Reviewed by Jonathan Teplitsky · Updated June 2026
Coast Guard Sea Pay Chart 2026
Coast Guard sea pay is a monthly special pay for members assigned to a cutter or sea-duty unit. Its official name is Career Sea Pay (CSP). The amount runs from about $50 a month up to a legal cap of $750, based on your pay grade and your cumulative years of sea duty.
CSP follows the unified Department of Defense Career Sea Pay schedule set under 37 U.S.C. § 305a. That means a Coast Guard member and a Navy Sailor at the same pay grade and sea time earn the same CSP. This schedule has not changed for 2025 or 2026, so the rates below apply to both years.
How Coast Guard Career Sea Pay Works
Your CSP rate depends on two numbers: your pay grade and your total sea time. Sea duty adds up across your whole career, not just your current tour. The more cumulative sea years you bank, the higher your monthly rate climbs — until you hit the $750 ceiling.
To read your rate, find your pay-grade row, then move across to the column for your cumulative years of sea duty. The cell where they meet is your monthly Career Sea Pay.
2026 USCG Career Sea Pay — Enlisted (Selected Cells)
| Pay Grade | ≤1 yr | >3 yrs | >8 yrs | >13 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-3 | $50 | $125 | $125 | $125 |
| E-4 | $70 | $350 | $488 | $488 |
| E-5 | $70 | $350 | $638 | $638 |
| E-6 | $135 | $350 | $638 | $694 |
| E-7 | $135 | $381 | $688 | $750 |
| E-8 / E-9 | $135 | $381 | $688 | $750 |
Figures are monthly Career Sea Pay from the DoD CSP table. A junior Seaman earns the floor; a Chief with 13+ sea years hits the $750 cap.
2026 USCG Career Sea Pay — Warrant and Officer (Selected Cells)
| Pay Grade | ≤2 yrs | >5 yrs | >12 yrs | >20 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CWO2 (W-2) | $210 | $456 | $656 | $700 |
| CWO3 (W-3) | $210 | $475 | $700 | $750 |
| CWO4 (W-4) | $210 | $506 | $700 | $750 |
| O-1 / O-2 | $100 | $325 | $419 | $494 |
| O-3 | $100 | $325 | $419 | $506 |
| O-4 | $100 | $350 | $419 | $525 |
| O-5 | $100 | $394 | $463 | $594 |
| O-6 | $100 | $400 | $544 | $669 |
The Coast Guard appoints warrants at CWO2, CWO3, and CWO4 only — there is no W-1 or W-5. See the warrant officer pay chart for basic pay.
Career Sea Pay Premium (the Sea Pay "Kicker")
The Career Sea Pay Premium (CSP-P) is extra monthly pay for long, unbroken sea tours. You earn it once you serve more than 36 consecutive months of sea duty. Members call it the sea pay "kicker."
By law the premium cannot exceed $350 a month. The Coast Guard sets the exact current amount and publishes its tables through the Coast Guard Pay and Personnel Center (PPC). Confirm your premium there, because the consecutive-month clock resets when you transfer to shore duty.
The $750 Sea Pay Cap
Career Sea Pay is capped at $750 per month by statute. No pay grade or sea-time total pushes the base CSP rate above $750. The premium is counted toward separate limits, so senior members with long sea careers reach the ceiling and stay there.
Who Gets Coast Guard Sea Pay
You qualify for Career Sea Pay when you are permanently assigned to a vessel or a sea-based staff whose mission is carried out underway. Cutter crews are the core group, and your rate (job specialty) shapes whether you serve afloat. Shore-unit members and station personnel do not draw CSP. Eligibility generally begins at E-4, with limited rates for some lower grades.
- Cutter crews: The main population earning CSP, from patrol boats to national security cutters.
- Cumulative tracking: Sea time banks across every sea tour in your career, raising your rate over time.
- Stops at shore: CSP pauses the day you report to a shore unit and restarts on your next sea tour.
Sea Pay vs Other Coast Guard Pays
Career Sea Pay is one of several add-ons that stack on basic pay. It differs from tax-free allowances and from hazard pays.
| Pay type | What it is | Taxable? | Typical monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career Sea Pay (CSP) | Special pay for sea-duty assignment | Yes | $50-$750 |
| BAH | Housing allowance by ZIP and dependents | No | $1,200-$4,500+ |
| BAS | Food allowance, flat rate | No | $465.77 enlisted |
| Sea Pay Premium | Kicker after 36 straight sea months | Yes | Up to $350 |
Estimate Your Full Coast Guard Pay
Sea pay is only one line of your paycheck. To model your full monthly take-home with basic pay, BAH, BAS, and sea pay together, use the Coast Guard pay calculator. For 2025 and 2026 basic pay by rank, see the Coast Guard pay chart, and review every add-on on the military special pays guide.
Sea Pay Example: How It Adds Up
Career Sea Pay grows with both promotions and banked sea time. A worked example shows the climb. Picture a Coast Guard machinery technician who spends most of a career afloat.
- Year 1, E-3, first cutter: About 1 year of sea time. CSP is roughly $50 a month.
- Year 5, E-5, second cutter: Now past 3 cumulative sea years. CSP jumps to about $350 a month.
- Year 12, E-6, third sea tour: Past 8 cumulative sea years. CSP reaches roughly $638 a month.
- Year 16, E-7, fourth sea tour: Past 13 sea years. CSP hits the $750 cap.
Over a sea-heavy 20-year career, those monthly amounts add up to tens of thousands of dollars in extra pay. That is the financial reward the Coast Guard uses to keep experienced crews on cutters.
Does Sea Pay Count Toward Retirement?
No. Career Sea Pay does not count toward your military retirement. Retired pay is based on your basic pay only — the High-3 average of your highest 36 months of base pay. Special pays like CSP, plus allowances like BAH and BAS, are excluded from that calculation.
This is a common surprise for sea-duty members. Your paycheck may be large while afloat, but your pension reflects basic pay alone. See the Coast Guard retirement guide for how High-3 and the Blended Retirement System work.
Sources
USCG PPC Career Sea Pay tables, DFAS pay tables, 37 U.S.C. § 305a.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Coast Guard sea pay in 2026?
Career Sea Pay for members on cutters or sea-duty units — about $50 up to the $750 monthly cap, set by pay grade and cumulative sea years.
How much is Coast Guard sea pay per month?
$50-$160 for junior members with little sea time; $638-$688 for mid-career E-6/E-7 with 8+ sea years; $750 max.
What is the Coast Guard sea pay kicker?
The Career Sea Pay Premium — extra pay after 36 consecutive months of sea duty, capped by law at $350/mo.
Who qualifies for Coast Guard sea pay?
Members permanently assigned to a vessel or sea-based staff. Shore-tour members do not get it; eligibility generally starts at E-4.
Is Coast Guard sea pay the same as Navy sea pay?
Yes — one DoD-wide CSP schedule under 37 U.S.C. 305a.