Shaping your career

Typically, you’ll start your career as a Midshipman. All officers join the Royal Navy at this rank, on an average annual salary of £25,727, which goes up to £30,923 once you’ve completed your initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC). This takes 30 weeks, and is your thorough foundation to life as a Royal Navy Officer.

Following 12 months of service and while you’re working through your role-specific professional training, you’ll automatically be promoted to Sub-Lieutenant, with a salary of £32,009. Your training will be all-encompassing, covering the practical and theoretical elements of being an officer. We expect you to step up to the mark and take it in your stride, demonstrating an officer’s management and leadership techniques as you develop your own style in both.

First promotion: Providing you meet the standards we expect, you’ll be promoted to Lieutenant, with a salary of £39,629. With the right drive, attitude and work ethic, this usually happens after 30 months as a Sub-Lieutenant.

Second promotion: If you excel as a Lieutenant, you can work towards your next promotion, as Lieutenant Commander, with a salary of almost £50,000. By now, you’re very much an integral part of naval command, using your extensive on-the-job experience to develop your team to the high standards you maintain in everything you do.

Further promotions: If you’re ambitious and driven, there’s nothing stopping you rising through the ranks to Captain, where you’ll be in command of a large vessel or hold a senior, strategic position on shore, with a salary of £84,978.

Beyond that, you can work towards becoming a Commodore, Rear Admiral, Vice Admiral or even Admiral – the highest rank in the Royal Navy.

No matter which role you choose, you’ll start your career as an Able Rate. All ratings join the Royal Navy at this rank, on an annual salary of over £14,700, which goes up to £18,000 after six months. You’ll remain an Able Rate throughout your Initial Naval Training, and well into the role-specific training that follows it.

First promotion: With dedication, determination and hard work, you’ll be promoted to Leading Hand, on a salary of £29,474. You’ll become a role model, mentor and manager to the Able Rates in your team, maintaining the high standards that are expected of you as you lead by example. Further professional training gives you the in-depth vocational knowledge that’s expected of more senior ratings.

Second promotion: If you excel as a Leading Hand, you’ll work towards becoming a Petty Officer, on a salary of £33,159. While you’ll still be hands-on, you’ll take on a more managerial role, leading and developing your team of ratings, to equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to excel, just as you will have done.

Further promotions: If you keep up the good work and maintain the exacting standards that have got you to this point, you can be promoted to Chief Petty Officer and even on to Warrant Officer, on a salary of £47,018. This is the highest rank you can reach as a rating. At this level, you provide a crucial link between your officers and the ratings in the team that you lead.

Become an officer: At any point during your time as a rating, you can apply to become a Commissioned Officer. If you have what it takes, you can climb the ranks to Captain, with earning potential of almost £85,000.