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PETTY OFFICER THIRD CLASS (PO3) — U.S. NAVY E-4

The Navy's entry-level non-commissioned officer — the first rated grade.

Eagle over one chevron with rating mark — U.S. Navy Petty Officer Third Class crow
Insignia
Paygrade
E-4
Abbreviation
PO3
NATO Code
OR-4
Category
Enlisted Paygrade
Basic Pay (2026)
$2,735–$3,323/mo
Chief's Mess
No

OVERVIEW

Petty Officer Third Class (PO3) is the U.S. Navy E-4 enlisted paygrade — the Navy's first non-commissioned officer (NCO) grade. The transition from un-rated Seaman to rated Petty Officer is a major career milestone: the Sailor now holds a specific Navy rating (e.g., Boatswain's Mate, Operations Specialist, Hospital Corpsman), wears the rating mark on their crow, and is referred to formally by their rating combined with their paygrade — for example, "Operations Specialist Third Class (OS3)."

Promotion from E-3 to E-4 is the first competitive enlisted advancement in the U.S. Navy. It requires passing a Navy-wide advancement-in-rate examination, satisfactory evaluations, and meeting time-in-rate and time-in-service minimums.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead a small work center or watch team
  • Train and supervise junior Sailors (E-1 through E-3)
  • Perform rating-specific technical work to qualified standards
  • Pursue Enlisted Surface, Submarine, or Aviation Warfare qualification

HISTORY

The Navy has used the term "Petty Officer" since the founding of the service, drawing on British Royal Navy practice. "Petty" comes from the French "petit" (small), and historically referred to ship's specialists who held minor authority but were not commissioned officers. The "crow" insignia — an eagle over chevrons — was adopted in 1885 and remains one of the most recognizable enlisted devices in any U.S. military uniform.

The modern rating structure dates to the 1948 enlisted reorganization, which consolidated more than 100 specialty ratings into the cleaner family of communities used today.

PAY

E-4 basic pay · 2026 DFAS table
$2,735 – $3,323/ month
2026 DFAS basic pay table.
How to address
Verbally "Petty Officer Smith." In writing: rating + grade + name (e.g., "OS3 Jane Smith, USN").
Prerequisites
  • Pass the Navy-wide E-4 advancement exam in selected rating
  • Time-in-rate and time-in-service minimums per OPNAVINST
  • Satisfactory evaluations
Common assignments
  • Work-center supervisor in an assigned division
  • Watch-team leader in CIC, engineering, deck, or aviation maintenance
  • Rated technician aboard ship, in an aviation squadron, or at a shore command

ADJACENT RANKS

Previous · E-3SeamanNext · E-5 Petty Officer Second Class

RELATED BASE

Navy Base · CA
Naval Base San Diego
Pacific Fleet PO3s serve aboard surface combatants homeported at Naval Base San Diego.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

A rating is the Navy's term for an enlisted specialty community — for example, Boatswain's Mate (BM), Operations Specialist (OS), Hospital Corpsman (HM), or Aviation Electronics Technician (AT). A Sailor formally holds a rating starting at E-4.

Yes. The U.S. Navy considers all Petty Officers — E-4 (PO3), E-5 (PO2), and E-6 (PO1) — to be non-commissioned officers (NCOs).

SOURCES

Last updated 2026-05-02
All Enlisted PaygradesFull Rank Structure