the royal marine rank that each level of the pay scale applies to.
Royal Navy Pay Steps / Supplements
Every member of the Other Ranks in the Royal Navy is placed into one of four trade supplement groups (also known as Steps). The value of these steps is paid in addition to core pay.
Steps are calculated based on scoring of evidence from Job Evaluations.
Step payments are, like X-Factor payments, pensionable.
Able Rating / Marine in Training (OR-1)
New Royal Navy recruits receive this salary while they are doing their Initial Naval Training. They join as an Able Rating a rank which they retain once they have completed their training (although they do then get a pay increase).
You can read more about training in the Royal Navy on the MOD website, or you can read about training for Royal Marines.
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR-1 | £18,687 | £18,687 | £18,687 | £18,687 |
Able Rating / Marine (OR-2 & OR-3)
An Able Rating (previously called an Able Seaman) is the lowest rank within the Royal Navy. The equivalent role in the Royal Marines is simply ‘Marine’.
The Royal Navy invests heavily in the ongoing training of Able Ratings as they begin to specialise into roles such as engineering, communications, logistics, HR, and even food, drink and hospitality.
There are ten level in this grouping, split across both OR-2 and OR-3.
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR-3-3 | £33,596 | £34,497 | £35,203 | £35,870 |
| OR-2-9 / OR-3-2 | £32,148 | £32,965 | £33,589 | £34,166 |
| OR-2-8 / OR-3-1 | £30,769 | £31,460 | £32,055 | £32,596 |
| OR-2-7 | £29,473 | £30,039 | £30,633 | £31,012 |
| OR-2-6 | £28,213 | £28,605 | £29,095 | £29,459 |
| OR-2-5 | £27,227 | £27,245 | £27,636 | £28,000 |
| OR-2-4 | £25,937 | £26,228 | £26,530 | £26,530 |
| OR-2-3 | £24,400 | £24,400 | £24,400 | £24,400 |
| OR-2-2 | £24,400 | £24,400 | £24,400 | £24,400 |
| OR-2-1 | £23,496 | £23,496 | £23,496 | £23,496 |
Leading Rating / Lance Corporal (OR-4)
Able Ratings can be promoted to become Leading Ratings, also known as a Leading Hand. In this role they can further specialise. They often also take on the management of Able Rates.
The equivalent rank in the Royal Marines is Lance Corporal
There are six levels of pay for Leading Ratings.
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR-4-6 | £38,190 | £39,439 | £41,062 | £42,260 |
| OR-4-5 | £37,668 | £38,918 | £40,348 | £41,451 |
| OR-4-4 | £37,174 | £38,407 | £39,537 | £40,504 |
| OR-4-3 | £36,646 | £37,677 | £38,689 | £39,599 |
| OR-4-2 | £35,718 | £36,728 | £37,711 | £38,622 |
| OR-4-1 | £35,718 | £36,728 | £37,711 | £38,622 |
Petty Officer / Sergeant (OR5 / OR6)
Petty Officers have increasing responsibility in their areas of expertise, often this includes managing small teams of ratings. In the Royal Marines, the equivalent rank is Sergeant.
Once appointed, Petty Officers and Sergeants can progress up through six levels of pay.
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR-6-6 | £44,091 | £45,905 | £47,480 | £49,330 |
| OR-6-5 | £43,060 | £44,793 | £46,319 | £48,091 |
| OR-6-4 | £42,039 | £43,563 | £45,215 | £46,897 |
| OR-6-3 | £41,031 | £42,443 | £44,155 | £45,718 |
| OR-6-2 | £40,058 | £41,374 | £43,080 | £44,462 |
| OR-6-1 | £40,058 | £41,374 | £43,080 | £44,462 |
Chief Petty Officer / Colour Sergeant (OR-7)
Petty Officers in the Royal Navy are equivalent to Colour Sergeants in the Royal Marines, Staff Sergeants in the Army and Flight Sergeants in the RAF.
Chief Petty Officers have an important role liaising with officers. Also, as well as ongoing training in their areas of specialisation they take on increasing management roles.
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR-8-6 | £52,520 | £54,153 | £55,296 | £56,858 |
| OR-8-5 | £51,656 | £53,471 | £54,973 | £56,536 |
| OR-8-4 | £50,812 | £52,767 | £54,631 | £56,193 |
| OR-8-3 | £49,843 | £52,059 | £54,249 | £55,784 |
| OR-8-2 | £48,819 | £51,035 | £53,498 | £55,210 |
| OR-8-1 | £48,819 | £51,035 | £53,498 | £55,210 |
| OR-7-6 | £47,792 | £49,748 | £52,055 | £53,734 |
| OR-7-5 | £47,068 | £49,025 | £51,050 | £52,919 |
| OR-7-4 | £46,375 | £48,332 | £50,176 | £52,045 |
| OR-7-3 | £45,658 | £47,614 | £49,326 | £51,196 |
| OR-7-2 | £44,966 | £46,815 | £48,477 | £50,393 |
| OR-7-1 | £44,966 | £46,815 | £48,477 | £50,393 |
Warrant Officer 2 (OR-8)
Warrant Officer 2 is the more junior of the two Warrant Officer ranks in the RN. The title is the almost identical in the Royal Marines where they are called Warrant Officer Class 2.
The rank was briefly abolished by the Royal Navy in 2014 in favour of a single WO rate, but was reintroduced in April 2022
A Warrant Officer 2 is a highly qualified and experienced specialist. As well as expertise in their field, they take on management responsibility for larger sections. They also act as an important liaison between lower ranks and officers.
There are six levels of pay for Warrant Officers Class 2.
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR-8-6 | £52,520 | £54,153 | £55,296 | £56,858 |
| OR-8-5 | £51,656 | £53,471 | £54,973 | £56,536 |
| OR-8-4 | £50,812 | £52,767 | £54,631 | £56,193 |
| OR-8-3 | £49,843 | £52,059 | £54,249 | £55,784 |
| OR-8-2 | £48,819 | £51,035 | £53,498 | £55,210 |
| OR-8-1 | £48,819 | £51,035 | £53,498 | £55,210 |
Warrant Officer 1 (OR-9)
Warrant Officer 1 is primarily an executive, command and leadership function, and rank holders often act as senior advisors to commissioned officers. It is the the most senior non-commissioned role in the Royal Navy.
The equivalent role in the Royal Marines is Warrant Officer Class 1.
| Level | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR-9-6 | £58,559 | £58,559 | £58,559 | £60,111 |
| OR-9-5 | £57,976 | £57,976 | £57,976 | £59,586 |
| OR-9-4 | £57,340 | £57,340 | £57,340 | £59,028 |
| OR-9-3 | £56,703 | £56,703 | £56,703 | £58,477 |
| OR-9-2 | £56,383 | £56,383 | £56,383 | £57,989 |
| OR-9-1 | £56,383 | £56,383 | £56,383 | £57,989 |
Cadet Officer (OF-0)
Cadet Officers in the Royal Navy are those undertaking their initial officer training, and in the Royal Marines by cadets taking the Young Officer Training Course.
Cadet Officers in the Royal Navy usually train for around 30 weeks, so are unlikely to progress beyond OF 0-1, The Royal Marines training course is longer (usually 15 months), so all cadets should reach at least OF 0-2.
| Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| OF-0-3 | £23,924 |
| OF-0-2 | £21,778 |
| OF-0-1 | £18,555 |
Midshipman / Sub-Lieutenant (OF-1)
On completing training, officers in the Royal Navy become Midshipmen where they continue their training. They are automatically promoted to the rank Sub-Lieutenant after 12 months of service as a Midshipman.
During the early parts of their career, a Sub-Lieutenant will continue their training in the skills required to become an officer, as well as in areas of specialism.
In the Royal Marines, the equivalent ranks in OF-1 are Sub-Lieutenant and Lieutenant.
| Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| OF-1-5 | £41,262 |
| OF-1-4 | £39,982 |
| OF-1-3 | £38,704 |
| OF-1-2 | £37,425 |
| OF-1-1 | £31,305 |
Lieutenant (OF-2)
Sub Lieutenants are usually automatically promoted to become a Lieutenant after 30 months of service. Lieutenant is usually a Naval officer’s first operational role. Since 2000, this is the last role into which someone can be automatically promoted.
The equivalent rank in the Royal Marines is Captain.
| Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| OF-2-8 | £56,512 |
| OF-2-7 | £55,040 |
| OF-2-6 | £53,568 |
| OF-2-5 | £52,096 |
| OF-2-4 | £50,624 |
| OF-2-3 | £49,152 |
| OF-2-2 | £47,680 |
| OF-2-1 | £47,680 |
Lieutenant Commander (OF-3)
Lieutenant Commander is a command role in the Royal Navy. Usually, in smaller units, Lieutenant Commanders will be either Commanding Officers (CO) or Executive Officers (XO). They can also lead departments.
The role requires extensive management skills.
The equivalent rank in the Royal Marines is Major.
| Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| OF-3-13 | £78,749 |
| OF-3-12 | £77,225 |
| OF-3-11 | £75,730 |
| OF-3-10 | £74,265 |
| OF-3-9 | £72,828 |
| OF-3-8 | £71,420 |
| OF-3-7 | £69,483 |
| OF-3-6 | £67,547 |
| OF-3-5 | £65,610 |
| OF-3-4 | £63,673 |
| OF-3-3 | £61,736 |
| OF-3-2 | £59,799 |
| OF-3-1 | £59,799 |
Commander (OF-4)
Commanders often command warships or submarines of the Royal Navy, but can often also have roles on shore, including liaison with other parts of the military, the MOD, or other militaries around the world.
The equivalent role in the Royal Marines is Lieutenant Colonel.
There are eight levels in the Commander pay scale, from OF4-1 to OF4-8.
| Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| OF-4-8 | £96,556 |
| OF-4-7 | £94,385 |
| OF-4-6 | £92,212 |
| OF-4-5 | £90,040 |
| OF-4-4 | £87,868 |
| OF-4-3 | £85,703 |
| OF-4-2 | £83,524 |
| OF-4-1 | £83,524 |
Captain (OF-5)
A Captain, as the name suggests, often commands larger warships in the Royal Navy. They can also hold senior ground-based roles.
As with Commanders, there are eight levels of pay for Captains in the Royal Navy.
The equivalent rank in the Royal Marines is Colonel.
| Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| OF-5-8 | £110,905 |
| OF-5-7 | £109,251 |
| OF-5-6 | £107,596 |
| OF-5-5 | £105,942 |
| OF-5-4 | £104,288 |
| OF-5-3 | £102,633 |
| OF-5-2 | £100,979 |
| OF-5-1 | £100,979 |
Commodore (OF-6)
Commodores command large units in the Royal Navy. The equivalent rank in the Royal Marines is Brigadier.
| Level | Salary |
|---|---|
| OF-6-6 | £124,964 |
| OF-6-5 | £123,759 |
| OF-6-4 | £122,554 |
| OF-6-3 | £121,349 |
| OF-6-2 | £120,143 |
| OF-6-1 | £120,143 |
Sources
Salary information on this page comes from the reports published by the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. You can find a link to this year’s report below, along with details of other key sources.
Armed Forces Pay Review Body Report