How much does the captain of an aircraft carrier get paid?

O-6 Senior Officer, U.S. Navy

Navy Ranks » Captain Rank • CAPT Pay • CAPT Rank History • Promotion Information

How much does an O-6 Captain in the Navy get paid?

A Captain is a senior officer in the United States Navy at DoD paygrade O-6. A Captain receives a monthly basic pay salary starting at $7,332 per month, with raises up to $12,980 per month once they have served for over 30 years.

In addition to basic pay, Captains may receive additional pay allowances for housing and food, as well as special incentive pay for hostile fire and dangerous duties.


Including the most common pay allowances, the average total compensation for a Captain may range from $116,953.99 to $184,723.99 per year as of 2023.

Years Experience Monthly Basic Pay Yearly Basic Pay Drill Pay Hazard Pay
How much does the captain of an aircraft carrier get paid?
Starting Pay $7,332.00 / mo $87,984.00 / yr $244.40 / drill $250.00
Over 2 years $8,054.70 / mo $96,656.40 / yr $268.49 / drill $250.00
Over 3 years $8,583.30 / mo $102,999.60 / yr $286.11 / drill $250.00
Over 4 years $8,583.30 / mo $102,999.60 / yr $286.11 / drill $250.00
Over 6 years $8,616.30 / mo $103,395.60 / yr $287.21 / drill $250.00
Over 8 years $8,985.30 / mo $107,823.60 / yr $299.51 / drill $250.00
Over 10 years $9,034.50 / mo $108,414.00 / yr $301.15 / drill $250.00
Over 12 years $9,034.50 / mo $108,414.00 / yr $301.15 / drill $250.00
Over 14 years $9,547.80 / mo $114,573.60 / yr $318.26 / drill $250.00
Over 16 years $10,455.30 / mo $125,463.60 / yr $348.51 / drill $250.00
Over 18 years $10,988.10 / mo $131,857.20 / yr $366.27 / drill $250.00
Over 20 years $11,520.60 / mo $138,247.20 / yr $384.02 / drill $250.00
Over 22 years $11,823.60 / mo $141,883.20 / yr $394.12 / drill $250.00
Over 24 years $12,130.80 / mo $145,569.60 / yr $404.36 / drill $250.00
Over 26 years $12,725.40 / mo $152,704.80 / yr $424.18 / drill $250.00
Over 28 years $12,725.40 / mo $152,704.80 / yr $424.18 / drill $250.00
Over 30 years $12,979.50 / mo $155,754.00 / yr $432.65 / drill $250.00

Additional Pay & Allowances for an O-6

In addition to Basic Pay, a Captain may be eligible to receive several types of allowances and incentive pay.

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)

Basic Allowance for Housing is a monthly payment meant to subsidize a servicemember's housing while deployed. The amount of BAH received each month depends on the location in which they live.

The average Basic Housing Allowance for a Captain with dependants is $2,580.58, or $2,133.88 with no dependants.

Basic Allowance for Subsistance (BAS)

All Navy officers receive a monthly allowance for food and drink of $280.29.

Officers' BAS is lower than the enlisted BAS rate, as officers generally have access to subsidized meals in the Officers' Mess.

Hazard Pay / Hostile Fire Pay

A Captain may receive hazard pay of $250.00 / mo while serving in an active combat zone or subject to hostile fire or other hazards.


Captain Pay Calculator for 2023 As this page shows, the total compensation paid to a Navy Captain is significantly more than just basic pay. This simple pay calculator can estimate the total compensation for a Captain by adding basic pay to housing allowance (BAH) and subsistance allowance (BAS), the two largest payments received by most seamen. O-6 Basic Pay with years service $87,984.00 per year Average BAH allowance (no dependants) $25,606.51 per year Average BAS allowance (officer) $3,363.48 per year Total Estimated Compensation $116,953.99 per year The Government civilian employee equivalent of a Captain is paid under the General Schedule paygrade. To learn more, see this Navy ranks to civilian General Schedule grades conversion table .

How much does a captain of a aircraft carrier make?

Average US Navy Captain yearly pay in the United States is approximately $80,241, which is 18% above the national average.

Who is the highest ranking officer on an aircraft carrier?

Admiral (ADM, O10): The most senior Flag Rank. Assignments for Admirals include Commanders of Regional Commands, Joint Commands, Chief of Naval Operations, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

What rank is the captain of an aircraft carrier?

The Commanding Officer of an aircraft carrier must satisfy two requirements: He must be an unrestricted line officer (which enables him to command at sea) and he must be a naval aviator. He is always the rank of Captain (O-6).

How much do battleship captains make?

A Captain receives a monthly basic pay salary starting at $7,332 per month, with raises up to $12,980 per month once they have served for over 30 years. In addition to basic pay, Captains may receive additional pay allowances for housing and food, as well as special incentive pay for hostile fire and dangerous duties.