// Enlisted Paygrade · E-3 · NATO OR-3

SEAMAN (SN) — U.S. NAVY E-3

The Navy's third-tier enlisted paygrade — strikers preparing to earn a rating.

Insignia

Paygrade

E-3

Abbreviation

NATO Code

OR-3

OVERVIEW

Seaman (SN) is the U.S. Navy E-3 enlisted paygrade — the highest un-rated grade. Like E-2, E-3 uses five community-variant titles depending on the Sailor's general apprenticeship: Seaman (SN), Fireman (FN), Airman (AN), Constructionman (CN), and Hospitalman (HN). All five share paygrade E-3 and the same three-stripe insignia.

Most Seamen promote to Petty Officer Third Class (E-4) only by passing a competitive Navy-wide advancement exam in their selected rating. E-3 to E-4 is the first non-automatic enlisted promotion in the U.S. Navy career path.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Strike for a Navy rating by completing on-the-job training and qualifications
Stand watch in an assigned division aboard ship or ashore
Begin preparing for the Navy-wide E-4 advancement exam

HISTORY

The "Seaman" rating designation in its modern form was standardized in the mid-20th century. Historically the U.S. Navy used grades such as Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman, and Seaman First Class — descended directly from age-of-sail British Royal Navy practice. The 1948 enlisted rating reform consolidated the apprentice grades into the modern SR, SA, SN structure familiar today.

E-3 is the typical paygrade at which a Sailor "strikes" for a rating — that is, formally trains for and applies to enter a specific specialty community such as Boatswain's Mate (BM), Operations Specialist (OS), or Hospital Corpsman (HM).

COMMUNITY VARIANTS

SN · Surface / Deck / Administration
Seaman
Default Seaman community — strikers for ratings such as BM, OS, QM, YN, or PS.
FN · Engineering
Fireman
Engineering strikers headed toward ratings such as MM, EN, GSM, or HT.
AN · Aviation
Airman
Aviation strikers headed toward ratings such as AT, AE, AM, or AO.
CN · Construction (Seabees)
Constructionman
Naval Construction Force strikers headed toward ratings such as BU, CE, EO, or SW.
HN · Hospital Corps
Hospitalman
Hospital Corpsman strikers headed toward the HM rating.

PAY

E-3 basic pay · 2026 DFAS table

$2,468 – $2,782/ month

2026 DFAS basic pay table.

How to address

Verbally "Seaman Smith." In writing: "SN Jane Smith, USN" — or the appropriate community variant (FN, AN, CN, HN).

Prerequisites

Approximately 9 months of satisfactory service as a Seaman Apprentice
Time-in-rate met for advancement to E-3

Common assignments

Striker in an assigned division aboard a fleet unit
Apprentice technician in a fleet aviation squadron
Hospital Corpsman apprentice at a Navy medical facility or with a Marine Corps unit

ADJACENT RANKS

Previous · E-2Seaman Apprentice Next · E-4 Petty Officer Third Class

RELATED BASE

Navy Base · VA

Naval Station Norfolk

Many Atlantic Fleet Seamen serve their first sea tour aboard ships homeported at Naval Station Norfolk.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Promotion from E-3 to Petty Officer Third Class (E-4) is the first competitive advancement in the U.S. Navy enlisted career path. A Seaman must pass a Navy-wide advancement exam in their selected rating, meet time-in-rate requirements, and earn satisfactory evaluations to be advanced.

All five are E-3 paygrade titles. SN (Seaman) is the default deck/admin community, FN (Fireman) is engineering, AN (Airman) is aviation, CN (Constructionman) is the Seabees, and HN (Hospitalman) is the Hospital Corps. Each leads to a distinct family of E-4 ratings.

SOURCES

Last updated 2026-05-02

All Enlisted Paygrades Full Rank Structure