Originally posted by: Rent
Originally posted by: chusteczka
Interestingly, I am making as much now with an engineering degree as I would be if I had stayed in the Navy as enlisted, been lucky enough to achieve E-8, and continue to receive submarine duty pay. I am also making about the same as if I was to obtain a commission and reenter service. It would be good to do what I can to stay above that marker.
At what grade though?
You're pretty much screwed if you're a E-4 or below and single in my neck of the woods. Its become a huge benefit for people to get married... marriage pay + BAS and stuff adds up nicely.
To provide a basis, I left enlisted service as an E-5 after 6 years with 4.5 years at sea. I enlisted in 1989 and was discharged for college in 1995.
I am
currently earning $48,000 in my first year after graduation with an engineering/Computer Science Bachelor's Degree with a position migrating data from an IBM/Nomad database to Unix/Oracle with some insurance report writing thrown in. Yes, it did take me nine years to obtain my bachelor's degree but it was not easy after being away from school for those six years of active duty and I have earned 168 semester credit hours during this time.
If I had stayed in since my enlistment in 1989, currently as an
E-7 with 16 years service, sea pay of 10 years, and submarine duty pay would be:
$41,220 base pay + $4,860 sub pay + $6,000 sea pay =
$52,080/year.
This estimation, with the luck to earn
E-8 with 16 years service, my pay would currently be:
$45,036 base pay + $4,980 sub pay + $6,000 sea pay =
$56,000/year.
This includes sea pay (estimated 10 years) and submarine duty pay.
My best possible enlisted pay capacity would have been $45,000/year, base pay. Retirement would be calculated from this amount.
Now, as an
O-2E with over 6 years service if I was to reenter service now with a position as an officer on a surface ship, I would earn:
$46,224 base pay (6 years) + $3,120 sea pay (5 years) =
$49,300/year.
O-2 is received after 6 months service as an O-1 and I would not return to submarine duty for a few different reasons.
To estimate earnings after two years service from now, as an
O-3E with over 8 years service and sea pay (6 years), I would be earning:
$56,736 base pay (8 years) + $3,180 (6 years) =
$59,900.
I see I would like to negotiate salary increases to at least match that amount in two years but I am happy knowing that I am not out at sea.
My base pay capacity as an O-4 with 20 years service would be $73,404. As an O-5 with 20 years, this would be $84,000 base pay. These are the numbers I expect to beat.
