Career Sea Pay
Validated May 2026
Career Sea Pay (CSP) is a monthly special pay for service members assigned to qualifying sea duty. The rate is determined by branch, pay grade, and total cumulative sea duty (CSD) — time accrued across an entire career, not just the current assignment. An additional Career Sea Pay Premium (CSP-P) is payable after 36 consecutive months of unbroken sea duty.
2026 Rates
Each branch has its own rate table with a separate effective date. Rates are in dollars per month.
Army (eff. October 1, 2002)
CSD: 1 or less through Over 8 years
| Pay Grade | ≤1 yr | >1 yr | >2 yr | >3 yr | >4 yr | >5 yr | >6 yr | >7 yr | >8 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-6 | — | — | — | $225 | $230 | $230 | $240 | $255 | $265 |
| O-5 | — | — | — | $225 | $225 | $225 | $225 | $230 | $245 |
| O-4 | — | — | — | $185 | $190 | $200 | $205 | $215 | $220 |
| O-3 | — | — | — | $150 | $160 | $185 | $190 | $195 | $205 |
| O-2 | — | — | — | $150 | $160 | $185 | $190 | $195 | $205 |
| O-1 | — | — | — | $150 | $160 | $185 | $190 | $195 | $205 |
| W-5 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $310 | $338 | $506 | $534 | $534 | $534 |
| W-4 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $310 | $338 | $506 | $534 | $534 | $534 |
| W-3 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $310 | $338 | $478 | $492 | $499 | $506 |
| W-2 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $310 | $338 | $464 | $471 | $471 | $478 |
| W-1 | $182 | $189 | $196 | $310 | $338 | $345 | $380 | $450 | $478 |
| E-9 | $130 | $130 | $156 | $328 | $347 | $425 | $425 | $458 | $477 |
| E-8 | $130 | $130 | $156 | $328 | $347 | $425 | $425 | $458 | $477 |
| E-7 | $130 | $130 | $156 | $328 | $347 | $425 | $425 | $458 | $477 |
| E-6 | $130 | $130 | $156 | $295 | $321 | $380 | $393 | $425 | $425 |
| E-5 | $65 | $78 | $156 | $295 | $321 | $380 | $393 | $425 | $425 |
| E-4 | $65 | $78 | $156 | $295 | $308 | $308 | $308 | $308 | $308 |
| E-3 | $50 | $60 | $120 | $150 | $160 | $170 | $190 | $190 | $190 |
| E-2 | $50 | $60 | $120 | $150 | $160 | $170 | $170 | $170 | $170 |
| E-1 | $50 | $60 | $120 | $150 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 |
O-6
O-5
O-4
O-3
O-2
O-1
W-5
W-4
W-3
W-2
W-1
E-9
E-8
E-7
E-6
E-5
E-4
E-3
E-2
E-1
CSD: Over 9 through Over 20 years
| Pay Grade | >9 yr | >10 yr | >11 yr | >12 yr | >13 yr | >14 yr | >16 yr | >18 yr | >20 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-6 | $280 | $290 | $300 | $310 | $310 | $325 | $340 | $355 | $380 |
| O-5 | $250 | $260 | $265 | $265 | $265 | $285 | $300 | $315 | $340 |
| O-4 | $220 | $225 | $225 | $240 | $240 | $270 | $280 | $290 | $300 |
| O-3 | $215 | $225 | $225 | $240 | $240 | $260 | $270 | $280 | $290 |
| O-2 | $215 | $225 | $225 | $240 | $240 | $250 | $260 | $270 | $280 |
| O-1 | $215 | $225 | $225 | $240 | $240 | $250 | $260 | $270 | $280 |
| W-5 | $534 | $590 | $625 | $660 | $660 | $730 | $730 | $730 | $730 |
| W-4 | $534 | $590 | $625 | $660 | $660 | $730 | $730 | $730 | $730 |
| W-3 | $534 | $590 | $625 | $660 | $660 | $695 | $695 | $695 | $695 |
| W-2 | $534 | $576 | $576 | $625 | $625 | $625 | $625 | $625 | $625 |
| W-1 | $520 | $555 | $555 | $555 | $555 | $555 | $555 | $555 | $555 |
| E-9 | $490 | $490 | $503 | $516 | $555 | $588 | $620 | $646 | $646 |
| E-8 | $490 | $490 | $503 | $516 | $555 | $588 | $620 | $646 | $646 |
| E-7 | $490 | $490 | $503 | $516 | $555 | $588 | $620 | $620 | $620 |
| E-6 | $445 | $445 | $445 | $464 | $484 | $503 | $523 | $555 | $555 |
| E-5 | $425 | $425 | $425 | $425 | $425 | $425 | $425 | $425 | $425 |
| E-4 | $308 | $308 | $308 | $308 | $308 | $308 | $308 | $308 | $308 |
| E-3 | $190 | $190 | $190 | $190 | $190 | $190 | $190 | $190 | $190 |
| E-2 | $170 | $170 | $170 | $170 | $170 | $170 | $170 | $170 | $170 |
| E-1 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 |
O-6
O-5
O-4
O-3
O-2
O-1
W-5
W-4
W-3
W-2
W-1
E-9
E-8
E-7
E-6
E-5
E-4
E-3
E-2
E-1
Army O-1 through O-6: no CSP for the first 3 cumulative CSD years (—). Army E-4 through E-9 and W-1 through W-5: CSP-P not separately payable for duty on or after July 1, 2003.
Navy and Marine Corps (eff. May 1, 2014)
For E-5 through E-9 with over 8 CSD years, the $200/month CSP-P is embedded in the rates below — no separate CSP-P is paid. All other eligible grades receive CSP-P as a separate $200/month item after 36 consecutive months.
CSD: 1 or less through Over 8 years
| Pay Grade | ≤1 yr | >1 yr | >2 yr | >3 yr | >4 yr | >5 yr | >6 yr | >7 yr | >8 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-6 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $394 | $400 | $400 | $419 | $450 | $463 |
| O-5 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $394 | $394 | $394 | $394 | $400 | $431 |
| O-4 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $325 | $331 | $350 | $356 | $375 | $388 |
| O-3 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $263 | $281 | $325 | $331 | $344 | $356 |
| O-2 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $263 | $281 | $325 | $331 | $344 | $356 |
| O-1 | $100 | $100 | $100 | $263 | $281 | $325 | $331 | $344 | $356 |
| W-5 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $263 | $300 | $506 | $544 | $544 | $544 |
| W-4 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $263 | $300 | $506 | $544 | $544 | $544 |
| W-3 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $263 | $300 | $475 | $494 | $500 | $506 |
| W-2 | $210 | $210 | $210 | $263 | $300 | $456 | $463 | $463 | $475 |
| W-1 | $180 | $190 | $195 | $263 | $300 | $306 | $350 | $438 | $475 |
| E-9 | $135 | $135 | $160 | $381 | $400 | $438 | $438 | $469 | $688 |
| E-8 | $135 | $135 | $160 | $381 | $400 | $438 | $438 | $469 | $688 |
| E-7 | $135 | $135 | $160 | $381 | $400 | $438 | $438 | $469 | $688 |
| E-6 | $135 | $135 | $160 | $350 | $375 | $394 | $406 | $438 | $638 |
| E-5 | $70 | $80 | $160 | $350 | $375 | $394 | $406 | $438 | $638 |
| E-4 | $70 | $80 | $160 | $350 | $363 | $363 | $363 | $363 | $488 |
| E-3 | $50 | $60 | $100 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 |
| E-2 | $50 | $60 | $75 | $94 | $94 | $94 | $94 | $94 | $94 |
| E-1 | $50 | $50 | $50 | $63 | $63 | $63 | $63 | $63 | $63 |
O-6
O-5
O-4
O-3
O-2
O-1
W-5
W-4
W-3
W-2
W-1
E-9
E-8
E-7
E-6
E-5
E-4
E-3
E-2
E-1
CSD: Over 9 through Over 20 years
| Pay Grade | >9 yr | >10 yr | >11 yr | >12 yr | >13 yr | >14 yr | >16 yr | >18 yr | >20 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-6 | $494 | $506 | $525 | $544 | $544 | $569 | $594 | $625 | $669 |
| O-5 | $438 | $456 | $463 | $463 | $463 | $500 | $525 | $550 | $594 |
| O-4 | $388 | $394 | $394 | $419 | $419 | $475 | $494 | $506 | $525 |
| O-3 | $375 | $394 | $394 | $419 | $419 | $456 | $475 | $494 | $506 |
| O-2 | $375 | $394 | $394 | $419 | $419 | $438 | $456 | $475 | $494 |
| O-1 | $375 | $394 | $394 | $419 | $419 | $438 | $456 | $475 | $494 |
| W-5 | $544 | $613 | $656 | $700 | $700 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 |
| W-4 | $544 | $613 | $656 | $700 | $700 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 |
| W-3 | $544 | $613 | $656 | $700 | $700 | $744 | $744 | $750 | $750 |
| W-2 | $544 | $594 | $594 | $656 | $656 | $700 | $700 | $700 | $700 |
| W-1 | $525 | $569 | $569 | $594 | $594 | $631 | $656 | $656 | $656 |
| E-9 | $700 | $700 | $713 | $725 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 |
| E-8 | $700 | $700 | $713 | $725 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 |
| E-7 | $700 | $700 | $713 | $725 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 | $750 |
| E-6 | $656 | $656 | $656 | $675 | $694 | $713 | $731 | $750 | $750 |
| E-5 | $638 | $638 | $638 | $638 | $638 | $638 | $638 | $638 | $638 |
| E-4 | $488 | $488 | $488 | $488 | $488 | $488 | $488 | $488 | $488 |
| E-3 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 | $125 |
| E-2 | $94 | $94 | $94 | $94 | $94 | $94 | $94 | $94 | $94 |
| E-1 | $63 | $63 | $63 | $63 | $63 | $63 | $63 | $63 | $63 |
O-6
O-5
O-4
O-3
O-2
O-1
W-5
W-4
W-3
W-2
W-1
E-9
E-8
E-7
E-6
E-5
E-4
E-3
E-2
E-1
Air Force (eff. May 1, 1988)
Air Force enlisted below E-4 are not eligible for CSP. No warrant officer grades are listed for Air Force.
CSD: 1 or less through Over 8 years
| Pay Grade | ≤1 yr | >1 yr | >2 yr | >3 yr | >4 yr | >5 yr | >6 yr | >7 yr | >8 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-6 | — | — | — | $225 | $230 | $230 | $240 | $255 | $265 |
| O-5 | — | — | — | $225 | $225 | $225 | $225 | $230 | $245 |
| O-4 | — | — | — | $185 | $190 | $200 | $205 | $215 | $220 |
| O-3 | — | — | — | $150 | $160 | $185 | $190 | $195 | $205 |
| O-2 | — | — | — | $150 | $160 | $185 | $190 | $195 | $205 |
| O-1 | — | — | — | $150 | $160 | $185 | $190 | $195 | $205 |
| E-9 | $100 | $100 | $120 | $175 | $190 | $350 | $350 | $375 | $390 |
| E-8 | $100 | $100 | $120 | $175 | $190 | $350 | $350 | $375 | $390 |
| E-7 | $100 | $100 | $120 | $175 | $190 | $350 | $350 | $375 | $390 |
| E-6 | $100 | $100 | $120 | $150 | $170 | $315 | $325 | $350 | $350 |
| E-5 | $50 | $60 | $120 | $150 | $170 | $315 | $325 | $350 | $350 |
| E-4 | $50 | $60 | $120 | $150 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 |
O-6
O-5
O-4
O-3
O-2
O-1
E-9
E-8
E-7
E-6
E-5
E-4
CSD: Over 9 through Over 20 years
| Pay Grade | >9 yr | >10 yr | >11 yr | >12 yr | >13 yr | >14 yr | >16 yr | >18 yr | >20 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-6 | $280 | $290 | $300 | $310 | $310 | $325 | $340 | $355 | $380 |
| O-5 | $250 | $260 | $265 | $265 | $265 | $285 | $300 | $315 | $340 |
| O-4 | $220 | $225 | $225 | $240 | $240 | $270 | $280 | $290 | $300 |
| O-3 | $215 | $225 | $225 | $240 | $240 | $260 | $270 | $280 | $290 |
| O-2 | $215 | $225 | $225 | $240 | $240 | $250 | $260 | $270 | $280 |
| O-1 | $215 | $225 | $225 | $240 | $240 | $250 | $260 | $270 | $280 |
| E-9 | $400 | $400 | $410 | $420 | $450 | $475 | $520 | $520 | $520 |
| E-8 | $400 | $400 | $410 | $420 | $450 | $475 | $500 | $520 | $520 |
| E-7 | $400 | $400 | $410 | $420 | $450 | $475 | $500 | $500 | $500 |
| E-6 | $365 | $365 | $365 | $380 | $395 | $410 | $425 | $450 | $450 |
| E-5 | $350 | $350 | $350 | $350 | $350 | $350 | $350 | $350 | $350 |
| E-4 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 | $160 |
O-6
O-5
O-4
O-3
O-2
O-1
E-9
E-8
E-7
E-6
E-5
E-4
Air Force O-1 through O-6: no CSP for the first 3 cumulative CSD years (—). Air Force E-5 through E-9 with over 5 CSD years: CSP-P not separately payable.
Career Sea Pay Premium (CSP-P)
CSP-P is a separate monthly payment after 36 consecutive months of sea duty, beginning with the 37th month. It is prorated if it starts mid-month.
| Branch | Grades eligible for separate CSP-P |
|---|---|
| Navy / Marine Corps | O-1–O-6; W-1–W-5; E-1–E-4; E-5–E-9 with ≤8 CSD years |
| Army | O-1–O-6; E-1–E-3 |
| Air Force | O-1–O-6; E-4; E-5–E-9 with ≤5 CSD years |
Current CSP-P rate (Navy/MC): $200/month. Statutory ceiling: $350/month.
For all other grades, CSP-P is either embedded in the branch rate table or not payable.
Eligibility
- Must be entitled to basic pay and serving on qualifying sea duty
- Eligible pay grades: E-1 through O-6; no CSP at O-7 and above
- Army and Air Force commissioned officers (O-1–O-6): $0 for first 3 cumulative CSD years
- Air Force enlisted below E-4: not eligible
- Midshipmen, aviation cadets, and academy cadets: not eligible
- Coast Guard: not addressed in DoD FMR Vol. 7A Chapter 18
Qualifying sea duty includes (§2.2.3):
- Permanent or temporary assignment to a ship whose primary mission is accomplished underway
- Assignment to a ship whose primary mission is in port, while that ship is more than 50 miles from homeport
- Serving as off-crew member of a two-crewed vessel
Does not qualify:
- En route travel to/from ships outside CONUS
- Riding a ship as a passenger for transportation
- Terminal leave periods
Pay Limits
| Limit | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum monthly CSP | $750 | 37 U.S.C. §352; DoD FMR Vol. 7A §4.1 |
| Maximum monthly CSP-P | $350 | 37 U.S.C. §352; DoD FMR Vol. 7A §4.2 |
| Current CSP-P rate (Navy/MC) | $200 | DoD FMR Vol. 7A Ch. 18 |
| Duration of authority | Requires Congressional reauthorization | NDAA FY2024, P.L. 118-31, §613 (Dec 22, 2023) |
Maximum monthly CSP
Maximum monthly CSP-P
Current CSP-P rate (Navy/MC)
Duration of authority
What This Means for Your Pay
Your CSD never resets. Every qualifying sea duty period across your entire career accumulates. A sailor who completes 4 years of sea duty, leaves service, and rejoins still carries those 4 years when their new assignment's CSP rate is calculated.
The consecutive clock for CSP-P is different. Any shore assignment — even a brief one — resets the 36-month consecutive counter to zero. Your CSD total for base CSP rate purposes is unaffected.
TDY and leave absences under 30 days per occurrence still count. Each single absence up to 30 consecutive days continues to accrue CSD and the consecutive streak. Day 31 of the same absence stops accrual.
CSP-P may not appear as a separate LES line. For Navy/MC E-5 through E-9 with over 8 CSD years, the $200 CSP-P is embedded in the Navy/MC rate shown above and will not show as a separate entry. For other eligible members who qualify by consecutive time, it appears as a distinct line item.
Branch matters more than you might expect. A Navy/MC E-6 with 10 years CSD earns $656/month; the same grade and CSD in Army earns $445/month; Air Force earns $365/month.
Common Mistakes
Treating CSD as consecutive. CSD counts total career sea time and drives your CSP rate. Consecutive sea duty is only used for CSP-P eligibility. A member can have 12 years CSD (qualifying for the highest rate columns) but zero CSP-P entitlement if their current consecutive streak just restarted.
Cross-applying branch rate tables. Army, Navy/MC, and Air Force tables are separate authoritative sources with different effective dates and meaningfully different values. There is no universal DoD sea pay table.
Double-paying CSP-P for Navy/MC E-5 through E-9 with over 8 CSD years. The Navy/MC rate table above already embeds $200 CSP-P in those cells. Calculating base CSP plus a separate $200 on top overstates the member's pay.
Assuming Army senior enlisted and warrant officers can earn separate CSP-P. Army E-4 through E-9 and W-1 through W-5 are permanently barred from separate CSP-P for duty on or after July 1, 2003, regardless of how many consecutive sea months they accumulate.
Crediting transport time as sea duty. Time aboard a ship as a passenger, or traveling to/from a ship outside CONUS, does not count. No CSD and no consecutive streak accrues during those periods.
Assuming Army/Air Force officers earn CSP from their first day at sea. Navy/MC officers receive at least $100/month starting their first day. Army and Air Force O-1 through O-6 receive $0 until they exceed 3 cumulative CSD years.
Citation
Statute: 37 U.S.C. § 352
Regulation: DoD Financial Management Regulation (FMR) Volume 7A, Chapter 18, "Special Pay — Career Sea Pay (CSP)"
Implementation: DoDI 1340.26, September 25, 2017, Change 1, effective January 11, 2019
Duration of authority: NDAA FY2024, Public Law 118-31, § 613, December 22, 2023
Official rate tables (DFAS):
- Army CSP — eff. October 1, 2002
- Navy and Marine Corps CSP — eff. May 1, 2014
- Air Force CSP — eff. May 1, 1988
Validated May 2026